French Pouch Ban Criticised
Smoke Free Sweden says the Swedish government has stepped up its defense of safer alternatives for smokers in Europe by formally opposing a proposed French ban on nicotine pouches
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by Dave Cross
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Smoke Free Sweden says the Swedish government has stepped up its defense of safer alternatives for smokers in Europe by formally opposing a proposed French ban on nicotine pouches. Through the issuing of a so-called ‘Detailed Opinion’ to the European Union challenging the French proposal, the opposition follows a similar move earlier in 2025 in response to restrictive legislation in Spain.
Smoke Free Sweden states that nicotine pouches have played a critical role in reducing smoking rates in Sweden to the lowest in Europe.
Testament to the sterling work being done in Sweden, the nation’s male lung cancer death rate is 61% lower than the European average, with a corresponding 34% lower rate of total cancer deaths.
Many would assume that such success would surely be recognised and imitated across other European nations, but EU members such a Spain and France appear to be wearing blinkers and pretending it isn’t happening.
Dr Delon Human, a global health expert and leader of Smoke Free Sweden, told Planet of the Vapes: “Sweden must be applauded for standing up for its harm reduction model and defending the rights of adult consumers across Europe. The Swedish government's continued advocacy for access to nicotine alternatives reflects its commitment to public health through innovation, not prohibition.”
France has introduced a draft decree that would impose a comprehensive ban on nicotine pouches and all other oral nicotine products, except for medicines and chewing tobacco.
The Sun reports that harm reduction experts have slammed the ban on pouches as “terrifying” and “completely disproportionate”.
Richard Crosby, UK director of Considerate Pouchers, told the newspaper that Brits travelling to France now risk being treated like “drug trafficers” for carrying pouches with them: “How can carrying a nicotine pouch be worse than carrying heroin and result in going to prison, let alone for five years? The penalties being proposed by French authorities are terrifying, completely disproportionate and make no sense.”
According to Expressen, Swedish Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa, who is leading Sweden’s challenge, emphasised the importance of safeguarding adults’ access to safer alternatives: “We are sending a clear signal to the other EU countries that we will stand up for our own business sector and for our [pouch] users.
“All EU countries have the free right to regulate [nicotine pouches], which we have also done in Sweden and something that we think is positive. We have set an age limit, regulated marketing and decided that there should be warning labels on the packages.
“Ultimately, it's about freedom of choice.”
Dr Human added: “Smoke-free nicotine alternatives are key to achieving a healthier, smoke-free Europe. With some EU countries proposing bans rather than regulation, Sweden’s stance defends its national interests, as well as the fundamental principle of harm reduction and consumer choice.
“We urge policymakers across Europe to look at the data from Sweden, where smoking rates are the lowest in the EU thanks to widespread use of safer alternatives. This is the path forward: balanced regulation that protects youth and supports adults in quitting smoking.”
Photo Credit:
Photo by Mohamed Jamil Latrach on Unsplash, resized and cropped
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
