Market & legal data in the tobacco alternatives sector in Finland

22nd October 2024: Finland: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has said that the revised bill to regulate nicotine pouches could be approved in about three months at the earliest, media reports. The new bill would need to be notified again to the EU Commission and other EU member states.
21st October 2024: Finland: Sydänliitto (the Swedish Heart Association) is pleased that the proposal to regulate nicotine pouches is going to be revised, but urges the government to ban all flavourings in the new bill, media reports. Additionally, it suggests reconsidering the maximum amount of nicotine allowed in nicotine pouches (instead of the previously proposed limit of up to 16.6 mg per g).
18th October 2024: Finland: Social security minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen has announced that the government intends to introduce a revised proposal on nicotine pouch regulation to the parliament, media reports. This revised proposal would seek to limit allowed nicotine pouch flavours to only mint and menthol. On 9th October, the parliament adopted the proposal to amend the Tobacco Act regarding nicotine pouch regulation, subjecting nicotine pouches to a nicotine limit (up to 16.6 mg per g) and introducing a flavour ban (with the exception of menthol, mint, tea, ginger, rosemary and wood flavours). However, after a flavour scandal, when it was revealed four of the exempted flavours (tea, ginger, rosemary and wood) were reportedly manufactured by one local company, Habit Factory, that has some political backing, the government decided to reverse the decision on permitted flavours.
11th October 2024: Finland: The parliament has adopted a proposal to amend the Tobacco Act regarding nicotine pouch regulation in the second reading. The proposal adds the definition of a smokeless nicotine product, which would cover nicotine pouches and products closely resembling them. These products will be subject to a nicotine limit (up to 16.6 mg per g). Adding of flavours would be prohibited (with the exception of menthol, mint, tea, ginger, rosemary and wood). It will also require that products are notified and bear health warnings, and the retail sale would be subject to authorisation (distance selling would be prohibited). The amendment is to be published in the statute book.
3rd October 2024: Finland: Several members of Parliament (MPs) from opposition parties are calling for stricter regulations on tobacco and nicotine products, media reports. MPs are demanding an increase in the age limit from 18 to 20 to be able to legally purchase these products, a reduction in the nicotine content of nicotine pouches to 12 mg/g (instead of the currently proposed limit of 16.6 mg/g), and a ban on flavours for pouches.
25th September 2024: Finland: According to the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira), many manufacturers and importers of tobacco and e-cigarette products in Finland did not pay their product notification fees last year, media reports. Only 62% of tobacco product manufacturers and importers and 14% of e-cigarette operators paid their notification fees. Additionally, many companies did not report their sales volume and pay the sales volume fees. Valvira estimates that an amount of around €350,000 was not received in product notification and sales volume payments last year. To address this, Valvira proposes to replace the notification obligation of the Tobacco Act with a licensing procedure to ensure that products can only enter the Finnish market after the licence fee has been paid.
23rd September 2024: Finland: The government proposal to raise tobacco taxes was referred to the parliament last week, media reports. The Finnish government recently proposed increases in tax levels for cigarettes, rolled tobacco, pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarillos, which would take effect in six stages between November 2024 and July 2027. Notably, the tax levels for e-liquids, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and nicotine pouches would remain unchanged.
2nd September 2024: Finland: Smoke-free Finland Day, held on 30th August, aimed to promote a smoke-free and nicotine-free Finland, with a focus on the well-being of children and young people, media reports. The use of addictive nicotine products, including vaping products and nicotine pouches, among young people is rising in the country. Ella Lounasto, the coordinator of preventive substance abuse and violence work, said that it is important for adults, educational institutions, and organisations to provide accurate information and support to prevent substance abuse and promote the well-being of young people.
26th August 2024: Finland: The Finnish government has proposed increases in tax levels for cigarettes, rolled tobacco, pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarillos, which would take effect in six stages from November 2024 to July 2027. Notably, the tax levels for e-liquids, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and nicotine pouches would remain unchanged.
18th June 2024: Finland: The draft decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on the notification requirements for nicotine pouches has been submitted to the EU TRIS database. When the Tobacco Act proposal regulating nicotine pouches that is now being considered in the parliament is adopted, the decree would subject nicotine pouches to product and market notification requirements. Another draft decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on the labelling of nicotine pouches has also been submitted to TRIS. The draft seeks to subject nicotine pouches to labelling requirements, including providing the health warning in Finnish and Swedish. The end of the standstill period is 17th September.
24th May 2024: Finland: The Ministry of Finance has confirmed to TobaccoIntelligence that no herbal heated products are currently on the market. The ministry also said specific product details would be required to determine whether these products would fall within the scope of tobacco tax.
17th May 2024: Finland: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) have jointly issued recommendations to support the end of tobacco and nicotine use in welfare regions by 2030. Finland is divided into 21 well-being services counties. The recommendations are aimed at social and healthcare providers.

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