The Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU (“the TPD”) was adopted in 2014, entered into force in the EU in 2016 and was incorporated into the EEA Agreement in 2022. The Norwegian Parliament adopted the necessary legislative amendments to implement the TPD in 2016 and 2018. Some of these amendments have already entered into force, such as the authorisation scheme for novel products and the ban on cross-border distance sales.

The late implementation of the TPD in the EFTA countries was due to delays in the process of concluding an agreement with the European Commission on a database for tobacco products and related products. The TPD formally entered into force for the EFTA countries on 11 March 2026.

What new regulations are now being introduced?

Among other things, the TPD regulates which health warnings must appear on tobacco packaging. New and larger pictoral warnings will be introduced on tobacco products for smoking, and the health warning on tobacco for oral use must appear on both the front and the back of the packaging.

In addition, the EU and the EFTA parties have agreed that Norway may introduce an additional health warning on tobacco for oral use aimed at pregnant women and young women. This warns of the risks of foetal harm if pregnant women use such products during pregnancy.

The Tobacco Products Directive also contains the following measures:

  • Ban on characterising flavours in cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco
  • Ban on certain additives (for example vitamins and caffeine)
  • New security marking on tobacco packaging to prevent counterfeiting
  • New tracking system to prevent illicit trade
  • Ban on misleading elements on packaging

The TPD also extends the tobacco industry’s reporting obligations with regard to ingredients in and emissions from tobacco products and herbal tobacco products for smoking. This will provide a better basis for assessing the toxicity of the products. Tobacco products and herbal smoking products currently on the Norwegian market must be reported in the EU database EU-CEG within six months.

Other requirements of the TPD are given a transitional period until 1 January 2027. From that date, all tobacco products and herbal smoking products must be labelled and designed in accordance with the new regulations. Longer transitional periods apply to the requirements on tracking and security marking.

Norway still has an exemption from the EU ban on tobacco for oral use, and the current ban on e-cigarettes and refill mechanisms containing nicotine are upheld.

Royal Decrees on legislative amendments implementing the Tobacco Products Directive and related transitional rules

Transitional rules relating to the statutory provisions

New regulations implementing the Tobacco Products Directive, etc.