Tobacco harm reduction and the upcoming Tax Directive

Currently waiting for a response from Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU, they should respond promptly and normally no later than (details).

Dear Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting access to documents:

1: … in which tobacco ‘harm reduction’ is discussed or mentioned, in relation to regulation, taxation, public health impact and the policy positioning of alternative tobacco products (including but not limited to: Electronic cigarettes / vaping products, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches and other non-combustible nicotine products.)

2: …relating to interactions or communications between representatives or officials of the Permanent Representation, and tobacco or nicotine companies (including but not limited to Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, Imperial Brands and JUUL), and industry-funded or industry-linked organisations and lobby groups (including but not limited to Tobacco Europe, MOHRE, Smoke Free Sweden, Snus Commission, Swedish Match, Nicotinalliansen Sverige, Global Action to End Smoking).

3: … relating to the revision, evaluation, or discussion of the EU Tobacco Tax Directive (TTD / TED), including internal analyses, policy notes or instructions; documents and communications on differentiated tax treatments or transitional arrangements for novel or alternative nicotine products; communications with the European Commission, Council Secretariat, Coreper, or other Member States; and correspondence with external stakeholders and experts.

This request concerns documents held by the authority, irrespective of their authorship or origin, and includes, in particular: correspondence (including incoming and outgoing emails and attachments), letters and position papers, meeting-related documents (agendas, minutes, briefings), and documents exchanged with third parties - whether formal or informal.

My request concerns documents from the period 1 January 2022 to 11 January 2026.

If parts of the requested documents are covered by exceptions under Regulation 1049/2001, I kindly ask for partial access to be granted to the remaining parts, in line with the principle of maximum transparency. I am also open to receiving the documents in electronic format.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Yours sincerely,
Marcel Hobma
Address: Overhoeksplein 2, 1031 KS Amsterdam

Representationen Bryssel-Registrator, Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU

Dear Marcel Hobma,

Your request for access to documents has been received by the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU.

Best regards,
Ulrika Mattsson

______________________________________
Ulrika Mattsson
Administration
Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU
Square de Meeûs 30, 1000 Brussels

-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: Marcel Hobma <[FOI #16735 email]>
Skickat: den 12 januari 2026 15:17
Till: Representationen Bryssel <[Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU request email]>
Ämne: access to documents request - Tobacco harm reduction and the upcoming Tax Directive

Dear Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting access to documents:

1: … in which tobacco ‘harm reduction’ is discussed or mentioned, in relation to regulation, taxation, public health impact and the policy positioning of alternative tobacco products (including but not limited to: Electronic cigarettes / vaping products, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches and other non-combustible nicotine products.)

2: …relating to interactions or communications between representatives or officials of the Permanent Representation, and tobacco or nicotine companies (including but not limited to Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, Imperial Brands and JUUL), and industry-funded or industry-linked organisations and lobby groups (including but not limited to Tobacco Europe, MOHRE, Smoke Free Sweden, Snus Commission, Swedish Match, Nicotinalliansen Sverige, Global Action to End Smoking).

3: … relating to the revision, evaluation, or discussion of the EU Tobacco Tax Directive (TTD / TED), including internal analyses, policy notes or instructions; documents and communications on differentiated tax treatments or transitional arrangements for novel or alternative nicotine products; communications with the European Commission, Council Secretariat, Coreper, or other Member States; and correspondence with external stakeholders and experts.

This request concerns documents held by the authority, irrespective of their authorship or origin, and includes, in particular: correspondence (including incoming and outgoing emails and attachments), letters and position papers, meeting-related documents (agendas, minutes, briefings), and documents exchanged with third parties - whether formal or informal.

My request concerns documents from the period 1 January 2022 to 11 January 2026.

If parts of the requested documents are covered by exceptions under Regulation 1049/2001, I kindly ask for partial access to be granted to the remaining parts, in line with the principle of maximum transparency. I am also open to receiving the documents in electronic format.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Yours sincerely,
Marcel Hobma
Address: Overhoeksplein 2, 1031 KS Amsterdam

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This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the AsktheEU.org website.

Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request: [FOI #16735 email]

If [Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU request email] is the wrong address for information requests to Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on email [email address]

This message and all replies from Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU will be published on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page for EU public officials at https://ddei5-0-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/w...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

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Elene Gzirishvili, Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU

1 Attachment

  • Attachment

    Documents request Tobacco harm reduction and the upcoming Tax Directive.pdf

    4.4M View Download

Dear Marcel,

You have 12 January requested access to documents from The Permanent representation of Sweden to the EU. A search for documents that correspond to your request has been conducted within the representation and official documents corresponding to your request have been located. These are included in the appendix to this email.

Best Regards,
Elene Gzirishvili

Elene Gzirishvili
Assistant at Finance Section
Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU
Square de Meeûs 30
1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 (4) - 289 57 85
Mob. + 32 (0) 473 – 547 708
[email address]
www.government.se

-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: Marcel Hobma <[FOI #16735 email]>
Skickat: den 12 januari 2026 15:17
Till: Representationen Bryssel <[Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU request email]>
Ämne: access to documents request - Tobacco harm reduction and the upcoming Tax Directive

Dear Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting access to documents:

1: … in which tobacco ‘harm reduction’ is discussed or mentioned, in relation to regulation, taxation, public health impact and the policy positioning of alternative tobacco products (including but not limited to: Electronic cigarettes / vaping products, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches and other non-combustible nicotine products.)

2: …relating to interactions or communications between representatives or officials of the Permanent Representation, and tobacco or nicotine companies (including but not limited to Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, Imperial Brands and JUUL), and industry-funded or industry-linked organisations and lobby groups (including but not limited to Tobacco Europe, MOHRE, Smoke Free Sweden, Snus Commission, Swedish Match, Nicotinalliansen Sverige, Global Action to End Smoking).

3: … relating to the revision, evaluation, or discussion of the EU Tobacco Tax Directive (TTD / TED), including internal analyses, policy notes or instructions; documents and communications on differentiated tax treatments or transitional arrangements for novel or alternative nicotine products; communications with the European Commission, Council Secretariat, Coreper, or other Member States; and correspondence with external stakeholders and experts.

This request concerns documents held by the authority, irrespective of their authorship or origin, and includes, in particular: correspondence (including incoming and outgoing emails and attachments), letters and position papers, meeting-related documents (agendas, minutes, briefings), and documents exchanged with third parties - whether formal or informal.

My request concerns documents from the period 1 January 2022 to 11 January 2026.

If parts of the requested documents are covered by exceptions under Regulation 1049/2001, I kindly ask for partial access to be granted to the remaining parts, in line with the principle of maximum transparency. I am also open to receiving the documents in electronic format.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Yours sincerely,
Marcel Hobma
Address: Overhoeksplein 2, 1031 KS Amsterdam

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the AsktheEU.org website.

Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request: [FOI #16735 email]

If [Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU request email] is the wrong address for information requests to Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on email [email address]

This message and all replies from Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU will be published on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page for EU public officials at https://ddei5-0-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/w...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Elene Gzirishvili, Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU

1 Attachment

  • Attachment

    Documents request Tobacco harm reduction and the upcoming Tax Directive 2.pdf

    3.2M View Download

Dear Marcel,

You have 12 January requested access to documents from The Permanent representation of Sweden to the EU. A search for documents that correspond to your request has been conducted within the representation and official documents corresponding to your request have been located. These are included in the appendix to this email.

Best Regards,
Elene Gzirishvili

Elene Gzirishvili
Assistant at Finance Section
Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU Square de Meeûs 30
1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 (4) - 289 57 85
Mob. + 32 (0) 473 – 547 708
[email address]
www.government.se

-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: Marcel Hobma <[FOI #16735 email]>
Skickat: den 12 januari 2026 15:17
Till: Representationen Bryssel <[Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU request email]>
Ämne: access to documents request - Tobacco harm reduction and the upcoming Tax Directive

Dear Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting access to documents:

1: … in which tobacco ‘harm reduction’ is discussed or mentioned, in relation to regulation, taxation, public health impact and the policy positioning of alternative tobacco products (including but not limited to: Electronic cigarettes / vaping products, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches and other non-combustible nicotine products.)

2: …relating to interactions or communications between representatives or officials of the Permanent Representation, and tobacco or nicotine companies (including but not limited to Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, Imperial Brands and JUUL), and industry-funded or industry-linked organisations and lobby groups (including but not limited to Tobacco Europe, MOHRE, Smoke Free Sweden, Snus Commission, Swedish Match, Nicotinalliansen Sverige, Global Action to End Smoking).

3: … relating to the revision, evaluation, or discussion of the EU Tobacco Tax Directive (TTD / TED), including internal analyses, policy notes or instructions; documents and communications on differentiated tax treatments or transitional arrangements for novel or alternative nicotine products; communications with the European Commission, Council Secretariat, Coreper, or other Member States; and correspondence with external stakeholders and experts.

This request concerns documents held by the authority, irrespective of their authorship or origin, and includes, in particular: correspondence (including incoming and outgoing emails and attachments), letters and position papers, meeting-related documents (agendas, minutes, briefings), and documents exchanged with third parties - whether formal or informal.

My request concerns documents from the period 1 January 2022 to 11 January 2026.

If parts of the requested documents are covered by exceptions under Regulation 1049/2001, I kindly ask for partial access to be granted to the remaining parts, in line with the principle of maximum transparency. I am also open to receiving the documents in electronic format.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Yours sincerely,
Marcel Hobma
Address: Overhoeksplein 2, 1031 KS Amsterdam

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the AsktheEU.org website.

Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request: [FOI #16735 email]

If [Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU request email] is the wrong address for information requests to Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on email [email address]

This message and all replies from Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU will be published on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page for EU public officials at https://ddei5-0-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/w...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

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