Hi all, I know Roderick just got back from Germany and is busy. I made this suggestion to him via whisper, and he hasn’t had time to read and consider it yet, I assume. But we all remember when Toque was playing with the idea of making snus. I think it may still be on the idea board. But then there is the legal issues with snus in the UK. My suggestion was making Toque Makla. And I know many loose snus users in the USA would be interested in a Toque Makla, because, they were very interested in a Toque snus, and they are interested in Makla, since it’s very hard to get(this is based on members on the snus forum). Now what really makes Makla much different than loose snus? Not much that I can see. As things are, I think Toque could make their own Makla, have their own unique flavors, and sell it in the UK, in shops, on their site, with distributers like MrSnuff. Makla comes in small metal tins, does not require refrigeration. Is inexpensive, and has a world interest in it. So, while I haven’t heard Rodericks reply yet, I wanted to just throw this idea out to our group, and ask if others thought this was a good idea, or not? Thanks.
Just cribbed the information below from BAT, it seems that new products for oral use are not on the cards and only ‘traditional tobacco products’ can be produced. I think Makla is produced under this exemption in Belgium, though how Algerian oral tobacco is traditional in Belgium eludes me. Though it may be that somehow they have got it classified as chewing tobacco, which is also exempt. I wonder though if the Icelandic solution might work, as Neftobac is marketed as a nasal snuff but many people add water and use it like los snus. The EU ban (1992 to present) In May 1992, the European Union (EU) prohibited the placing on the market of tobacco for oral use (including Swedish snus). The prohibition was introduced by Directive 92/41/EEC amending Directive 89/622/EEC. The EU prohibited tobacco for oral use on the basis that “…products for oral use will be used above all by young people, thus leading to nicotine addiction…” and that “…in accordance with the conclusions of the studies conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, tobacco for oral use contains particularly large quantities of carcinogenic substances; whereas these new products cause cancer of the mouth in particular.” Article 8 states that: “Member States shall prohibit the placing on the market of tobacco for oral use as defined in Article 2(4)”. Article 2(4) defined “tobacco for oral use” as “all products for oral use, except those intended to be smoked or chewed, made wholly or partly of tobacco, in powder or particulate form or in any combination of these forms – particularly those presented in sachet portions or porous sachets – or in a form resembling a food product”. However, there are some notable exemptions to the prohibition of tobacco for oral use within the EU. The use of snus in Sweden, for example, was considered to be significant enough to justify an exemption when it joined the EU in 1995, although there was a ban on placing snus on the market in other EU member states. Separately, in Denmark “loose” snus is exempt because the product is considered a “traditional tobacco product”. The prohibition of tobacco for oral use in the EU is also covered by Article 8 of Directive 2001/37/EC.
I’m not sure I am understanding all that. Can you give me your summary version of it? Can Toque legally make and market a Makla in the UK?
Not unless they can prove it is a ‘traditional tobacco product’ or a chewing tobacco. However, marketing a nasal snuff that the buyer could modify and turn into snus could work, I guess. Dehydrated snus, if you like, along the same lines as neftobac.
No, they can’t. Makla is north african berber tobacco and north african berber culture is well established in francophone Europe since, like, forever.
Hmmm… I really thought I found the angle here. But the dehyrated snus is a good idea.
Bump. Any thoughts on a dehydrated snus, has anybody tried the Neftobak yet?
My only thoughts…Toque could make a dippable-snuff, similar to American snuffs, Dental, Honeybee, etc…I think many of those are quite tasty but I’ve tried a couple Toques orally and yuck! Anyway, I guess I am not suggesting really snus here, just a snuff that can be used orally. It could be coarse & moist & tasty and labeled/marketed as SNUFF. I dunno if this makes sense, I’m off to have my first cup of coffee for the day… 
Check out Mr. Snuff I just ordered 6 tins
I am curious to hear what others think when they get their Maklas. Really, having tried it myself, I am at a loss for words still. It’s such an odd and unique item, I really don’t know if I liked it or not. It’s really not like traditional loose snus flavor. Though it’s consistency was most comparable to loose snus, and I hand baked it rather easy. It did give a very strong initual nico hit. But like everything it lessened with use. My only dislike for sure, was just me not finding loose snus comfortable in the mouth.
So if I understand this correctly, I can sell Makla to customers in the EU? I was under the impression I could only sell it to those outside the EU. Dave
Tobacco in all its forms has been used in the UK since the 1500’s - smoking, snuffing and chewing so we could get by the traditional product thing. Surely any UK product could just be sold as chewing tobacco. Hard to find in the UK now but you can still get pigtail chew here and there.
The plugs work as chewing bacca as well. Those and the twists, ropes, bogies et al are all available from My Smoking Shop. Not so easy to find in tobacconists now, if you can even find one of those 
I’ve got Revor Plug in my pipe at the moment.
Pigtail was/is on snuffstore
“Bump. Any thoughts on a dehydrated snus, has anybody tried the Neftobak yet?” Did anything ever become of this?
Ansel, Sadly nothing came of this. The recent enforcement of the EU Snus ban has put any/all plans on hold.
@Ansel Neftobak is a good los, similar in peaty smokiness to Odens Extreme, though a more modest 8-12mg of nic.
Thanks guys.