The outgoing Minister of Health, Catherine Vautrin, announced on Wednesday 24 July that she had signed an order banning Sniffy powder, which has been sold for several months as a white powder and as an energy drink.
“My fear is that of a very bad habit, because a white powder that you start snorting is perfectly addictive and the link with illicit products is obvious,” said Catherine Vautrin of the Necker hospital in Paris, where she visited the Paris Samu teams.
The minister said she had contacted the European Commission on 3 June to request authorisation to issue a ban order on the product and had received a favourable response.
The decree should be published in the Official Gazette within a week to come into force, his office said.
“It is completely in accordance with the law”
The government had already announced at the end of May its intention to ban this white powder that is inhaled through the nose, presented as an energiser, which is causing controversy because its consumption is reminiscent of cocaine.
“A white powder that you sniff through your nose? Even though it may cause forbidden pleasure, it is completely within the law,” boasted the Sniffy brand on its website.
The product, which comes in various flavours, is sold online and in certain tobacco shops. It is said to work for 20 to 30 minutes. The box is sold on the brand’s website for 14.90 euros each. The powder comes with a pipette. It is prohibited for minors.
Depending on the brand, the product contains L-arginine, an amino acid, caffeine, creatinine, L-citrulline, taurine or even maltodextrin. The advertising surrounding this product has provoked outrage and condemnation from representatives of various professions, police unions, tobacconists and addiction specialists.
Source: BFM TV
