Smuggling of nicotine pouches and snus has decreased dramatically in Finland. This has happened since nicotine pouches became legal to buy in regular stores. The online newspaper YLE reports that
Since May 2023, it is allowed to sell nicotine portions with high nicotine strength in Finnish shops. This follows a decision by the Finnish Medicines Agency to withdraw the products from pharmaceutical classification ahead of an expected government decision to regulate them as tobacco products. As Vejpkollen previously reported the measure was intended as part of a total ban on the products in Finland.
However, this was not the case. Since the summer elections, which led to a change of government, the new government announced that nicotine pouches should instead be regulated, taxed and thus allowed on the open market in Finland. The motivation was to overcome the large black market and collect taxes on sales.
Decreased by 80 percent
And according to Hannu Sinkonnen, head of the customs enforcement unit, the decision seems to have taken effect after only a few months. According to the FiNorwegian customs the number of seizures of snus and nicotine pouches has decreased by as much as 80% compared to the same period last year. In the period January to September 2022, Customs seized almost 3,500 kilograms of illegal snus and strong nicotine pouches. In the same period this year, the figure was 700 kilos.
"We certainly made large seizures of snus last year. But despite this, the difference is very remarkable" says Hannu Sinkonnen, to Yle.fi newspaper.
No longer medicines
Nicotine pouches were previously classified as medicines in Finland. A Finnish smoker who wanted to use nicotine pouches for smoking cessation therefore had to buy them via prescription from a doctor. At the same time, as sales of nicotine pouches took off in Sweden, their popularity increased, but not for the weak pouches from the shelves of pharmacies, but for the stronger version with a nicotine strength equivalent to Swedish traditional snus. The use of traditional snus was already common in Finland before joining the EU in 1995, and since the country implemented the EU tobacco laws and the associated snus ban, imports from Sweden have been extensive. The same has since been true for nicotine pouches.
Affects private smuggling the most
The smuggling of snus and nicotine pouches from Sweden to Finland has, in connection with the discussion about nicotine pouches, attracted much media attention in both Finland and Sweden. On average, customs seize 9000 kilos of snus annually and the organized illicit trade in snus is mainly via the border in the north with Sweden and in the south via the waterways.
The liberalization has, probably, so far mostly affected private smuggling, believes Hannu Sinkonnen. A Finnish citizen is allowed to import one kilogram of snus at a time for private use, and much of that trade is done via Hapraanda and Torneo.
"We have seen that spontaneous, private smuggling has decreased, for sure. It's almost only organized smuggling that takes place over Torneo right now" he tells Yle
Becoming legal - but with a taste ban
Finnish legislation on nicotine products is among the most restrictive in the EU. In addition to the snus ban, it also applies to taste bans on alternative products like e-cigarettes and high taxes on anything associated with vejpning, including glycerine and propylene charcoal - if sold in a vejpshop. Online sales of vejp equipment are also banned, as are imports. At the same time, almost 14% of the population smoke, a much higher proportion than in Sweden, where the corresponding figure is 6%.
According to the government, the rules around nicotine pouches will be similar to those for e-cigarettes, including a possible flavor ban.
