The Act on Measures to Reduce Tobacco Smoking (Tobacco Act) was amended in 2010. The purpose of the amendments is to protect children and young people from smoking and to prevent young people from taking up smoking.
The amendment is based on the proposal prepared by the Working Group set up by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
It is proposed that visible display of tobacco products in shops should be forbidden within a transition period of two years. The seller can however on the customer's request give him or her a list of the tobacco products on sale and of their prices. The proposed ban on display will not apply to tobacco shops that do not display products so that they are visible from outside and to which access by persons under 18 is forbidden.
It is also proposed to expand the tobacco bans for instance so that smoking will be forbidden on premises frequented by children and young people. It is proposed that even private persons may not sell or supply tobacco products or accessories to minors. Furthermore, the import and possession of tobacco products by persons under 18 will be prohibited.
Besides protecting minors, the amendments to the Tobacco Act will affect the import and sales of snuff. According to the proposal, the import of snuff for one's own use will not be banned totally but a restriction of 30 boxes will be imposed. Snuff may not be sold to or obtained for others.
