Russia:Ministry Proposes New Limits on Cigarette Imports

Source from:  UUTISET NEWS 09/25/2014

Travellers will be unable to nip across the Russian border for cigarettes, if a new proposal passes. The measure would introduce a 20-hour minimum stay for travellers who leave Finland and return from outside the European Economic Area with cigarettes.

Finnish officials have come up with a novel proposal to try and cut down on cigarette imports from Russia. They want to ban people from bringing back tobacco if they spend less than 20 hours outside the European Economic Area (the 28 EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).

In practice that would prevent people in border areas of eastern Finland from nipping across the border to stock up on cheaper tobacco.

Meri Paavola of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs told Yle that officials are hoping the new law will come into force in May 2016, but that it could be delayed until the following year.

Paavola says that the law has strong cross-party support, and claims that the government due to be elected in 2015 is also likely to support the proposed legislation.