French Nicotine Pouch Ban Delayed Again Amid Pressure from EU Member States

Jun.23

The French nicotine pouch ban has been postponed again to August 25 due to pressure from EU member states, with the business community watching anxiously.

Key Points:

·France delays implementation of ban on nicotine pouches, originally scheduled for May 26th, due to objections submitted by seven EU countries.

·The ban will now take effect on August 25th, classifying nicotine pouches as dangerous chemicals and violators may face imprisonment or hefty fines.

·The delay in implementation is in response to the concerns raised by the seven EU countries.

According to recent reports from European media, France's comprehensive ban on nicotine pouches will be extended until August 25th to allow lawmakers more time to address opposition from seven EU member states. The ban was originally set to take effect on May 26th and includes prohibiting the production, sale, import, export, possession, and use of nicotine pouches.

According to the drafted legislation, nicotine pouches are considered "toxic substances" and treated similar to hazardous chemicals. If the ban is implemented as planned, those caught carrying nicotine pouches could face up to one year in prison or a fine of 15,000 euros (17,369 US dollars), while manufacturers or retailers could be sentenced to five years in prison and fined up to 375,000 euros (434,145 US dollars).

However, the strict sanctions have been temporarily suspended as seven EU member states, including Romania, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Italy, and Sweden, have submitted "detailed opinions" according to EU technical regulations information system. This delay provides France with time to respond to the concerns raised by the aforementioned EU countries and has also sparked widespread attention from the business community.

References:

[1] France hits pause on controversial nicotine pouch ban after EU pushback

Also Read:

[1] France to Expand Smoking Bans in July, Plans to Restrict E-Cigarette Nicotine Levels and Flavors by 2026

[2] France Plans Nicotine Pouch Ban After 229 Influencers Violate Promotion Rules

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