Norway is considering strengthening regulations on several forms of oral tobacco, including snus.

The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs has launched a public consultation on a proposed amendment to the Tobacco Harm Act, which includes a maximum limit on the nicotine content of snus, a moistened oral tobacco product in pouches. This proposal is part of the follow-up to the national tobacco control strategy, itself part of the National Strategy for Reducing Social Inequalities in Health. The project aims, in particular, to reduce minors' access to nicotine-containing products.[1], and still needs to be examined by the Storting, the unicameral legislative assembly of the kingdom.

Public health objectives put forward by the authorities

The text proposed by the Minister of Health, Jan Christian Vestre, provides for a ceiling of 12 mg of nicotine per gram of snus, a maximum weight of 1 gram per sachet, rules on the maximum size of sachets and the prohibition of certain additives that make snus attractive to young people.

While classic snus currently contains between 12 and 16 mg of nicotine per gram, according to the NTB news agency, some "strong" snus pouches available on the market can contain up to 43 mg of nicotine per gram.[2].

The future of the highest nicotine-concentrated snus varieties remains uncertain. Distributors indicate that over 200 types of snus, including several very popular high-strength varieties, would be affected by a ban if the regulations were to come into force – representing more than 50% of the snus products currently on the Norwegian market.

The text also introduces a ban on snuff.[3], another form of oral tobacco which is currently legal and regulated (prohibition of sale to minors, advertising restrictions, mandatory health warnings, specific taxation).

The text also includes extending the ban on smoking in schools and kindergartens, as well as updating the legal definition of nicotine.

Finally, it aims to clarify the oversight responsibility of municipalities regarding the identification and safety labeling of tobacco products.

The public consultation is open to everyone until March 17, 2026, and the Ministry of Health has announced that the nicotine limit and other restrictions will be reassessed after reviewing the feedback. Until then, all products remain authorized.

The Ministry of Health believes these restrictions are necessary to protect children and young people, who are considered particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of tobacco and other nicotine products. It reiterates that smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in Norway. In 2021, the assessment of tobacco-related mortality indicated that more than 3,700 people died each year as a result of smoking, across all forms of tobacco, representing approximately 8.88% of annual deaths.[4].

Furthermore, tobacco consumption is unevenly distributed in Norwegian society and is the main factor in social inequalities in health in the country.

Snus, popular in Nordic countries but banned in the European Union except for Sweden

In Norway, approximately 16% of the population uses snus daily, representing nearly 900,000 people—more than double the number of cigarette smokers (7%). This tobacco product, popular in Nordic countries, is still legal in Sweden, Norway, and Iceland (although Iceland prohibits Swedish snus and only allows a local version)., where it is experiencing a parallel increase in consumption with that of nicotine sachets, according to a study from March 2025.

The minister clarified that in Sweden, where most snus is produced and which is the only EU country to have obtained a derogation allowing it to continue producing and selling snus within its borders, a similar nicotine cap was proposed. Even though this proposal was rejected, it underscores the strengthening of regulations in these countries regarding this product, which has been banned from sale throughout the rest of the EU and the UK since European Directive 92/41 of 1992. Internationally, an estimated 47 countries currently prohibit its sale.[5].

Furthermore, the European Union Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU), which entered into force in 2016, applies to all Member States, as well as to associated states such as the Nordic countries. Thus, Norway and Iceland, which are not EU members, have transposed this directive into national law as members of the European Economic Area (EEA) and are therefore required to comply with regulations on tobacco and nicotine products.

Finally, by becoming a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on June 16, 2003, Norway committed itself to fighting against all forms of tobacco and nicotine, which are harmful to public health.

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[1]Irene Andrade, Why is the Norwegian government cracking down on snus?, The Local, published December 18, 2025, accessed December 19, 2025

[2]Isabel Svendsen Berge, Blir snusen din ulovlig?, Klar Tale, published on December 18, 2025, accessed on December 19, 2025

[3]Regjeringen.no, Høring – forslag til endringer i tobakksskadeloven med forskrifter (gjeninnføring av forbud mot nesetobakk, videre standardisering av snus mv.), Published on December 17, 2025, accessed on December 19, 2025

[4]Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, Tobacco smoking in Norway, Updated on December 19, 2025, accessed the same day

[5]Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, Which countries ban the sale of snus?, Accessed December 19, 2025

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