France Proposes Nicotine Pouch Ban: UK Users Warned

• France plans total ban on nicotine pouches, including personal use.
• Law delayed until at least 25 August 2025 after EU objections.
• UK travellers should check updates before bringing pouches into France. 

The proposed new legislation will prohibit the production, sale, possession, import, export, and use of nicotine pouches across France.

If passed, the new law categorises nicotine pouches as “substances vénéneuses” (venomous substances), which means possession will 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.

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.

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.

What happens next? The law was due to come into force on May 26^th, but it has now been paused until at least 25^th August 2025.

We recommend that any UK nicotine pouch users planning on travelling to France after August to check for any official updates from the French government as this proposal develops.