Ban on 'puffs' popular among teens comes into force

The ban on "puffs", these cheap disposable electronic cigarettes that are fashionable among young people, came into force with the publication on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 in the Official Journal of the law unanimously adopted by Parliament on February 13. France thus becomes the second European country, after Belgium, to ban the marketing of disposable electronic cigarettes on its territory, a move also followed by the United Kingdom, which announced their ban on sale by June.

The ban on "puffs" is a "strong measure" For "protect our youth"

"The possession for the purpose of sale, distribution or free offering, the offering for sale, sale, distribution or free offering of electronic vaping devices (...) which are pre-filled with a liquid and cannot be refilled, whether or not they have a rechargeable battery, is prohibited. This prohibition does not apply to cartridges.", indicates the text of the law, dated February 24. It is a "strong measure" which will allow "protect our youth and prevent the spread of new vectors of entry into smoking and addiction", welcomed the Minister of Health Yannick Neuder, in a message published on X.

The government also has in its sights, for the same reasons, the pouches, these oral nicotine pouches, Mr. Neuder said in his message. "I have notified the European Commission of the draft decree banning nicotine products for oral use", which will apply to the "production, import and distribution throughout metropolitan and overseas territories", he added. Despite their proven risk of nicotine addiction, disposable e-cigarettes attracted young people with their eclectic flavors - mint, strawberry ice cream, watermelon or chocolate - their attractive presentation and their affordable cost.

15% of adolescents aged 13 to 16 have already used “puffs”

After a unanimous National Assembly in early February, the Senate approved the ban on February 13 by a show of hands, the culmination of a journey of more than two years in Parliament with a passage through the European Commission, for this text initiated by the former Green MP Francesca Pasquini (Génération.s). While welcoming a "important decision in terms of public health and the environment", the National Committee against Smoking expressed concern about "circumventions already anticipated by manufacturers who continue to put on the market electronic cigarettes targeting young people through the multiplicity of their flavors and which remain disposable after a very limited number of refills". Fifteen percent of adolescents aged 13 to 16 have already used “puffs” and, among them, 47% say they started their initiation to nicotine through this means, according to a BVA survey for Alliance against tobacco from 2023.