France:
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Data sourced: 2021.   Page updated: 2022-09-02

Prevalence

Number of current vapers:
3.0 million
1
Adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence:
5.59%
1
Ever tried e-cigarette vaping:
24%
2 A
References:
  1. European Commission. (2021). Special Eurobarometer 506: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes (S2240_506_ENG). European Commission. http://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/S2240_506_ENG
  2. 1. European Commission (2017). Special Eurobarometer 458: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes Available at: http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG ; 2. Pasquereau, A. et al, (2018) La consommation de tabac en France: premiers r�sultats du barometre sant� 2017. Bull �pid�miol hebd, 2018: p. 14-15.
Comments:
  1. Eurobarometer data provides a representative sample of ~28,000 respondents and estimates the prevalence of vaping for the EU overall, as well as per country. The survey was conducted in March 2017. Covers 28 European Union (EU) countries. Total sample N = 27901, aged 15 and over. nb In country survey using 2017 Health Barometer data shows a significant difference in 'ever tried' vaping (41.7%) Ref: Pasquereau et al (2018)

Product promotion

Health claims allowed:
No
Advertising is regulated:
Yes
A
Comments:
  1. Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.

Regulation

Regulatory status:
Allowed
1
Regulated as consumer product:
Yes
1
Regulated as medicinal product:
Yes
1
Regulated as tobacco product:
Yes
1
References:
  1. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/

Availability

Legal to buy device online - personal use:
Yes
Legal to buy nicotine online - personal use:
Yes
Legal to import device - trade:
Yes
Legal to import nicotine - trade:
Yes
Legal to sell device:
Yes
Legal to sell nicotine:
Yes
Legal to purchase without prescription:
Yes
Products are marketed online:
Yes
Products are marketed:
Yes

Regulations and restrictions

Notifications of new products required:
Yes
Child and tamperproof containers required:
Yes
Health warning on packaging required:
Yes
Minimum age restrictions on sales:
Yes: 18 years
1
Restrictions on nicotine content:
Yes
Legal restrictions on use in public places:
Yes
Restrictions on tank size:
Yes
References:
  1. https://ec.europa.eu/health/tobacco/products/revision_en

Perception of harm

Don't know:
17%
1 A
Not harmful, or less harmful than cigarettes:
21%
1 A
Harmful, or more harmful than cigarettes:
62%
1 A
References:
  1. Reference: European Commission (2017). Special Eurobarometer 458: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes Available at: http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
Comments:
  1. Question asked in this survey did not compare harmfulness with cigarettes. The question used was 'Do you think they are harmful to the health of people who use them?' 62% - YES, 21% - NO, 17% DON'T KNOW
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.