Tobacco products

What is the purpose of the legislation of tobacco products?

The purpose of the legislation of tobacco products is to limit the health risks associated with the use of tobacco products and the exposure of smoke from tobacco.

Products that are not tobacco products

The following products are not classified as tobacco products according to the Act on Tobacco and Similar Products:

• Tobacco products classified as a narcotic drug or a substance harmful to health. These products are regulated by the Penal Law on Narcotics or the Prohibition of Certain Goods Dangerous to Health Act.

Smoke-free environments

In Sweden, it is prohibited to use some tobacco products in certain indoor and outdoor environments, so-called smoke-free environments.

If the rules are not followed

Only tobacco products that comply with the Act on Tobacco and Similar Products may be made available on the Swedish market. A regulatory authority can decide on injunction or prohibition, with or without a fine, if a non-compliant tobacco product is made available on the Swedish market, or if the sale of tobacco products is non-compliant with the regulation.

Market surveillance

We also performs market surveillance regarding tobacco products.

The regulations on which this information is based

• Act (2018:2088) on Tobacco and Similar Products (riksdagen.se) (in Swedish)
• Decree (2019:223) on Tobacco and Similar Products (riksdagen.se) (in Swedish)
• Penal Law on Narcotics (1968:64) (riksdagen.se) (in Swedish)
• Prohibition of Certain Goods Dangerous to Health Act (1999:42) (riksdagen.se) (in Swedish)
• The Public Health Agency of Sweden's regulations on Self-monitoring Programme in Case of Sale of Tobacco Products, Electronic Cigarettes and Refill Containers, HSLF-FS 2019:20 (in Swedish)
• The Public Health Agency of Sweden's regulations on Security Features on Unit Packets of Tobacco Products, HSLF-FS 2019:4 (in Swedish)
• The Public Health Agency of Sweden's regulations on Implementation of the Provisions on Fees for Tobacco Products, HSLF-FS 2018:5 (in Swedish)
• The Public Health Agency of Sweden's regulations on the Design of Health Warnings and the Placement of Health Warnings on the Packaging of Tobacco Products, HSLF-FS 2016:46 (in Swedish)
• The Public Health Agency of Sweden's regulations on Reporting of Ingredients in Tobacco Products, Annual Reporting on Market Research etc. and Enhanced Reporting Obligation as well as Notification and Reporting of Novel Tobacco Products, HSLF-FS 2016:45 (in Swedish)
• The Public Health Agency of Sweden's regulations on Emission Levels and Measurement Methods of Tar, Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide as well as Requirements for Laboratories when Verifying the Measurements, HSLF-FS 2016:43 (in Swedish)
• The Public Health Agency of Sweden's regulations and general guidelines on Characterising Flavour in Cigarettes, Roll-Your-Own Tobacco and in any of their Components as well as Additives in Certain Tobacco Products, HSLF-FS 2016:42 (in Swedish)
• The Public Health Agency of Sweden's regulations and general guidelines on Control Purchase of Medium-Strong Beer, Tobacco Products, Electronic Cigarettes and Refill Containers, FoHMFS 2015:1 (in Sweden)

You are obliged to comply with the laws and regulations concerning tobacco products. It is therefore your own responsibility to acquire knowledge of these. The information on this website is only intended to serve as an aid to you and does not replace what is stated in the law. There may also be other laws, or regulations from other authorities, that you need to be aware of. The Agency cannot guarantee that the information on this website is always up to date.