According to ERR on November 9th, Annemari Linno, Public Health Advisor at the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs, stated that Estonia closely follows the decisions of the Nordic countries on nicotine issues and strives to align its tobacco and nicotine policies with those of its northern and southern neighbors.
Since the legalization of nicotine pouches in 2019, Estonia has not yet set a limit on the nicotine content. According to Linno, the Ministry of Social Affairs has been working on drafting relevant legislation for years, but progress has been slow due to the Parliament being busy with more pressing issues.
Lynn also mentioned that advancing reforms on tobacco and nicotine consumption is not easy, as there are differing opinions within parliament regarding limiting the nicotine content in nicotine pouches.
She added, "The tobacco industry also strongly opposes the proposed restrictions.
Diana Sirelpuu, the managing director of the e-cigarette retailer Nicorex Baltic in Estonia, believes that while regulatory measures are necessary, policies should be reasonable.
She pointed out that many nicotine product importers in Estonia have been practicing self-regulation for years and do not import products with nicotine content exceeding 20 milligrams, despite the absence of government restrictions.
Werner Puhl, the police chief of Xirelpu, has warned that if the set limits do not meet the needs of local consumers, the black market could thrive. Therefore, ensuring consistency in nicotine sales rules between different countries is crucial.
Research shows that while the smoking rate in Estonia is declining, the consumption of alternative tobacco and nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, is on the rise. According to data from the Institute of Health Development, in 2022, 3.7% of the population in Estonia is using nicotine pouches. This phenomenon is particularly common among young people, especially among young males aged 16 to 24, with 22.5% using the products at least once a month.
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