Norway extends sale of unmarked tobacco to March 2027

The Norwegian government has extended the deadline for selling tobacco products and herbal smoking products that do not yet comply with the new labelling and design requirements, allowing them to be imported and sold to consumers until 11 March 2027. The change was adopted by royal decree on 21 August 2026 and published the same day in Norsk Lovtidend, Avd. I, as regulation nr. 1649.

The amendment modifies the transitional rules of the tobacco harm legislation, specifically forskrift 31. mars 2017 nr. 416 on transitional provisions to lov 10. februar 2017 nr. 5 amending lov 9. mars 1973 nr. 14 on protection against tobacco harm. The regulation was proposed by the Ministry of Health and Care Services (Helse- og omsorgsdepartementet) and entered into force immediately.

What the new deadline means

Under the revised point 3 of the transitional regulation, tobacco products and herbal smoking products that are not marked and designed in accordance with the requirements of § 30a, second paragraph and § 32, first paragraph of the tobacco harm act may still be imported and sold to consumers until 11 March 2027.

• The extension applies to both tobacco products and herbal smoking products.
• Products must still meet the marking and design requirements once the deadline passes.
• The regulation entered into force immediately upon publication on 21 August 2026.

Background of the legislation

The underlying framework implements Directive 2014/40/EU and the rules on standardised tobacco packaging into Norwegian law. The transitional rules were originally set out in the 2017 regulation to give the market time to adapt to the new labelling and design standards.

The change responds to the practical need of importers and retailers to clear existing stock that does not yet carry the required markings, while the new packaging standards are phased in.

Who is affected

The extension affects several groups across the supply chain:

• Importers of tobacco and herbal smoking products, who gain additional time to bring compliant goods into the market.
• Retailers, who may continue selling non-compliant stock already in their shops until the new deadline.
• Consumers, who will continue to see unmarked products on sale for several more months.

Impact

The extension gives the Norwegian market a longer transition period before the stricter marking and design rules under the tobacco harm legislation become fully binding. For importers and retailers, it reduces the risk of having to withdraw or destroy non-compliant stock, while consumers will continue to have access to existing products until 11 March 2027.

Source: Norsk Lovtidend, Avd. I, 21 August 2026, nr. 1649 (official reference: LTI-2026-08-21-1649).