manufacturers are always one step ahead of the law

MEPs must vote on Monday evening on the ban on these electronic cigarettes, with flashy colors and disposables. But the tobacco industry is constantly looking for ways to circumvent the law and invent new products.

It is from 9:30 p.m. Monday December 4 that the fate of the puffs in the Assembly will be decided. The deputies will debate the ban on these disposable nicotine electronic cigarettes, with flashy colors and fruity aromas, popular with adolescents and young adults, via a bill initiated by elected officials from several left-wing parties, from center and majority, a ban supported by the government.

“Puffs are aimed mainly at a very young audience. The strategies and innovations of manufacturers and the tobacco industry are incessant”explains environmentalist MP Francesca Pasquini, at the origin of the law.

An ineffective ban?

And precisely, it is these incessant innovations that put parliamentarians to work. Indeed, if the Assembly decides on Monday evening to ban puffs, manufacturers have already found the solution: no more disposable puffs, make way for reusable ones, which do not fall within the initial framework of this law. Consequently, the deputies had to clarify their text, in committee. Puffs with larger tanks and rechargeable batteries that can be used until the liquid runs out (6,000 or 9,000 puffs) will also be subject to a ban.

Manufacturers, who are gradually abandoning tobacco, are now in the habit of inventing new products, notably based on nicotine (the substance which creates dependence). They thus created nicotine toothpicks and the very fashionable nicotine sachets. In short, the tobacco industry is always one step ahead of the law, summarizes Vincent Seitlingermember of the Republicans. “Nicotine sachets have a bit of a new fashion feel to them and that’s what’s a bit dangerous”he believes.

“Today, we can clearly see that there is a strategy to increase the type of products that revolve around tobacco to try to find new consumers.”

Vincent Seitlinger, LR deputy for Moselle

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He tabled another bill, this time to ban nicotine sachets. As with the bill that will be discussed on puffs, deputies from all sides say they are ready to work together again to make it happen.