European Commission Supports France's Disposable Vape Ban

The European Commission has given its approval to France’s proposed law banning the sale of puffs and other disposable vapes in the country. The French National Assembly and Senate had already adopted the law in December 2023, and with the European Union’s endorsement, the ban is expected to come into effect in the coming months.

According to a 2023 study commissioned by the Alliance contre le tabac (ACT)¹, 73% of young people aged 13 to 16 had heard of vapes, and 15% had already used them. Among users, 47% had started their nicotine consumption through vapes (up from 28% in 2022), and 23% had subsequently turned to other tobacco and nicotine products.

Health Minister Denounces Vapes as a “Scourge”

The cross-party bill, spearheaded by Francesca Pasquini, was adopted by the French Parliament in March. The then-Minister of Health, Catherine Vautrin, denounced vapes as a “health, social, and environmental scourge,” emphasizing that the marketing of these products is designed to attract young people with bright colors, fruity flavors, and low prices.

✅🏛️ Vers l'interdiction des "puffs" : l'Assemblée nationale a adopté à l'unanimité, en première lecture, la proposition de loi visant à interdire les cigarettes électroniques jetables, portée par @FMPasquini et @lauzzanamichel. #DirectAN
— LCP (@LCP) December 4, 2023

The European Commission justified its decision on public health grounds, describing the ban on vapes as “justified, necessary, and proportionate” in the face of health challenges. France had also highlighted the environmental impacts of these disposable e-cigarettes, particularly due to the microplastics, chemicals, and lithium batteries they contain, both in terms of production and recycling.

Low Cost and Convenience Make Vapes Attractive

The European institution also pointed out the low cost of these products, significantly lower than that of a conventional cigarette pack, making them particularly attractive. Prices range from 5 to 20 euros, depending on battery life and the number of puffs (approximately 500 to 5,000 puffs, equivalent to 20 to 200 cigarettes), which is lower than the average cost of a pack of conventional cigarettes, estimated at 12 euros.

However, this European validation only concerns vapes and does not apply to other rechargeable e-cigarettes, the sale of which remains authorized.

Read more: EU Health Ministers to Discuss Controversial Vape Flavor Ban Proposal

The French Parliament can now definitively confirm its vote, paving the way for the promulgation of the law. In a tweet, Francesca Pasquini even suggested a date, announcing an effective withdrawal from the French market by the end of 2024.

Links:

ACT – Alliance contre le tabac 2023 – https://alliancecontreletabac.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Rapport_activite_ACT_2023.pdf page 30 ↩︎

Source: https://www.leprogres.fr/magazine-sante/2024/10/10/interdiction-de-vente-des-puffs-c-est-pour-bientot

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.