France bans electronic cigarettes
France plans to ban disposable electronic cigarettes in a bid to combat smoking. Several other European countries have already introduced ban plans. Online sales have been banned in Belgium, while a national consultation on a ban is underway in Ireland. In Germany, the government has banned all flavored e-cigarettes.
Disposable electronic cigarettes will be banned in France as part of a national plan to fight smoking, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said in a statement.
Borne told broadcaster RTL that the government will “soon present a new national plan to fight smoking, in particular a ban on disposable electroniccigarettes, which are teaching young people bad habits.”
The French government is putting the finishing touches to the 2024 budget with a broader plan to reduce smoking, which Borne said was responsible for 75,000 deaths a year in the country.
“But this does not mean that we are not vigilant about tobacco consumption,” the prime minister said, adding that the plan did not include a new tax increase on cigarettes.
Online sales are banned in Belgium. In Ireland, a national consultation on a ban is underway. In Germany, the government has banned flavored e-cigarettes.
Australia has taken steps to sell electroniccigarettes by prescription only, reduce nicotine content and restrict flavors.
New Zealand has taken similar steps, banning most disposable electroniccigarettes and restricting marketing to children.
Research in Ireland shows that young people who use e-cigarettes are five times more likely to start smoking than those who do not.
