Stop with disposable electronic cigarettes: the French Parliament approved on Thursday the prohibition of “puffs”, these popular devices, especially among young people who like their low price and their diversified aromas.
Mint aroma, strawberry ice cream, watermelon or chocolate; attractive “packaged”; A affordable cost but proven risk of dependence … the “vaping devices of unique use”, most commonly called “puffs”, will soon disappear from secondary schools, universities and streets.
After a unanimous national assembly last week, the Senate approved the prohibition by a hand vote, the highlight of a more than two years in Parliament with an approval of the European Commission, for this text initiated by the former Deputy of Ecologist Francesca Pasquini (generation.s).
“True environmental scourge”
The Rapporteur Khalifé Khalifé (LR) denounced a “market that goes blatantly to young children with disinhibited marketing”, when environmental senator Anne Souyris criticized puff pastry “designed to attract young people with their sweet flavor and attractive design.”
“This is an additional step towards this generation free of tobacco (…) and is a Minister of Health of the precarious heart that tells him,” he welcomed the Minister of Relations with Parliament Patrick Mignola for the Government, and also saw In these electronic disposable cigarettes “a true environmental scourge”.
Therefore, France is on its way to becoming the second European country, after Belgium, to prohibit its marketing in its territory, a dynamic also followed by the United Kingdom that has announced its prohibition for sale in June.
“It is a great victory in a double fight that we are leaving: the ecological struggle against polluting lithium batteries of these +puffs +, and the struggle of health by our university students led by this consumption that becomes increasingly dangerous” , satisfied Francesca Pasquini.
The Cancer League requires “go further”
Greeting an “important advance,” the Cancer League called in a press release to “go further prohibiting new products and nicotine derived.”
In detail, the text prohibits the sale and distribution in France of “pre -representative devices with a liquid and cannot be filled again, whether or not they have a rechargeable battery.”
A wording to follow the recommendations of the European Commission, notified in spring by the government of this initiative.
The Commission has given its agreement on most of the proposals of France, however, excluding the case of devices that would be rechargeable in cash, but whose battery would not be rechargeable.
The parliamentarians had initially integrated this field, wishing to anticipate market developments and frustrate “the inventiveness” of manufacturers.
15% from 13 to 16 years old has already consumed it
While it welcomes an “important decision in terms of public health and environment”, the National Committee against Smoking (CNCT) is concerned with “bypass already anticipated by manufacturers who continue to place cigarettes in the market electronics of the market aimed at Young people for the multiplicity of their aromas and remain disposable after a very limited recharge number “, in a transmitted statement.
This decision of the European Union “was examined by many countries,” says Francesca Pasquini, which ensures that the French example, based on a transparty agreement in Parliament, can inspire several neighbors.
“Thanks to this collective commitment, we take a decisive step to protect our young people, fight addictions and fight smoking,” Yannick Neuder health reacted during the final adoption of the Assembly.
Fifteen percent of adolescents from 13 to 16 have already consumed these “puffs” and, among them, 47% declare that they have begun their start of nicotine through this, according to a BVA survey for tobacco in 2023.
The parliamentarians involved in this law also asked the government to maintain their commitments on the next prohibition of another product, the “Pacnops”, these nicotine sachets for oral use.
Source: BFM TV
