Despite threats of a ban, the Finnish government is now wavering on the issue of nicotine pouches. The products, which until a month ago were classified as medicinal products and only available with a prescription, will be allowed to be sold in regular shops in the future. At the same time, “white snus” will be regulated under the same laws as tobacco products.
According to the newly formed government official programmes, nicotine pouches with a maximum of 20 mg of nicotine per pouch will be allowed to be sold with a licence and age verification. The products will also be taxed in the same way as e-liquid and e-cigarettes.
Handed out empty cans
For Ida Leino, Chairman of the The Youth League of the National Coalition Party the government's announcement is a victory. The Finnish Youth Federation has been working to ensure that nicitine pouches, or “white snus”, are legalised for sale over the counter in Finland. Recently, the union even stood outside Parliament and handed out empty snuff boxes.
"It got a lot of media attention, actually. We put up sticky notes saying that the government is losing €70 million a year because of the black market," says Mr Perez. Ida Leino to Vejpkollen.
Wants to bring the mill under control
According to Ida Leino regulation is important to curb the increasing use, especially among younger people. She is very pleased with the decision to introduce regulation rather than further bans.
“There are already many young people using these products and they are buying them on a black market. We need tools to control their use. With regulation we can control it better. For example, through taxation, we can finance controls on sales and the harm that use can cause.” she tells Vejpkollen.
“Flavours aimed at adults”
While allowing sales, the government is imposing restrictions on flavours. According to the government's explanation, nicotine pouches may only be provided with “flavours aimed at adults”. The flavour ban is in line with the provisions of the Finnish Tobacco Act, where both tobacco and tobacco-free nicotine products are strictly regulated in terms of flavouring.
Unclear about tobacco flavours
For tobacco products, this currently means that no flavourings may alter the original taste, i.e. pure burnt tobacco. For e-liquid and e-cigarettes it means that the only flavouring allowed is so-called “tobacco flavouring” (usually a mixture of dark chocolate, bark and smoke flavouring).
What should apply to nicotine pouches is unclear. Like e-liquid, which consists mostly of glycerine and propylene glycol, nicotine pouches have no original flavour as they are made of plant cellulose.
Traditional snus is still banned from sale in Finland - a ban that applies to all EU countries except Sweden.
