Finland’s proposed ban on the cross-border distance selling of tobacco products

23.10.2023

Question for written answer  E-003129/2023/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 138
Johan Nissinen (ECR)

The Finnish Government has proposed a ban on the cross-border distance selling of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, nicotine liquids, herbal products for smoking and smokeless nicotine products. The proposed ban raises the following questions:

• 1.Would the ban on the cross-border distance selling of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, nicotine liquids, herbal products for smoking and smokeless nicotine products be compatible with EU agreements on free trade and the free movement of goods as laid down in Articles 34 and 36 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union?
• 2.Can the Commission ensure that the Finnish Government’s ban would comply with current EU legislation, in particular with regard to free trade within the EU?
• 3.Can fair competition be ensured between Finnish firms selling the products concerned within Finland and EU firms that would not be allowed to distance-sell them to Finnish consumers?

Submitted: 23.10.2023