The Provincial Government of the semi-autonomous Åland Islands plans to change the province’s tobacco legislation and impose a ban on smokeless tobacco as of the coming autumn. The upcoming ban follows a decision by the European Court of Justice in which it ruled against Åland for violating an EU ban on snuff and chewing tobacco.
According to the ruling, Finland has violated EU legislation by allowing the sale of smokeless tobacco in Åland and on ships registered in Finland.
The European Union banned the sale and marketing of smokeless tobacco in 2001. Sweden was granted special permission to allow continued sale of the substance.