The Government’s tobacco control strategy (in Norwegian) was launched as part of the White Paper on Public Health in 2023. Through this strategy, the Government will reduce the harmful effect of tobacco and nicotine to public health in Norway.  

Main objectives of the Government tobacco control strategy

  • The proportion of daily smokers and daily snus users should be below 5 per cent in all age and education groups.
  • Children born in 2010 and later should not use tobacco products and nicotine products.
  • All who request help to quit smoking should be offered free help
  • Reduce access to tobacco products and nicotine products significantly in order to protect children and young people.
  • No one should be exposed to secondhand smoke.

In line with our international commitments, the tobacco industry must not be able to influence tobacco policy. To achieve these objectives, Norway pursues a comprehensive tobacco control policy to prevent use, encourage tobacco cessation and protect against secondhand smoking.

Relevant measures include, among other things, legislative regulation such as smoke-free areas, advertising bans and requirements relating to the design, labelling and contents of products, awareness campaigns, and economic measures such as high duties on tobacco products.

Norway also takes an active part in international cooperation in this field.

Tobacco legislation

The Tobacco Control Act (1973) (lovdata.no, in Norwegian) was one of the first of its kind in the world. The Act has since been amended a number of times. The overarching purpose of the Act is “to limit the harm to health associated with the use of tobacco products by reducing consumption and, in the longer term, helping to achieve a tobacco-free society.”

A range of statutory requirements implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, and the EU Tobacco Directives.

Among other things, the Act regulates:

  • advertising bans
  • age limits
  • smoking bans
  • requirements for standardised packaging, health warnings and pack labelling
  • requirements relating to ingredients and emissions
  • reporting obligations
  • licensing and registration schemes
  • a system for traceability and security features for tobacco products

Health risks

The use of tobacco products can lead to a range of serious diseases, including  

cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, COPD, eye disease and type 2 diabetes. The use of nicotine products can lead to several of the same health harms.

The use of tobacco and nicotine products during pregnancy increases, among other things, the risk of premature birth, low birth weight and stillbirth.

Children and young people are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of nicotine. The brain is not fully developed until the age of 25, and nicotine use during adolescence has a negative impact on brain development in several areas.

Sources of further information on tobacco control work