The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Justice want to restrict nicotine products. They believe it will help youth consume less nicotine. However, some fear that people will start buying from the black market, where products are more dangerous.
The Prosecutor's Office says that the new rules allow nicotine pouches, strips, and sprays to contain up to 4 mg/g of nicotine. However, it is uncertain whether the new products will reach the market on time. This may lead people to buy illegal products.
There is also concern that youth may start using more cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs due to the restrictions. The Ministry of Social Affairs says that science does not support this. Youth behavior is more influenced by friends, family, and the social situation.
Studies show that if there are fewer nicotine products, youth use them less. Especially those who do not use nicotine frequently.
The Ministry of the Interior noted that it is difficult to track when prohibited products come from abroad. They move through parcel machines and are hard to detect. This contributes to the growth of the black market.
Ordering from foreign online stores creates problems. Estonia cannot punish these sellers. The Consumer Protection Agency says there is already a new way to bypass e-cigarette flavor restrictions.
Aive Telling, head of the Ministry of Social Affairs, said the black market may grow, but it may not happen. According to her, the black market must be constantly fought.
Youth are starting to use nicotine at an increasingly younger age. If it was previously tried at 15–16 years old, now it is as early as 11 years old. The most popular are nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes. Manufacturers are making their products more attractive.
Currently, only 20% of the products on the market meet the new requirements. About 60% of products need to be changed, and 20% need to be removed from the market. The new rules will come into force in 2028.
Several European countries have restricted nicotine products. In the Netherlands, e-cigarette use among youth has already decreased. In Latvia, the purchase age limit was raised to 20 years old. This is not yet discussed in Estonia.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Justice want to protect youth health. They want to prohibit the mailing of nicotine products and limit e-cigarette flavors.