France removes 10,000 disposable e-cigarettes from sale

Nearly 10,000 disposable e-cigarettes, known as puffs, have been removed from sale in France following inspections by the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF). The removal follows a ban on these products that took effect in February 2025.

Of the 491 establishments inspected—including distributors, wholesalers, manufacturers, importers, and retailers—the DGCCRF reported that 86% were in compliance with the new regulations. However, approximately 15% of the businesses, or 70 locations, were found to still be selling the prohibited items. Some vendors reportedly continued sales due to a misunderstanding of the law, incorrectly believing the ban applied only to nicotine-containing products.

The ban aims to address concerns regarding the products serving as a gateway to smoking and their environmental impact, specifically the waste generated by plastic components and lithium batteries. Similar bans were implemented in the United Kingdom in 2024 and Belgium in 2025.