France Lawmakers Rejects Vape Tax But Bans Online Sales
The Finance Committee of the French National Assembly has voted against the government’s proposal to introduce a new tax on vaping products, a measure included in the draft 2026 budget. The decision, made on Wednesday, October 22nd, came after a debate where several deputies emphasized the role of e-cigarettes as a less harmful alternative to combustible tobacco for many users. This vote, however, must be confirmed during the full assembly’s examination of the budget bill.
The government’s initial proposal sought to implement a tax of 30 cents per 10mL bottle for low-nicotine e-liquids and 50 cents for higher-nicotine products, with a typical bottle retailing for €5 to €7. During the debate, deputies from various parties argued against the tax. Aurélien Le Coq (La France Insoumise) stated, “Electronic cigarettes, even if they carry risks, are much less harmful than tobacco,” highlighting their use as a tool for many to reduce or quit smoking. He even suggested the government’s measure was influenced by the tobacco “lobby.”
Pierre Cazeneuve (Ensemble pour la République) shared his personal experience, “I smoked a pack a day, and today I no longer smoke,” underscoring that tobacco is responsible for approximately 75,000 deaths annually in France. He argued that while nicotine addiction remains an issue with vaping, it’s a different problem than the severe public health impact of combustible tobacco.
Conversely, Perrine Goulet (Les Démocrates) supported the tax, arguing that vaping could be a “gateway to smoking for young people” and citing risks of nicotine dependence and impacts on brain development and respiratory health.
Ultimately, the committee adopted an amendment from the Droite républicaine group, maintaining a zero tax rate on vaping products for 2026. However, this was a limited victory for the vaping sector, which had mobilized a petition with over 122,000 signatures. The committee did approve another part of the same budget article that will ban the online sale of all vaping products. The online market reportedly accounts for 25-30% of all vape sales in France. Furthermore, the European Union is expected to mandate taxation on these products from January 1, 2028, regardless of this national decision.
In a related development, the committee also voted in favor of regulating nicotine pouches rather than implementing a full ban scheduled for March 1, 2026. An amendment by Charles de Courson (LIOT) proposes to ban the most highly concentrated nicotine pouches, tax the others, restrict sales to adults, and limit their commercialization to licensed tobacconists, arguing that a total ban would simply create a booming parallel market.
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