Market & legal data in the tobacco alternatives sector in Finland

3rd December 2024: Finland: A new government proposal to amend the Tobacco Act has been submitted to the European Commission’s TRIS system. The new proposal seeks to add a definition for a “smokeless nicotine product” that would cover nicotine pouches and products closely resembling them. For these products, a nicotine limit (up to 16.6 mg of nicotine per g of product) would be set and characteristic flavours, with the exception of menthol and mint, would be prohibited. These products would also require a health warning, and the layout of the packaging would be harmonised. In addition, distance selling of such products would be prohibited. The end of the standstill period is 27th February 2025.
26th November 2024: Finland: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has requested opinions on the new version of a bill that seeks to regulate nicotine pouches in the country. Among other measures, the new draft of the bill would limit permitted nicotine pouch flavours to menthol and mint and set a nicotine cap at 16.6 mg per g. The draft bill will be in the opinion round from 25th November 2024 to 20th January 2025.
25th November 2024: Finland: Last week, the Finnish government reached a consensus on the new version of the bill seeking to regulate nicotine pouches in the country after the previous version was withdrawn, media reports. In the new version of the bill, permitted flavours of nicotine pouches are limited to menthol and mint. The nicotine cap would be set at 16.6 mg per g, and the weight limit of the bags is to be between 0.5 g and 1 g. The bill will go to opinion rounds next.
11th November 2024: Finland: According to the smoke-free Finland 2030 network, which has published a summary of nicotine based on scientific evidence, it’s important to address the dangers of nicotine. The network believes measures should be taken to either prevent new nicotine products from entering the market or to impose stringent regulations on them.
31st October 2024: Finland: The EPT network , which unites over 60 national social and health organisations that want to prevent and reduce substance abuse, has announced a week of preventive substance abuse work, from 4th to 10th November, with a focus on professionals who engage with young people. This year’s topic, “Vapes and pouches – the disadvantages of nicotine products in the lives of young people”, highlights the rising popularity of electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches among youth.
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.

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Alternative tobacco and nicotine products in Finland

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