Officials have shared that Finland is planning on completely abolishing smoking, beginning with a ban to be imposed on displaying tobacco products and on smoking in cars with minors in it.

As shared by the Finnish State Secretary Ilkka Oksala, the new laws are the first step in a move which is aimed at getting rid of tobacco and tobacco products "once and for all".

Various European countries now have a ban on smoking in public places, workplaces and in bars and restaurants, but Finland will become the first nation to place a total ban.

New Zealand’s Action on Smoking and Health director Ben Youdan has stressed that the same approach needs to be applied across NZ as well.

"We need to set a clear deadline to get rid of smoking and remind ourselves this is an urgent health priority. The Maori affairs Select Committee inquiry into tobacco is our chance to call for that deadline", he said.

Submissions to the committee are due to be sent in by January 29, 2010, and the panel will then report back to the Parliament on the issue.