France has officially implemented a ban on the sale of disposable vapes, becoming the second European Union (EU) country to take such a step.
The final vote in the French Senate on 13 February confirmed the prohibition, following Belgium, where a similar ban took effect at the start of the year.
The legislative process for the ban began in December 2023, when the National Assembly, France’s lower house of Parliament, initially approved the measure.
After undergoing review and amendments in a joint committee between the Senate and the National Assembly in January, the final version of the bill was successfully passed.
Under the new law, electronic vaping devices that are pre-filled with liquid and cannot be refilled—commonly known as “puffs” in France—are no longer allowed for sale or distribution. However, the legislation does not extend to non-refillable pods or cartridges.
The European Commission, responsible for overseeing EU regulations, had already given its approval for the measure in September.
This clearance was necessary to ensure that the ban would not disrupt the EU’s single-market economy, which facilitates free trade among member states.
The decision to outlaw disposable vapes is largely driven by concerns over youth nicotine addiction and environmental sustainability.
Francesca Pasquini, the bill’s lead proponent, celebrated the outcome, stating that it represents a dual victory—both in reducing environmental pollution and in protecting young people from the risks of nicotine consumption.
“It is a great victory in a two-pronged battle that we were fighting: an environmental battle against the polluting lithium batteries in these ‘puffs’, and a health battle for our schoolchildren,” she told Agence France-Presse.
France’s decision may have wider implications across Europe. Several other EU nations are currently discussing similar restrictions, and with the upcoming revision of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) later this year, the issue of disposable vape bans could gain further traction on a broader regulatory level.
Beyond the EU, the United Kingdom, which exited the European Union in 2020, is also set to enforce a ban on single-use vapes, with the law coming into effect on June 1.
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