France supports legislation to prohibit single-use e-cigarettes

The French parliament has unanimously voted to ban single-use e-cigarettes, commonly known as "puffs," due to concerns about health and the environment. The ban still requires approval from France's Senate and the EU Commission before it can become law. If approved, the government hopes to implement the ban by September 2024. Other European countries, such as the UK, Ireland, and Germany, are also considering similar measures. Disposable vapes in France are sold over the counter by tobacconists and cost around €9. They are cheaper than a pack of 20 cigarettes and provide approximately 600 puffs, which is roughly equivalent to 40 cigarettes. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, who is often seen vaping in parliament, stated in September that this ban is part of a new anti-smoking plan being developed by the government. Deputy Francesca Pasquini, who proposed the draft law, stated that disposable e-cigarettes are very affordable, their fruity and sugary flavors are appealing, and their compact size makes them easy to hide from parents. Campaigners argue that manufacturers deliberately target teenagers with bright colors and a variety of flavors that resemble candies, such as marshmallow, chocolate and hazelnut, watermelon, and ice candy. According to the Alliance Against Tobacco (ACT), 15% of French 13-16-year-olds have tried disposable e-cigarettes at least once, and most start around the ages of 11 or 12. There are also concerns about the environmental impact of disposable e-cigarettes. A study conducted by the UK environmental organization, Material Focus, discovered that over one million devices are being discarded each week. Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau has described e-cigarettes as an "environmental calamity," and a group of French doctors and environmentalists labeled them an "environmental plague" in a Le Monde newspaper article earlier this year. Each disposable e-cigarette is made of plastic and contains a non-removable battery with approximately 0.15g of lithium, as well as nicotine salts and traces of heavy metals. While vaping is considered to be less harmful than smoking, the vapor still contains small amounts of chemicals found in cigarettes, including nicotine. Experts state that it is still too early to determine the full extent of the harm caused by vaping.