Legislation, taxes and other instruments
We can reduce the harmful effects of tobacco by using various policy instruments and implementing various initiatives to reduce tobacco consumption.These include legislation, information and economic policy measures.
Illustration: Susanne Engman
The Tobacco Act
Registration system for retailers
On 1 July 2002 a registration system was introduced for retailers selling tobacco products. This provides local authorities with information as to where tobacco is sold, making it easier for them to monitor that the ban on the sale of tobacco to people under 18 years of age is followed.
Advertising restrictions
The Riksdag has decided to ban advertising using trademarks (e.g. pictures or names) for a tobacco product when marketing products other than tobacco. Watches, shoes and clothing are examples of products sometimes marketed this way. The ban, which came into effect on 1 January 2003, applies to commercial advertisements in newspapers, on radio and TV.
Labelling directive
In May 2002 the Riksdag adopted the Bill (2001/02:162) Labelling Directive on tobacco products (Märkningsdirektivet om tobaksvaror). The Bill, which was the result of the EC Directive 2001/37/EC, established new maximum levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide permitted in cigarettes. It also led to new regulations regarding the content and placement of the health warnings on packaging. As of 30 September 2003, it is also prohibited to use terms such as light, mild or other expressions that can convey the impression that such cigarettes are less harmful than they actually are.
Supervisory responsibility at present
Municipalities are responsible for supervision of the provisions of the Tobacco Act (1993:581) on smoke-free environments. The county administrative board is responsible for supervision at county level. The National Institute of Public Health is responsible for supervision at central level. It is also responsible for information about applicable legislation.
Economic instruments
Tobacco tax an important policy instrument
Tobacco tax has long been an important instrument for limiting the consumption of tobacco. An increase or decrease in the tobacco tax affects the products' retail price and there is a connection between the price of tobacco and the amount of tobacco people consume. However, it is important that a balance between price and other factors exists. If the price of tobacco is too high, it may result in an increase in smuggling.
In recent years, low-price cigarettes have been introduced in Sweden. The price of these cigarettes is lower than cigarettes in the most popular price category. On 1 March 2003 a minimum tax on low-price cigarettes was introduced.
Smuggling must be fought
It has been shown that organised crime is often behind tobacco smuggling. The illegal sale of tobacco products in turn finances other, more serious crimes. Moreover, tobacco products that are brought into the country illegally are not manufactured in a way that makes it possible to guarantee that they meet the Swedish regulations concerning the contents of tobacco products. There are also other reasons that make fighting tobacco smuggling a matter of high priority. People who sell smuggled tobacco sell the products tax free, which is illegal.
