Nicotine pouches can no longer be sold in France. Photo credit: Jakubdrastich2, CC4.0.
France is the latest European country to ban the sale of nicotine pouches, citing concerns about their attractiveness to young people and their resemblance to snus, particularly due to the "discreet and invisible use" they allow.
French authorities reported a significant increase in incidents of nicotine pouch-related intoxication, with 131 cases recorded in 2022, up from just 19 in 2020, according to Euronews.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien last year, health minister Geneviève Darrieussecq described nicotine pouches as "dangerous" and emphasized that it is the government's "duty to prohibit the marketing of these products."
A European Parliament report indicates that while only 0.3% of European adults used nicotine pouches in 2021, that figure could triple by this year as the product gains popularity, particularly among young people. According to the report, Eastern Europe and the Nordic countries represent the largest markets for nicotine pouches in Europe. Notably, 12% of young people aged 15 to 24 in Denmark are using nicotine pouches.
According to an analysis by the advocacy group Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sales of nicotine pouches have been rising in recent years across Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.
Nicotine pouches are not covered by the EU's tobacco regulations, leaving member states responsible for determining rules regarding nicotine limits, advertising, and whether they should be sold at all. A survey published last year revealed that many EU countries are awaiting guidance from the European Commission, which has delayed updating its tobacco directives, last revised in 2014.
According to projections from market research firm Business Market Insights, the European nicotine pouch market could reach approximately €1.06 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 6.2% from 2022 to 2030.