Finnish government and Swedish people’s party face challenges in nicotine pouch legislation

The Finnish government and the Swedish People’s Party (RKP) are struggling to establish legislation permitting nicotine pouches, as the process has been complicated. The controversy began with a single mail order in May 2020 when a thirty-something man ordered nicotine pouches from a Swedish online store, which led to a customs seizure and a criminal investigation for smuggling. Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled that nicotine pouches are not classified as medicines but rather as harmful substances, thus allowing their sale.

In March 2023, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health attempted to block the pouches’ entry into Finland by proposing stricter tobacco laws just before parliamentary elections. However, the new government, established after those elections, decided to regulate the retail sale of nicotine pouches rather than impose an outright ban, allowing only certain flavors aimed at adults.

Initially, the legal proposal permitted two flavors: mint and menthol. However, during negotiations, RKP advocated for additional flavors, resulting in a list that surprisingly included varieties produced by a single company, Habit Factory, located in Pietarsaari. This company benefitted from a preferential position in the new market due to its unique flavor offerings.

RKP’s role has come under scrutiny, with some party members expressing that the association with nicotine pouches could negatively impact the party’s public image. Recently, Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, the Minister of Social Affairs, announced that she would withdraw the nicotine pouch legislation and propose a revised version that would return to only allowing mint and menthol flavors. Henriksson acknowledged the decision while warning it might reduce tax revenues and promote black market activity if alternative flavors are sought from abroad.