France will ban nicotine pouches: “A blow to public health”

France will ban nicotine pouches in the coming weeks, according to the country’s health minister Geneviève Darrieussecq. Darrieussecq told Le Parisien that the products are dangerous because they contain high doses of nicotine.

On Wednesday, France’s health minister announced in Le Parisien that nicotine pouches will soon be banned in the country. The reason, according to Darrieussecq, is that the products are dangerous because of their high nicotine levels.

“This is an insult to all smokers in France, which represents almost 25% of the population. If nicotine pouches are banned, the best and safest nicotine product will be removed from the market, making it harder for them to quit smoking. The French government is being selfish by allowing a quarter of the population to risk a premature death,” said Markus Lindblad, Head of Communications at Pouch Patrol.

Darrieussecq believes that it is the French government’s duty to stop the use of nicotine pouches in the country, largely because they have become widespread among youth in France.

“Youth use will not be saved by banning the products altogether. Take Norway as an example, where today we have a vape epidemic among young people, even though vapes have never been allowed in the country. The decision in France risks having the same effect – it will be counterproductive”, says Markus Lindblad and concludes:

‘This is a blow to public health in France. Countries in Europe must act against France, and show a sustainable way forward, just as Sweden did when it changed its tobacco policy goal”.

Make your voice heard

Raise your voice! All nicotine pouch users in Europe need to contact Geneviève Darrieussecq and tell her how they quit smoking with the help of nicotine pouches. Contact her and ask her what you did wrong.