Finland, ahead of its targets, strengthens its arsenal to fight smoking

With a view to public health, a series of measures to combat smoking came into force in Finland on Sunday, May 1st. Finland stands out for its leadership in the fight against smoking, for the effectiveness of public policies undertaken in this area, and for the strong support of Finnish society for these health objectives.

In 2010, Finland was the first country in the world to establish a regulatory framework with the aim of eradicating smoking. In this context, the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health published an action plan. The latter includes measures to prevent smoking initiation, including through tobacco tax increases, and to promote smoking cessation, for example through training health professionals. Similarly, Finland has increased the number of smoke-free spaces and locations, with the support of municipalities. In ten years, Finland has recorded a drop in tobacco consumption greater than expected targets, exceeding projections for 2040. With a smoking prevalence of 14% among men and 11% among women in 2017-2018, the public authorities have brought forward the objective to 2030, and included the eradication of the consumption of all nicotine products, tobacco and vaping products, by that date.[1].

Finland adopts plain packaging

The Finnish Tobacco Act now requires the removal of brand images and logos from all tobacco product packaging, for all tobacco and nicotine product packaging, including both e-cigarettes and refill containers. The adoption of plain packaging, aimed at preventing the tobacco and nicotine industry from using its product packaging as a marketing medium, is part of a logic of prevention and denormalization of smoking. The public authorities have granted manufacturers a period of one year to allow them to comply with the new regulations.[2].

A strengthening of the ban on flavours and an increase in the number of smoke-free areas

While characterizing flavors have been banned from sale for several years in Finland, the new regulation now prohibits the sale of ancillary products, which can be inserted into tobacco products by the consumer himself. This new regulation should help to curb circumvention practices by the tobacco industry. In France, following the ban on the sale of cigarettes and menthol rolling tobacco in May 2020, the tobacco industry has developed these alternatives, such as freshness cards, partly weakening the effectiveness of this public health measure. In addition, Finland is strengthening the provisions concerning smoking bans: after the ban on smoking in public transport, in schools, in all public indoor spaces, in restaurants, it is now also prohibited to smoke on playgrounds and on public beaches. According to the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, these new provisions are as much part of a public health objective as they are environmental protection.

FT

[1] Timberlake DS, Laitinen U, Kinnunen JM, et al, Strategies and barriers to achieving the goal of Finland's tobacco endgame, Tobacco Control 2020;29:398-404.

[2] Business Standard, Finland new anti-smoking laws aims to curb tobacco appeal on youth, 02/05/2022, (accessed the same day)