News
EU confirms
health benefits
of Swedish snus
There is no longer a scientific basis for a continued ban of snus within the European Union. That is Swedish Match’s conclusion of the final report of the scientific committee SCENIHR, assigned by the European Commission.
“The committee confirms the significant health benefits of Swedish snus relative to cigarettes. The report therefore constitutes a reevaluation of Swedish snus within the European Union where the product is currently banned, except in Sweden,” says Lars Erik Rutqvist, Vice President for Scientific Affairs, Swedish Match AB, cancer specialist and Professor of Oncology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
In its evaluation of the health effects of smokeless tobacco products, SCENIHR unanimously says that Swedish snus has dramatically less adverse health effects than cigarettes, and that a smoker who switches to snus substantially reduces his or her risk of contracting tobacco-related disease. The availability of snus as a substitute for cigarettes has had positive effects on Swedish public health and Swedish data contradicts the hypothesis that snus is a gateway to smoking.
“The scientific debate about snus within the EU has come to an end, and the politicians must now decide on whether it is reasonable to continue to deny European smokers access to a dramatically less hazardous alternative to cigarettes,” Rutqvist concludes.
AGM scheduled for April 22, 2008
The Swedish Match Annual General Meeting will be held at 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at Rival in Stockholm. The notice of participation will be published in daily newspapers and sent to the company’s shareholders. Shareholders can register via our website
www.swedishmatch.com, or by telephone, mail or fax.
Havana Honeys
joins the fold
Swedish Match’s subsidiary General Cigar has acquired certain assets of Havana Honeys Holdings LLC, a privately held company based in Las Vegas, USA, that manufactures and markets flavored cigars under the Havana Honeys brand. General Cigar’s purchase of Havana Honeys represents an opportunity to strengthen positions within the growing flavored segment of the premium cigar category and complements the existing portfolio.
Have your say!
Swedish Match is eager to make Inside magazine as current and readable as possible. We gratefully accept ideas, tips and comments from readers. E-mail questions and views to: inside@swedishmatch.com
FOCUS. Swedish Match’s success during 2007 is confirmation that the Group’s long-term strategies work. In four issues, Swedish Match Inside will provide in-depth insight into the strategies for continued growth and profitability. In this issue, they will be highlighted from a Group-wide perspective.
The future
as we see it”
President and CEO, Sven Hindrikes, and Chairman of the Board, Conny Karlsson, discuss the past year and the strategy for the future.
BY: LOTTA ÖRTNÄS PHOTO: MAGNUS FOND
