French Polynesia Bans Disposable Vapes in 2025
French Polynesia’s Ministry of Health has announced plans to ban disposable vapes, commonly known as “puffs,” by early 2025. This decision aligns with similar restrictions being implemented in mainland France and other countries worldwide.
The Ministry aims to update existing tobacco regulation laws to include vaping devices. Their primary goal is to make these products less accessible and reduce addiction risks, especially among young people. The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled electronic cigarettes as “harmful” products that dispense “highly addictive” nicotine.
Health officials worry that e-cigarettes serve as a gateway to tobacco use for non-smoking youth. The WHO emphasizes that marketing strategies often target children and young adults with attractive flavors. Additionally, studies evaluating e-cigarettes as smoking cessation tools remain inconclusive.
The Council of Ministers has outlined several key measures to strengthen the fight against smoking in French Polynesia:
- Ban disposable vaping devices and limit permitted flavors
- Implement plain packaging to reduce visual appeal
- Restrict nicotine content and tank capacities
- Review tobacco product taxation
- Require licenses for import, manufacture, and sale of vaping products
- Combat marketing strategies of tobacco manufacturers
- Define specific areas for vaping consumption
The government plans to conduct an external consultation phase with key economic and health sector stakeholders until the end of August. This process aims to gather opinions and feedback before finalizing the new regulations.
French Polynesia expects to enforce these new laws by early 2025, giving businesses and consumers time to adapt to the changes. This move demonstrates the territory’s commitment to public health and aligns with global efforts to curb the rising popularity of e-cigarettes.
News source: Les puffs seront interdites en 2025
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