France Bans Nicotine Pouches: Risk of Criminal Charges for UK Visitors

• Total ban in France from 26 May 2025, including possession.
• UK travellers risk fines up to €15,000 or prison.
• Seven EU countries objected, but law still passed.

Effective from May 26, 2025, new legislation prohibits the production, sale, possession, import, export, and use of nicotine pouches across France.

The new law categorises nicotine pouches as “substances vénéneuses” (venomous substances), which means possession will now be illegal and can have very severe penalties.

For example, under the law possession of nicotine pouches could lead to penalties of up to 1 year imprisonment or a fine of up to €15,000 or both. The production, sale, import or export of nicotine pouches could lead to up to 5 years imprisonment and fines of up to €375,000.

Seven countries launched objections against the French decree:

• Romania
• Greece
• Hungary
• Slovakia
• Czechia
• Italy
• Sweden

These objections, referred to as ‘detailed opinions’, are reactions by these seven EU Member States that oblige the French government to respond to the objection.

Typically, this could delay the introduction of law by up to 6 months and allow time for amendments to be made.

However, in this case, the French government ignored the objections of the seven member states and went ahead with introducing this law.

This has sparked controversy with some critics pointing out that it could undermine efforts to get smokers to consider alternative products and demonises a product that has contributed to Sweden having one of the lowest smoking rates in the EU.

What happens next? One of the governments that has objected to the law such could refer the case to the European Commission if it believes the French law violates EU Single Market Laws by creating unjustified trade barriers. However, this could be a complex and lengthy process.

In the short term, we advise any nicotine pouch users travelling to France for holidays or on business to be very careful.

The broad scope of this law means that you could unknowingly break it by bringing your own pouches into the country and be subject to their severe penalties.

Stay informed, and check for any official guidelines from the French government before you go.