The lower house of the French Parliament has begun the process of banning disposable vapes in the European Union’s second-largest economy. If adopted, the disposable vape ban could take effect by September 2024.
Late Monday night, the French National Assembly passed the Disposable Vape Act by a vote of 104-0. The bill will now go to the French Senate, where it is also expected to pass, then to President Emmanuel Macron to be signed into law. The law would also need to be cleared by the EU’s European Commission before taking effect, according to the BBC.
The disposable ban is part of the French government’s new plan to reduce tobacco use. The plan was announced formally in late November, but has been discussed publicly all year. The government also wants to mandate plain packaging for vaping products.
Other countries are considering similar disposable bans, including the United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland.
In France, disposable vapes are known as “puffs,” and—as in much of the world—they have grabbed a huge share of the vaping product market. The brightly colored, easy-to-use products are often blamed for encouraging teenage vaping, but are also considered an environmental threat.
Disposable vapes are made of plastic, and contain rechargeable lithium ion batteries, which are wasted when discarded after a single use. The plastic shells, electronic components, and batteries create a health hazard when disposed of in landfills or natural areas. Most disposable vapes are thrown in the trash, although they can be recycled (with some effort).
Other countries are considering similar disposable bans, including the United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland. In the UK, a public consultation on vaping regulations ends today. The British government has asked for public comment on a variety of vaping issues, including a possible ban on disposable vapes.
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Because of declining cigarette sales, state governments in the U.S. and countries around the world are looking to vapor products as a new source of tax revenue.
The legal age to buy e-cigarettes and other vaping products varies around the world. The United States recently changed the legal minimum sales age to 21.
A list of vaping product flavor bans and online sales bans in the United States, and sales and possession bans in other countries.
