Only non-refillable electronic cigarettes are targeted
French deputies and senators have found common ground on a bill aimed at eliminating disposable electronic cigarettes, better known as “puffs ".
Appearing on the French market in 2021, these products are particularly popular with young people, despite regulations which prohibit sales to minors. This legislative initiative, which concerns both public health and environmental protection issues, is now awaiting the final vote of the National Assembly and the Senate to be ratified.
The proposal, which gathered cross-partisan support from 166 MPs from eight different parliamentary groups, was developed in collaboration with anti-smoking associations and environmental protection groups.
The central article of the text proposes to modify the public health code to prohibit the manufacture, sale, distribution and free provision of these single-use electronic devices.
A precise definition of the products concerned has been established, with the exclusion of refillable cartridges. We are only targeting pre-filled, non-rechargeable models or those that include a non-rechargeable battery. CBD puffs are obviously affected. This is why 321CBD is monitoring the situation very closely.
Building the first tobacco-free generation in France
In the event of non-compliance with the ban, offenders are exposed to hefty fines of up to 100,000 euros, and even double in the event of a repeat offense. Responsibility for monitoring and sanctioning these offenses has been assigned to competition, consumer and fraud prevention officers.
This measure appears to be part of a broader European trend, with Germany, Ireland and Belgium considering similar measures.The European Commission, which recently approved a comparable initiative in Belgium, now has six months to examine and give its verdict on the French text, in accordance with the European directive on tobacco dating from April 3, 2014.
This bill is part of an ambitious program to combat smoking, presented by the Minister of Health last November, and which also provides for price increases for traditional cigarettes , extensions of non-smoking areas and strengthening of controls on the sale of tobacco products to minors.
At the same time, the National Health Safety Agency warns against products such as SNUS and aromatic beads, considered particularly risky for young people. These measures reflect a political desire to build “the first tobacco-free generation” in France.
