According to the New York Post, the French Ministry of Health has officially banned nicotine pouches and other oral nicotine products, including ZYN.
According to the new regulations, the relevant restrictions apply to:
Use;
Purchase;
Hold;
Sell;
And other actions.
Those who violate the regulations may face the following penalties:
Five years in prison;
A fine of 400,000 euros (approximately 436,600 US dollars).
The report states that the French government’s current ban covers:
Nicotine pouches;
Nicotine gum lozenges;
Other oral nicotine products.
Among them is the Swedish brand ZYN, which has experienced rapid growth in the markets of Europe and America in recent years.
The French Ministry of Health stated that the new regulations will come into effect officially on April 1st, 2026.
However, traditional cigarettes and electronic cigarette products are currently not included in this ban.
The French government has stated that nicotine has been classified as a “toxic substance”.
The health department stated that the relevant products may cause:
Nicotine addiction;
Acute nicotine syndrome (acute nicotinic syndromes);
Severe vomiting;
Dehydration;
Health risks such as epilepsy.
The French government also cited a report from the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) in 2023, stating that nicotine pouch products are widely spreading on social media platforms and may be targeted at young consumers for marketing.
The report states that France has become the first country in Europe to criminalize the “possession and use” of nicotine pouches.
Previously, several European countries such as Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have successively banned or strictly restricted the sale of nicotine pouch products.
However, most countries mainly restrict sales, and do not impose criminal penalties for personal possession and use.
At the same time, the French ban also triggered a strong reaction from Sweden.
Swedish Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa said in an interview with the Financial Times:
“It’s just as absurd as if we were to ban French baguettes and French wines in Sweden.”
It is reported that the Swedish government has previously criticized France’s restrictions on nicotine pouch products on multiple occasions, and believes that the relevant ban may affect the principles governing the circulation of goods within the EU internal market.
In recent years, nicotine pouch products have experienced rapid growth in the markets of Europe and America.
According to the “National Youth Tobacco Survey” conducted by the United States, nicotine pouches have become the second most commonly used tobacco-related product among American minors in 2024, trailing only e-cigarettes.
Industry insiders believe that this comprehensive ban by France may further exacerbate the existing differences within Europe regarding the regulatory approach for nicotine pouches.