JUNE 2014 - The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has presented its action plan "Roadmap towards a Smoke-Free Finland" to eliminate the use of tobacco products in the country by the end of the year 2040. The plan includes measures both to prevent people from starting to smoke and to help smokers give up the habit.

The plan envisages the introduction of strong tobacco control policies, in line with the requirements of the WHO FCTC and related implementation guidelines, where appropriate, including:

• standardized packaging of tobacco products;
• regular tax increases;
• extension of smoke-free policies to residential properties, private cars (when minors are present), playgrounds, amusement parks and beaches;
• restricting the use of new tobacco products, including a ban on the use of e-cigarettes in places where smoking is prohibited, irrespective of whether they contain nicotine or not, and keeping e-cigarettes containing nicotine under the scope of legislation on pharmaceutical products;
• strengthened support provided by the health-care system to those who wish to quit.

In Finland, smoking has been on the decline for a number of years. In 2013, 16% of Finnish 15-64-year-olds smoked on a daily basis. The new action plan envisages no more than 2% of 15-64-year-olds using tobacco products by the year 2040.

The English version of the Plan is available at the following link: http://www.stm.fi/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=9882186&name=DLFE-31908.pdf

More information is available from Mr Kari Paaso, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (kari.paaso@stm.fi) or Meri Paavola, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (meri.paavola@stm.fi).