The cornerstone of unity

59 TOBACCO LEGISLATION AND LEGAL ACTIONS
The Finnish strategy to reduce tobacco consumption is based on comprehensive measures, backed by 
protective legislation. The features of the strategy are taxation, large-scale cooperation between different 
stakeholders, monitoring and research. Continuous monitoring and research play an important role in the 
development of tobacco legislation. 
Finland was among the first to reduce smoking through tobacco legislation. Awareness of the hazardous 
effects of tobacco products started to rise at the beginning of the 1960s in Finland when the Parliament urged 
the Government to take immediate action on reducing health hazards of smoking.
The progressive Tobacco Act of 1976 prohibited all forms of tobacco advertising, introduced compulsory 
health warnings on tobacco packages, prohibited the sale of tobacco products to persons evidently under 16 
years of age and prohibited smoking at school, (partially) on public transport and in most indoor public venues.
Later several changes and additions were made, for example 
•
Ban on direct or indirect tobacco advertising 1995 
•
Ban on sales of snus 1995 
•
Smokefree workplaces 1995 
•
Sales age limit to 18 yrs 
•
Smokefree bars and restaurants 2009 
•
Licensing system 2009 
•
Endgame (= ending the consumption of tobacco products)
as a aim of the Tobacco Act 2010 
•
Display ban in retail stores 2012 
There was a need for a comprehensive reform of tobacco legislation. The new Tobacco Act of 2016 
implemented the EU Tobacco Products Directive. In addition, some of the amendments were based on Finland’s 
own consideration and legislative needs. 

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The aim of the Act is to end the use of tobacco and other nicotine-containing products. Finland was the first 
country in the world - and the only to date - to set this kind of legislative aim. The target year is in 2030. This 
means that by then no more than 5 percent of Finnish adult population uses tobacco or nicotine products. 
Some of the key elements of the Tobacco Act: 
•
Pictorial health warnings that cover 65% of tobacco packaging; 
•
All characterising flavours (i.e. other than tobacco flavours), such as vanilla, strawberry, chocolate of cigarettes, 
roll-your-own tobacco and liquids for electronic cigarettes are prohibited, ban on menthol in 2020; 
•
Electronic cigarettes are subject to the same regulation as tobacco products (among others advertising ban, 
sales age limits, licensing system, vaping banned in non-smoking areas, display ban); 
•
Smoking in cars with children under the age of 15 is banned;
•
The housing companies can ban smoking on private balconies due to spreading of tobacco smoke; 
•
Personal import of tobacco products and nicotine-containing liquids for electronic cigarettes from outside the 
EEA countries (European Economic Area) are subject to a 24-hour time limit;
•
Internet sales and other remote sales of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes is prohibited; 
•
Sale and import of snus, chewing tobacco and nasal tobacco is prohibited;
•
The maximum amount of imported smokeless tobacco products (snus, nasal tobacco, chewing tobacco) for 
personal use is one kilogram in a 24-hour period.