British American Tobacco France: A complete ban on tobacco-free nicotine pouches could drive the expansion of the black market

Key points:

·Policy questioning: British and American tobacco companies oppose the tobacco control model of "prohibition + high taxes," arguing that France's smoking rate exceeding 30% demonstrates doubts about the effectiveness of increasing taxes to reduce smoking, and that high taxes lead to structural and industrial smuggling. 

·They also oppose the ban on smokeless nicotine pouches, claiming that prohibition will fuel illicit markets and harm public health and the protection of minors. 

·Case studies from other countries, such as Sweden and New Zealand, are cited as examples of effective smoking rate reduction through clear regulations and strict control measures, providing a reference for France. 

·Suggestions: Three tobacco regulation recommendations are proposed, including prohibiting the sale of tobacco-related products to minors, strictly controlling smokeless nicotine products, and imposing severe penalties for illegal activities. 

·Appeal: Calls on the French government to take responsibility, uphold the principle of reducing smoking harm, refer to scientific data and regulations from other countries, and allow adult smokers to legally access tobacco alternatives, with regulation instead of prohibition.

According to a statement on the BATFrance official website on September 24th, during its hearing today before the Social Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, BAT France once again alerted parliamentarians to the limitations of an ideological approach based solely on prohibition and taxation, which fuels the illicit market without sustainably reducing smoking.

The company's Director of Public and Regulatory Affairs, Sébastien Charbonneau, pointed out that the current smoking rate in France still exceeds 30%, questioning the effectiveness of "increasing taxes to reduce the number of smokers," and stating that excessive tax policies have mainly led to structural and industrial smuggling activities.

The British American Tobacco Company has expressed concerns about the government's plan to ban tobacco-free nicotine pouches. The company argues that such a ban could exacerbate issues by potentially creating a black market for the products. They believe that this would not only be detrimental to public health and undermine protections for minors, but could also set a dangerous precedent.

Meanwhile, the company mentioned examples from countries like Sweden and New Zealand, stating that these countries have successfully reduced smoking rates through clear regulations and strict control measures. British American Tobacco France has put forward policy recommendations that balance compromise with responsibility, including banning the sale of tobacco-related products to minors, strict regulation of non-tobacco nicotine products (covering control of sales points, limiting nicotine content and flavors), and imposing penalties for illegal activities.

Sebastian Sabono is calling on the government to take moral responsibility and uphold the principle of reducing the harm of smoking. He suggests that adults who smoke should be legally able to access tobacco alternatives, and that the government should consider scientific data and regulations that have helped other countries achieve public health goals.