France has banned the sale of nicotine pouches, drawing criticism from experts who say these products are among the most effective ways to quit smoking.
The French government notified the European Union of its “draft decree” on February 25, marking a significant shift in the country’s tobacco control policy.
The move comes after a French parliamentary vote earlier in February to prohibit disposable e-cigarettes.
Critics argue that this double ban leaves consumers with fewer smoke-free tools, despite Health Minister announcements favouring more tolerant approaches in the National Tobacco Control Program 2023-2027.
French officials say the ban targets youth who have been using nicotine pouches.
Yet, industry leaders claim this defies both logic and science.
British American Tobacco (BAT) France calls the decision “outrageous” and points to a Conseil d’Etat ruling that deemed a ban “disproportionate” to the problem.
Supporters of nicotine pouches argue that the products, which contain nicotine but no tobacco, are cleaner and less harmful than traditional cigarettes.
Supporters say nicotine pouches offer a valuable alternative for smokers seeking to reduce health risks.
Critics of the ban, however, worry it could push consumers to illegal markets or drive them back to traditional cigarettes.
“We don’t just need a smoke-free generation, we need a nicotine-free generation,” Estonian Health Minister Riina Sikkut recently told Euractiv, which is the position of some European officials.
France’s decision also aligns it with Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, which have all banned nicotine pouches.
Yet, nicotine pouches remain unregulated at the EU level.
This gap comes from the 2014 Tobacco Products Directive, which covered tobacco-containing items but did not include tobacco-free products.
The European Commission has postponed any revision of its tobacco legislation.
In Canada, nicotine pouches fall under federal regulations that treat them similarly to other nicotine-containing products, ensuring they meet specific safety and quality standards before being approved for sale.
Currently, Zonnic is the only brand of nicotine pouches officially licenced for sale in Canada.
This means that Health Canada, the agency responsible for regulating therapeutic products, has reviewed and granted Zonnic approval to be marketed as a nicotine replacement therapy.
Canadians seeking smoke-free, oral nicotine alternatives can only legally purchase Zonnic pouches from pharmacies, although a massive illegal nicotine pouch market exists online.
With annual growth in the European nicotine pouch market projected at 6.2%, reaching an estimated €1.06 billion ($1.6 billion CDN) by 2030, major industry players such as Philip Morris International, Imperial Brands, and Japan Tobacco International have invested heavily in the sector.
They argue that safer alternatives should not be lumped in with traditional cigarettes and that a balanced regulatory framework is necessary.
Industry watchers say Poland’s current presidency of the EU Council could push for broader discussion around taxing alternative tobacco products.
Some European health ministers believe the European Commission should tackle the issue soon, warning that delays only encourage companies to exploit loopholes in existing laws.
BAT France and others had proposed regulating nicotine pouches rather than banning them, urging the government to enforce strict rules such as prohibiting sales to minors, limiting nicotine content, and restricting marketing efforts aimed at young people.
However, France proceeded with the ban, citing rising youth usage, and the need for strong public health measures.
It remains unclear how effective this prohibition will be in curbing use, exploding the illegal online market, or whether it will trigger an EU-wide crackdown.
For now, many smokers who rely on nicotine pouches for cessation support are left in limbo, as France tightens its grip on the emerging industry that many believe could save lives by helping smokers quit for good.
