Unit packets of electronic cigarettes

Unit packets of electronic cigarettes and refill containers must include:

1. a list of ingredients contained in the product in descending order based on weight;
2. an indication of the nicotine content of the product and the delivery per dose;
3. the manufacturer’s batch number;
4. a recommendation to keep the product out of reach of children;
5. health warnings in Finnish and Swedish;
6. a leaflet containing the following information about the product and its use:

• instructions for the use and storage of the product, mentioning that the product is not recommended for young people and non-smokers;
• information about the illnesses and other health-related conditions that prevent the use of the product;
• warnings targeted at specific risk groups;
• information about the product’s potential hazards;
• information about addiction and toxicity; and
• the contact details of the manufacturer and importer and a contact person in the EU.
• In addition, the unit packet of a nicotine-free liquid for vaporisation must include a list of ingredients contained in the product in descending order, based on weight.

The unit packet of the refill container of an electronic cigarette must include the following nicotine warning label in accordance with more specific regulations: “This product contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance.”

Where an electronic cigarette on sale is not filled with nicotine-containing liquid, sections 1, 2 and 5 above are not marked on the unit packet.

For the mandatory labelling on unit packets of electronic cigarettes and refill containers, it is sufficient that the required labelling appears on the unit packet of the product and does not need to appear on the electronic cigarette or refill container. 

Labels on products are regulated separately in the Tobacco Act, and more information can be found on this page under Labels on electronic cigarettes and refill containers.

The labelling of electronic cigarettes, refill containers filled with nicotine-containing liquid, nicotine-free liquid for vaporisation or their unit packet must not:

• promote the product or encourage its consumption by creating an erroneous impression about its characteristics, health effects, risks or emissions;
• include any information about the tar or carbon monoxide content of the product;
• suggest that the product is less harmful than others or aims to reduce the effect of some harmful components of smoke;
• suggest that the product has vitalising, energetic, healing, rejuvenating, natural or organic properties, or that its use has other health or lifestyle benefits;
• refer to additives other than flavourings or the absence of additives;
• resemble a food or a cosmetic product;
• suggest that the product has environmental advantages;
• suggest that the product is fire safe or otherwise create an impression that the product is not dangerous or that it has a reduced fire risk compared to other similar products.

However, information about the nicotine content, dosage and flavouring of the product are not subject to any prohibition on the labelling of those products or their packaging.  

The abovementioned list is not exhaustive, and some labels that are not included in the list can be addressed under the provision on the marketing ban if necessary. 

According to the Tobacco Act, the labelling of electronic cigarettes and refill containers is governed by Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the “CLP Regulation”, concerning the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals.

Labelling in accordance with the CLP Regulation is not required for electronic cigarettes sold empty, but only for electronic cigarettes that are disposable and prefilled with nicotine-containing liquid. Such disposable electronic cigarettes filled with nicotine-containing liquid are considered as unit packets of chemicals in the same way as refill containers.