EU gives go-ahead for France to ban disposable vapes

The European Commission has backed France’s bid to ban puffs (disposable or single-use vapes).

The Commission confirmed its decision on Wednesday (September 25), after six months of deliberation. 

France started the process of banning single e-cigarettes in December 2023 via a vote in the Assemblée nationale, and the proposal was supported by the French Senate in February 2024 followed by a joint committee in March..

Europe’s validation was the final step in making the ban possible.

“This is a great victory for the environment and for the health of our children, who are the main targets of these marketing campaigns,” said Francesca Pasquini, co-writer of the bill.

There is no set date for the ban to come into force in France. 

The next step is for MPs and the Senate to vote definitively on a ban before it is formally put into effect.

The single-use electronic cigarettes, which are popular among young people, pose health and environmental risks.

However, the European Commission has rejected a ban on electronic cigarettes containing nicotine that can be refilled with liquid and which have a non-rechargeable battery.

Catherine Vautrin, the Minister for Health at the time, told the European Commission “to support France's decision,” as “the fight against smoking must continue.”

Read more: French MPs vote for ban on single-use ‘puff’ electronic cigarettes

‘A devious trap’ for young people

France will be joining Belgium, where the sale of disposable vapes will be illegal from January 1, 2025. 

Belgium has already banned the sale of vapes to minors (although this is not strictly enforced according to some local media), and it is the first country in Europe to receive the European Commission’s support in banning disposable e-cigarettes altogether.

Disposable vapes first appeared on the French market in 2021 and have quickly grown popular among young people. 

This is likely due to their cheap price tag, ease-of-use, bright colours and fruity flavours. 

However, puffs are made up of microplastics and chemical substances, powered by a non-rechargeable, non-recyclable lithium battery, drawing criticism from both health and environmental groups. 

The French National Academy of Medicine said puffs are a “particularly devious trap for children and adolescents,” since some e-cigarettes can contain nicotine which creates addiction and encourages smoking.

This vaping boom has caused an uproar among anti-smoking and environmental associations who, like French MPs, oppose the sale of these products.

According to an investigation by the French anti-smoking federation ACT, 15% of teenagers aged between 13 and 16 have already used puffs, with almost half of them being introduced to nicotine in this way.

Read more: Recall of Caesar 9000 e-cigarettes in France: safety information missing