E-cigarettes in Finland

Finland: A regional administrative court has overturned a local ban on vape stores selling flavoured nicotine-free e-liquids, media reports. The ruling follows an appeal by three shops in the cities of Hämeenlinna and Tampere against a ban on them selling liquids as food flavourings. The court agreed that the place of sale could not be used as grounds for preventing trade in products that are not in themselves banned under the Tobacco Act. The local authorities may appeal against the decision to the Supreme Administrative Court.

Finland: The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) has confirmed to ECigIntelligence that multipacks of refill containers are not banned under the Tobacco Act, and the situation has not changed with the new plain packaging regulation. However, the authority specified that each refill container in a multipack must be packed separately in its own unit packet, which must comply with the packaging and labelling requirements.

Finland: The Ministry of Finance has told ECigIntelligence that €2.1m was raised in tax revenue from e-liquids in 2020, €3.1m in 2021, and €2.7m in 2022. It said nicotine-free e-liquids accounted for very little, and confirmed that e-cigarette devices are not subject to excise tax.

Finland: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has confirmed to ECigIntelligence that an amendment to the Tobacco Act was yesterday approved by president Sauli Niinistö. The amendment introduces uniform packaging for e-cigarettes from 1st May 2023 and extends smoke-free and vape-free environments from 1st May 2022.