The European Commission has decided to continue the infringement procedure against Finland due to its non-compliance with the Court judgement that confirmed Finland’s failure to comply with a Directive prohibiting oral tobacco from being placed on the market.
In July 2007, The European Commission sent a Reasoned Opinion to Finland for non-compliance with Article 8 of Directive 2001/37/EC on the manufacture, presentation, and sale of tobacco products.
In addition, the Commission believes that new legislation adopted by Finland’s Åland Islands also fails to implement the above Directive, as it only prohibits “snus” from entering the market, rather than oral tobacco in general as foreseen in the EU Directive.
Furthermore, in relation to the selling of oral tobacco on vessels, the law limits its application to vessels operating within Finnish territorial waters. This would allow the sale of oral tobacco on vessels registered in the Åland Islands, once these vessels exit Finnish territorial waters.
The Finnish authorities have two months to reply to the Reasoned Opinion. If they fail to take the appropriate measures to rectify the situation, the Commission can refer Finland to the Court of Justice.
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