Parliament has approved a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, known as “puffs,” to protect youth health and reduce environmental waste. The legislation, driven by concerns over rising nicotine addiction among minors and the ecological impact of these devices, prohibits their sale, distribution, and free offering. With France following Belgium’s lead, the ban aims to curb vaping among young people and support a circular economy, receiving backing from the European Union. Lawmakers are prioritizing swift implementation.
Parliament Votes to Ban Disposable E-Cigarettes
This Thursday marked a significant milestone as Parliament finalized its decision to ban disposable e-cigarettes, commonly known as “puffs.” The Senate held a decisive vote, concluding a legislative process initiated by ecologist representatives, including Eva Sas and Sandrine Rousseau, that started back in November 2023.
Protecting Youth and the Environment
The main objective of this legislation is to safeguard the health of young individuals and eliminate the irresponsible production of environmentally harmful waste. Senator Khalifé Khalifé emphasized the need for this ban, which prohibits the “possession for the purpose of sale, distribution, or free offer” of e-cigarettes that are pre-filled and non-refillable. This specific language directly addresses the issue of “puffs,” the disposable vaping devices that have become increasingly popular.
Lawmakers argue that the vibrant packaging, enticing flavors—ranging from cotton candy to red fruits—and marketing strategies of these products primarily attract a younger demographic, including minors, who could easily become addicted to nicotine. The report on the bill highlights how these products are marketed on social platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which have a strong presence among teenagers.
Alarmingly, the uptake of these disposable e-cigarettes has surged, with recent findings showing that 15% of adolescents aged 13 to 16 have tried them, and nearly half reported starting their nicotine journey through these devices. This rising trend has drawn serious concern from elected officials and health experts alike, including the National Academy of Medicine, which has labeled these products as “a particularly insidious trap for children and adolescents.”
From an environmental perspective, disposable e-cigarettes equipped with lithium batteries face scrutiny. Lawmakers have condemned them as “an ecological aberration,” highlighting their reliance on rare materials that are often poorly recycled, which contravenes European battery legislation. The National Academy of Medicine has similarly criticized them as a source of toxic waste.
With this ban, France joins Belgium, the first European nation to implement such a measure, set to take effect in early 2025. London has also announced plans to tighten regulations on disposable e-cigarettes to combat youth smoking, reflecting a growing urgency as vaping rates among young people in England have skyrocketed by over 400% from 2012 to 2023.
By prohibiting the sale of single-use e-cigarettes, the French government aims to uphold its commitment to addressing public health concerns while promoting a circular economy. This initiative intends to reduce the number of young people who start vaping and mitigate the environmental impact of vaping waste. The European Union has expressed its support for this legislative move, stating that banning disposable e-cigarettes is a justified and necessary step for protecting public health and preventing a potential increase in traditional tobacco use among youth.
French lawmakers are now focused on ensuring that this ban comes into effect as swiftly as possible.