
According to Le Progrès on October 10th, the European Union has approved a law banning disposable e-cigarettes in France. The law was passed by the National Assembly in December 2023 and later approved by the Senate, with only the EU's approval remaining. With the EU's approval now granted, it indicates that France will enforce the ban in the coming months.
A survey conducted by the Anti-Tobacco Alliance (ACT) in 2023 revealed that among teenagers aged 13 to 16, 73% of respondents had heard of disposable e-cigarettes, while 15% had used this product. Among users, 47% had their first exposure to nicotine through disposable e-cigarettes, and 23% subsequently moved on to other tobacco and nicotine products.
A bipartisan bill proposed by Francesca Pasquini was passed by the French Parliament in March of this year. At the time, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin condemned the issue of disposable e-cigarettes, referring to them as a "public health, social, and environmental scourge," and pointing out that the marketing of these products is aimed at attracting young people with bright colors, fruity flavors, and low prices.
The European Commission considers the ban to be "reasonable, necessary, and appropriate" on public health grounds, aimed at addressing relevant health issues.
However, the EU approval only applies to disposable e-cigarettes and does not affect other rechargeable e-cigarettes, as the sale of the latter remains permitted.
The European Commission stated:
According to the objectives of Directive 2014/40/EU, which aims to ensure a high level of human health protection, the manufacturing, holding, selling, distributing, or giving away of disposable e-cigarettes containing nicotine is prohibited in France. This ban complies with the requirements of Article 24(3) of the Directive and applies to disposable e-cigarettes placed on the market in France or already sold in France.
The French parliament can now formally confirm its vote to advance the final implementation of the law.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com