Health inspector conducts unannounced inspection at R-kiosk in Lappeenranta

A little over a week ago, a health inspector in Lappeenranta conducted an unannounced inspection at a local R-kiosk. The inspector discovered menthol-flavored small sheets packaged in green wrappers being sold near the checkout. Following the inspector’s request, these products were removed from sale.

Health inspector Jatta Pätäri from the Lappeenranta Environmental Office stated, “The kiosk has addressed this issue and has taken the products off the shelves.” These sheets are known as flavor cards that can be used to enhance the flavor of tobacco.

The tobacco law was amended four years ago to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products in any form. Consequently, various products have appeared on the market that allow users to flavor their own tobacco, although manufacturers assert that these are not explicitly intended for tobacco flavoring.

The monitoring of tobacco and nicotine products falls under the jurisdiction of municipal health authorities. Pätäri indicated that the sales ban on menthol-flavored sheets is strictly based on the law, which states that “a product intended to impart a characteristic smell or taste to a tobacco product must not be sold to consumers.”

Interestingly, similar products are still available at other R-kiosks in Joensuu and another location in Lappeenranta. When questioned about the sale of these products deemed illegal by health authorities, R-kiosk’s communications team responded that they do not sell such items. They claimed to have removed menthol-flavored cards from their inventory and now sell only legal products.

Though R-kiosk claims that their current flavor cards do not contain menthol flavoring, the ingredient list indicates otherwise, as menthol is included. Inspectors have also conducted checks at grocery stores, where menthol-flavored cards have not been found, yet other flavors from the same manufacturer are sold.