Mint and menthol. But also green and black tea, rosemary, ginger and different types of wood. This is the only way nicotine pouches will be allowed to taste in Finland. This is what the new government proposes in a bill to Parliament. The nicotine content will be limited to 16.5 mg/gram and online sales will be banned. At the same time, all use of smokeless nicotine will be banned in and around schools and playgrounds.
Since May 2023, it has been free to sell nicotine pouches without restrictions in Finland. This since Finnish the medicines agency released control pending new regulation under the Tobacco Act. Finland's previous government wanted to use Finland's tough tobacco regulation, ban the products completely. But after the elections that year, it turned out that the new government had completely different plans. Nicotine pouches would be allowed to be sold in the future, albeit taxed and subject to severe restrictions.
"Preventing youth substance abuse"
In its proposal to regulate white snus, the government is now proposing to ban most of the current flavors, as well as banning online sales.
"The regulation aims to prevent youth exploitation, grey imports and illegal trafficking and fight organized crime." Writes the government in its proposal.
Tastes like mint and wood
The regulation is not dissimilar to that for electronic cigarettes and e-liquids. Here, only so-called "tobacco flavors" are allowed. However, white snus may contain a few more flavors.
"Characteristic scents or flavors shall be prohibited, with the exception of menthol, mint, tea, ginger, rosemary and wood. Otherwise, the Government proposes to regulate smokeless nicotine products in a broadly similar way to the provisions of the Tobacco Act for tobacco products and nicotine liquids." Writes the government.
Prohibition on school premises
The appearance of the packaging itself will also be regulated. This is known as 'plain packaging' - that is, a form of standardized label whose colour and shape will be determined by the authorities. At the same time, the government proposes to ban the use of all nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, in several specific locations.
"The use of smokeless nicotine products will be banned in both indoor and outdoor areas and in educational institutions providing pre-school, primary, vocational or secondary education, as well as in playgrounds and kindergartens." writes Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release.
The government also proposes that people under the age of 18 should not be allowed to import or possess so-called tobacco substitutes - that is, e-cigarettes and white snus.
No new rules for medicines
Although they are essentially the same as other white snus, the nicotine pouches sold by pharmaceutical companies through pharmacies will not be affected by the new laws.
"The amendments to the Tobacco Act would not affect nicotine pouch products that already have a marketing authorization under the Medicines Act or for which a marketing authorization is subsequently applied for as a medicinal product. In the future the medicines agency, upon application, be able to grant a marketing authorization under the Medicines Act for a nicotine pouch preparation intended to be used medically for the treatment of a known disease, for example, for cessation of tobacco dependence." Writes Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
