Last updated: June 11, 2024

Main Policies

Sale of e-cigarettes

Sale of e-cigarettes

Banned
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Analysis

Until July 1, 2025, all importation and sale of e-cigarettes and refill containers with nicotine are prohibited. After that date, the retail sales of e-cigarette devices or e-liquids will be allowed only where the product has been approved by the Directorate of Health through an application process.

Main policies

Use in indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport

Some Restrictions
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Analysis

The use of e-cigarettes in public is subject to the same restrictions as smoking: the law prohibits e-cigarette use in most indoor workplaces and indoor public places and on all public transport. However, there are some exceptions to the ban, including for institutions that replace the residents' home and up to one half of hotel guest rooms.: the law prohibits e-cigarette use in most indoor workplaces and indoor public places and on all public transport. However, there are some exceptions to the ban, including for institutions that replace the residents' home and up to one half of hotel guest rooms.

Advertising and promotion (excluding point of sale product display)

Some Restrictions
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Analysis

The law prohibits most forms of tobacco advertising and promotion, and this prohibition extends to tobacco substitutes such as e-cigarettes. However, there are several exemptions to the otherwise comprehensive ban, including advertising in foreign printed media if the main target of the advertising or foreign printed media is not the Norwegian market, and brand stretching. Other forms of advertising and promotion, such as direct person-to-person targeting of individuals, likely fall outside the scope of the ban.

Sponsorship

Banned
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Analysis

The law prohibits tobacco-related sponsorship, and this prohibition extends to tobacco substitutes such as e-cigarettes.

Point of sale product display

Not Applicable
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Analysis

The current law bans the sale and importation of e-cigarettes, including e-cigarette accessories and refills until July 1, 2025. Therefore, this policy is not applicable currently.

After that date, the Tobacco Control Act will prohibit the display of tobacco substitutes, including e-cigarettes, at points of sale. The Act exempts tobacconist (or "specialty") shops from the ban; however, the Regulations restrict the display at tobacconist shops by providing that the size, design, and positioning of products should not have an advertising effect.

Sale of e-cigarettes via the internet

Not Applicable
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Analysis

The law bans the sale and importation of e-cigarettes, including e-cigarette accessories and refills until July 1, 2025. Therefore, this policy is not applicable currently.

If an e-cigarette product were to be approved after July 1, 2025, the law specifically restricts the remote sale of products to those registered with the Directorate of Health and bans the remote sale of e-cigarettes to consumers located in European Economic Area countries that have bans on remote sales. However, this provision is not yet in effect, with the effective date to be determined by the King.

Flavors (other than tobacco flavor)

Not Applicable
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Analysis

The law bans the sale and importation of e-cigarettes, including e-cigarette accessories and refills until July 1, 2025. Therefore, this policy is not applicable currently

With respect to any products authorized after July 1, 2025, there are no current regulations addressing flavors, but the law gives the relevant ministry the authority to issue regulations on the content of tobacco substitutes such as e-cigarettes. Specifically, such regulations can include bans on individual types of additives.

Specified ingredients/additives

Not Applicable
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Analysis

The current law bans the sale and importation of e-cigarettes, including e-cigarette accessories and refills until July 1, 2025. Therefore, this policy is not applicable currently.

With respect to any products authorized after July 1, 2025, there are no current regulations addressing specified ingredients/additives, but the law gives the relevant ministry the authority to issue regulations on the content of tobacco substitutes such as e-cigarettes. Specifically, such regulations can include bans on individual types of additives.

Health warnings on product packaging

Not Applicable
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Analysis

The current law bans the sale and importation of e-cigarettes, including e-cigarette accessories and refills until July 1, 2025. Therefore, this policy is not applicable currently.

For any future authorized e-cigarettes, the law will require a health warning on the packaging of e-cigarettes and refill containers. However, specific regulations with details have not yet been developed.

Other product packaging and labeling requirements

Not Applicable
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Analysis

The current law bans the sale and importation of e-cigarettes, including e-cigarette accessories and refills until July 1, 2025. Therefore, this policy is not applicable currently.

For any future authorized e-cigarettes, the law would prohibit e-cigarettes and refill containers which are labeled with elements, including text, trademarks, symbols, illustrations, or other signs that:

- promote or encourage use by providing a misleading impression of the product's characteristics, health effects, risk, or emissions, 
- contain information on the amount of nicotine, tar or carbon monoxide, 
- give the impression that a special product is less harmful to health than others or has vitalizing, energizing, curative, rejuvenating, natural, organic properties or other health-related or lifestyle benefits 
- refer to taste, aroma, or other additives or absence of such,
- resemble a foodstuff or cosmetic, or 
- give the impression that a product has environmental or economic benefits.

However, these provisions are not yet in effect, with the effective date to be determined by the King.

Maximum nicotine concentration

Not Applicable
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Analysis

The law bans the sale and importation of e-cigarettes, including e-cigarette accessories and refills until July 1, 2025. Therefore, this policy is not applicable currently

With respect to any e-cigarettes authorized after July 1, 2025, there are no current regulations addressing nicotine concentration, but the law gives the relevant ministry the authority to issue regulations on tobacco substitutes such as e-cigarettes, including maximum nicotine concentration.

Device requirements

Not Applicable
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Analysis

The law bans the sale and importation of e-cigarettes, including e-cigarette accessories and refills until July 1, 2025. Therefore, this policy is not applicable currently.

With respect to any products authorized after July 1, 2025, there are no current regulations addressing device requirements, but the law gives the ministry the authority to issue further provisions on standards of product quality, safety, design, and instruction manuals. However, these provisions are not yet in effect, with the effective date to be determined by the King.

Manufacturer/importer disclosures and/or notification requirements

Not Applicable
Analysis

The law bans the sale and importation of e-cigarettes, including e-cigarette accessories and refills until July 1, 2025. Therefore, this policy is not applicable currently.

From July 1, 2025, only e-cigarettes approved by the Norwegian Directorate of Health can be sold. A manufacturer or importer must submit an application at least six months in advance of the product being placed on the market. The consideration of any application will emphasize whether the product may attract children or young people or contribute to the initiation or normalization of tobacco use. All new or updated information must also be submitted to the Directorate of Health.

Vending machine sales of e-cigarettes

Not Applicable
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Analysis

The law bans the sale and importation of e-cigarettes, including e-cigarette accessories and refills until July 1, 2025. Therefore, this policy is not applicable currently.

With respect to any products authorized after July 1, 2025, the law will restrict vending machines sales. Customers can purchase tobacco substitutes such as e-cigarettes using a prepaid vending machine card. Other types of vending machines are prohibited. The purchase of a prepaid vending machine card would allow the card seller to verify that the purchaser is 18 years of age or older (although the law does not explicitly state this). In addition, Regulations No. 1446 establishes that vending machines containing tobacco products, tobacco substitutes, and tobacco-related accessories must be located so as to remain under constant supervision of employees at the point of sale.