By Justin Bailey
France’s health ministry banned multiple nicotine products, with potential violators facing large fines and jail time.
The European country’s ban took effect April 1 and applies to nicotine sachets, or pouches, and beads, along with other oral nicotine products, according to the French Republic’s website. It represents one of the strictest bans against the pouches in Europe, covering import, use and possession of pouches as well as their sale, The Financial Times (FT) reported. Potential violators face up to 5 years in prison and an approximately $436,000 fine. The ban does not include certain medical products or chewing tobacco. Cigarettes and vape products also do not fall under the ban, which targets Zyn as one of the prohibited products, according to the New York Post. (RELATED: Authorities Recover Stolen Cargo Of Tucker Carlson’s ALP In Massive Seizure)
In October 2024, then-French Health Minister Genevieve Darrieussecq said more teenagers were calling to report sometimes dangerous “nicotine syndromes linked to the use of e-cigarette pouches” during a Le Parisien interview. “It is our duty to ban their sale,” she said.
Nicotine pouches were used by around 0.3 percent of the adult European populace in 2021, though that rate was anticipated to triple by 2025, a European Parliament report found. Adolescents and young adults were the main users. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety alleged advertising of nicotine pouches and products like them was flooding social media and targeting younger people in November 2023, the New York Post reported.
The rule from the country’s health ministry labels nicotine a “toxic substance,” citing health concerns such as addiction and episodes of “acute nicotonic syndromes.” The latter can result in serious vomiting and the possibility of dehydration, seizures and additional symptoms, according to the ministry.
Swedish Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa told the FT that France’s move was “an attack on the Swedish way of living” in a statement. “It is as if we would prohibit French baguettes or French wine in Sweden,” he said. “It is absurd.”
Nicotine pouches were launched in Sweden back in the 2010s as an alternative to snus that was free of tobacco and later expanded beyond Scandinavia, according to the outlet. Zyn is produced by Swedish Match and has nicotine in it.
“In Sweden, we have had a relationship with snus since the 1600s,” said Dousa.
