Retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine liquids

The sale of tobacco products and nicotine liquids is subject to a permit. The permit is specific to the point of sale and the permit holder. The goal of licensing is to reduce the availability of tobacco products for minors and the prevalence of smoking, and to prevent the distribution of illegally imported and prohibited tobacco products through legal tobacco product distribution channels.   

Applying for a retail license 

In the area of ​​Imatra, Parikkala, Rautjärvi and Ruokolahti, permits for the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine liquids are issued by the environmental department of the Imatra region. The granting of retail permits is coordinated by the Licensing and Supervision Agency for Social and Health Affairs (Valvira), whose website provides application instructions and more information on the grounds for granting a permit. The retail license application is preferably completed electronically. The permit application can also be submitted in writing, but in that case more time should be reserved for processing the permit. The holder of a retail sales license must notify the municipality of changes to the information stated in the license application and of the cessation of sales.

An operator who has a retail license for tobacco products granted under the old Tobacco Act may also sell nicotine liquids at the same point of sale after

1. he has made a written notification of the matter to the municipality that issued the permit and
2. provided the municipality with an update on the information required for granting the permit (self-monitoring plan and product placement, including a report on the number and location of sales points).

A sales license is not required for the sale of other products stipulated in the Tobacco Act, such as smoking accessories or tobacco substitutes. When selling them, however, the regulation of the Tobacco Act must be taken into account, for example in terms of self-monitoring and the marketing ban.

Retail license application

Notice of prohibition of sale

Licensing and Control Agency for the Social and Health Sector (Valvira)

Prevention of illegal trade

Operators selling tobacco products must obtain identification codes to prevent illegal trade.  One of the goals of these codes is to intervene in the illegal trade of tobacco products by introducing traceability and security feature systems for tobacco products.

More information on the prevention of illegal trade