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The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday partially rejected an application by Swedish Match North America Inc. to market its tobacco pouches as being less harmful than cigarettes. Eight products in the company’s General brand of tobacco pouches, called snus, represent the first test case in a program in which the agency is considering whether to allow companies to advertise some tobacco products as safer than cigarettes. (Maloney, 12/14)

U.S. health officials have rejected an attempt by a Swedish company to remove several health warnings from its smokeless tobacco pouches, though regulators left open the possibility for other labeling changes it seeks. The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it denied the request by Swedish Match to remove warnings about gum disease and tooth loss from its chewable pouches, called snus. It's the first decision of its kind handed down by the agency since it gained authority to review the relative risks of tobacco products in 2009. (12/14)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Wednesday denied a request from a Swedish tobacco company to remove health warnings from its smokeless tobacco product. Swedish Match North America Inc. submitted a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) application for snus, a moist powder tobacco pouch that users put behind their upper lip.  FDA said it denied the company’s first request to remove warnings of risk for gum disease and tooth loss from labels based on scientific evidence and other data. (Wheeler, 12/14)