Agenda Profile: Riina Sikkut
Third reading of the draft law amending the Tobacco Act (223 SE)
2025-04-23
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Political Position
The political stance is strongly focused on the stricter regulation of tobacco and nicotine products, underscoring the value-based objective of reducing youth addiction and improving public health. The transposition of the European Union directive is supported as the only viable means of regulating the market due to the nature of cross-border trade. The speaker emphasizes the legislator's responsibility for prevention and the avoidance of health risks.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in regulating the tobacco and nicotine product market, highlighting specific product categories (heated tobacco products, vapes, pouches) and marketing strategies (flavors, cartoon characters). This expertise is supported by survey data, which indicates that nearly two-thirds of Estonian youth consider flavor important when making consumption choices. Reference is also made to developments in European Union regulation and the necessity of establishing a nicotine products directive.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is serious and responsible, emphasizing the legislator's duty to protect the health of young people. Logical arguments (cross-border trade, the necessity of the directive) are used in conjunction with emotional appeals, criticizing the deliberate marketing of sweet flavors aimed at youth (e.g., SpongeBob and Super Mario). The address is structured, highlighting four main arguments supporting the draft legislation.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker referred to the bill's two-year deliberation period in the Riigikogu, which demonstrates a long-term commitment to this specific legislative topic.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
There is no direct political confrontation being voiced, but manufacturers of tobacco and nicotine products are being heavily criticized. The criticism is aimed at their marketing strategies, which are deliberately focused on cultivating new consumers among young people by using appealing flavors and childlike designs.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker urges colleagues to support the transposition of the directive during the third reading. Cooperation at the European Union level was also referenced, noting that Health Ministers have written to the Commissioner regarding the necessity of extending the Nicotine Products Directive.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national public health (Estonian youth) and international cooperation. The need for regulation at the EU level has been highlighted, as products move easily across borders, thereby complicating domestic regulation.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic arguments support stricter government regulation and taxation of addictive products. The speaker advocates for regulating packaging and points of sale, and highlights the need to impose excise duty on new products.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The main social issue is public health and protecting young people from nicotine addiction. This is framed as a responsibility to ensure that the new generation grows up freer from addiction.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main legislative focus is supporting the third reading of the draft amendment to the Tobacco Act in order to ban flavors in heated tobacco products and transpose the relevant EU directive. A future priority is expanding the Tobacco Products Directive into a Nicotine Products Directive, and regulating new products concerning packaging, points of sale, and excise duty.
1 Speeches Analyzed