Smoking banned at playgrounds, public beaches in May-Sep

Smoking has been prohibited at playgrounds and public beaches as the new Tobacco Act entered into force on Sunday.

At public beaches, the prohibition will be in place from the beginning of May to the end of September.

These amendments will protect particularly small children from the harm caused by passive smoking.

A further aim is to reduce the littering and environmental harm caused by smoking.

The government on April 13 brought few amendments to the Tobacco Act with the view to reduce the appeal of tobacco products particularly to young people.

According to the new law, brand images and logos will be removed from the unit packets of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and refill containers.

Although the amendments entered into force on 1 May 2022, the regulation on uniform packaging, which will enter into force on 1 May 2023.

Separate provisions on the technical details related to the layout of packages and products will be issued by a decree.

The characterising flavours and aromas of cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and liquids for electronic cigarettes were prohibited back in 2016 when Finland carried out the overall reform of the Tobacco Act. Typical characterising flavours in tobacco products include chocolate, strawberry and menthol that are created by using additives.

Now the prohibition has been extended to cover also products that consumers can use to alter the flavours of tobacco products themselves. Such products include flavour cards that consumers can put inside a packet of cigarettes to alter the flavour.

After Sunday, 1 May, new products can no longer be placed on the market. However, it is permitted to sell products that are already in shops and warehouses until 30 April 2023.

In future, those manufacturing and importing tobacco products referred to in the Tobacco Act must pay the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health an annual supervision fee that is based on the sales volumes of products. The proceeds will be used to improve product control.