Tobacco and nicotine products

The objective of the Tobacco Act is to end the use of tobacco products and other nicotine-containing products that are toxic to humans and cause addiction. The Tobacco Act lays down provisions on measures to prevent people from taking up the use of tobacco products and developing a nicotine addiction, to promote the cessation of the consumption of tobacco products and similar products and to protect the population from exposure to smoke from such products.

Smoking prohibitions

Under the Tobacco Act (549/2016),  smoking is prohibited

1) in the indoor areas of buildings, vehicles or similar places that are accessible to the public or employees or accessible to customers for the purpose of providing commercial or public services;

2) in shelters, auditoriums and other spectator areas at public events organised outdoors or other facilities that are directly intended for following the event and where participants stay in one place;

3) in the outdoor areas of day-care centres or institutions providing pre-primary, basic, vocational or upper secondary education.

Smoking is also prohibited in private vehicles with anyone under the age of 15 present in the vehicle. The prohibition does not apply to living areas inside vehicles.

The Environmental Health Services supervise compliance with the smoking prohibitions laid down in the Tobacco Act in connection with inspections set out in the environmental health supervision plan and national supervision campaigns.

The website of National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) contains information on the Tobacco Act and its supervision.

Jyrki Hänninen

Environmental Health Inspector

Environmental Health Services

044 718 2284

jyrki.hanninen@kuopio.fi