Finland will implement a revised Tobacco Act on August 15, 2016, introducing measures to curb nicotine addiction among youth and protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke. The legislation aligns Finnish law with the EU Tobacco Products Directive while adding national restrictions on vehicle and balcony smoking.
Banning Flavors and Aligning E-Cigarette Regulations
The updated legislation prohibits all characterizing flavors, such as vanilla and candy, in cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, and e-cigarette liquids. While popular flavors like menthol receive a transitional period until 2020, other flavorings face an immediate ban. Additionally, tobacco packaging must now feature visual and textual health warnings covering 65 percent of the package surface.
Nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes are now regulated under the same framework as traditional tobacco products. Retailers must keep e-cigarettes out of public view, and their use is banned in designated non-smoking areas. Selling nicotine liquids requires a commercial license, and these liquids must not contain characterizing flavorings.
Protecting Minors and Restricting Balcony Smoking
To reduce children’s exposure to secondhand smoke, the law bans smoking in private vehicles when passengers under the age of 15 are present. This ban applies to standard cars but excludes mobile living quarters, such as camper vans.
The legislation also simplifies the process for housing companies to address smoke diffusion in residential buildings. Starting in 2017, housing associations can petition local municipalities to prohibit smoking on balconies, terraces, and outdoor areas. Under the new rules, authorities only need to verify that smoke spreads between dwellings; proving a direct health hazard is no longer required.
Tightening Import Limits and Banning Remote Sales
The law targets cross-border purchases by banning internet and remote sales of all tobacco and e-cigarette products. Personal imports from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) face a strict 24-hour travel requirement, meaning travelers must remain outside Finland for at least 24 hours to legally bring these items back.
For smokeless tobacco products, the rules are equally strict. The sale and import of chewing and nasal tobacco are banned, while the personal import of snus is capped at one kilogram per 24-hour period.
| Product / Area | New Regulation under 2016 Act | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes & Roll-ups | Characterizing flavors banned (Menthol by 2020); 65% pictorial warnings | August 15, 2016 |
| Electronic Cigarettes | Regulated as tobacco; flavor ban on liquids; retail display ban | August 15, 2016 |
| Balcony Smoking | Housing companies can request municipal bans if smoke diffuses | January 1, 2017 |
| Private Vehicles | Smoking banned if children under 15 are present in the car | August 15, 2016 |
| Smokeless Tobacco (Snus) | Import capped at 1 kg per 24 hours; other smokeless types banned | August 15, 2016 |
