Market & legal data in the tobacco alternatives sector in Finland

17th March 2025: Finland: Kaisa Garedew, a member of Parliament (MP) from the Finns Party (the second-largest party in the governing coalition) has demanded the government takes steps towards extending the rights of workers in child welfare institutions to oblige them to confiscate tobacco and nicotine products from children, media reports.
6th February 2025: Finland: The public health organisation Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Finland has said that allowing mint and menthol flavours in the proposal to amend the Tobacco Act to regulate nicotine pouches, which is currently in the parliament, would endanger the health of young people and the goal of the Tobacco Act. It therefore advocates for a complete flavour ban on nicotine pouches.
31st January 2025: Finland: The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira), the Finnish Medical Association (FMA), Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Finland and the Finnish National Board of Education (FNBE) want to ban all flavours for nicotine pouches, including mint and menthol, that are included in a proposal that would permit their use, media reports. The proposal to amend the Tobacco Act to regulate nicotine pouches is currently in the parliament.
27th January 2025: Finland: A draft decree from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health amending the Decree on the Labelling and Other Appearance of Tobacco and Related Products and their Unit Packets has been submitted to the EU TRIS database. The draft decree seeks to specify the labelling requirements for nicotine pouches when they are regulated by the proposal to amend the Tobacco Act. The standstill period is until 22nd April 2024.
17th January 2025: Finland: The new government’s draft proposal to amend the Tobacco Act to regulate nicotine pouches is facing criticism during the comments procedure, media reports. The amendment would permit menthol and mint flavours. However, commentators argue that these flavours could attract young people. In addition, several commentators believe the proposed nicotine limit of 16.6 mg/g should be reduced to 4 mg/g.
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).

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