Profile
France Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
France Background
Profile
France Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2024.   Page updated: 2025-11-05

In France, e-cigarettes are allowed and regulated both as consumer products and as medicinal products. Online sales of e-cigarettes are permitted, and they are widely available in general retail outlets. However, health claims promoting e-cigarettes are not allowed, and there is a complete ban on all forms of advertising. Unlike some other European countries, France does not currently impose an excise tax on e-cigarette products. The country has a comprehensive regulatory framework governing e-cigarette manufacture and sale. Under these regulations, product notifications are required prior to market entry, and child-resistant and tamper-proof containers are mandatory. Health warnings must be clearly displayed on all packaging. Additionally, sales are restricted to individuals aged 18 years and above, and the maximum nicotine concentration is limited to 20 mg/ml. There are also tank capacity restrictions (2 ml or less) in line with European Union regulations. France does not impose flavour restrictions, but the use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in certain public places.
As of 2022, France recorded approximately 3.6 million current vapers, with an adult current e-cigarette prevalence of 6.7% and daily vaping prevalence of 5%. Survey data from 2017 show that 24% of adults reported having tried e-cigarette vaping at least once. Public perception data collected in 2017 indicate that 62% of respondents viewed e-cigarettes as harmful or more harmful than traditional cigarettes, while 21% believed they were less harmful, and 17% were unsure.

Prevalence

3.0 million
1
2021
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 4% 2A A
2021 5.59% 2B
2022 7% 2C
2022 6.7% 2D B
2023 8.3% 2E
References:
  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. European Commission. (2024). Special Eurobarometer 539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products [Dataset]. European Commission. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2995
  4. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-fra.pdf?sfvrsn=b4395f6_3&download=true. Accessed: 6 August 2025.
  5. l’Enquête sur les représentations, opinions et perceptions sur les psychotropes (EROPP) 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
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)
  2. Adults survey: Baromètre santé, 2021; National, ages 18-75
7.8%
2
2023
8.8%
2
2023
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2022 5% 3A A
2022 4.6% 3B A
References:
  1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-fra.pdf?sfvrsn=b4395f6_3&download=true. Accessed: 6 August 2025.
  2. European Commission. (2024). Special Eurobarometer 539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products [Dataset]. European Commission. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2995
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Baromètre santé, 2021; National, ages 18-75
  2. E-cigarettes with nicotine
24%
4 B
2017
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. l’Enquête sur les représentations, opinions et perceptions sur les psychotropes (EROPP) 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
  3. European Commission. (2024). Special Eurobarometer 539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products [Dataset]. European Commission. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2995
  4. 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. E-cigarettes with nicotine
  2. 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

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier No
2024 No 1A
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
Yes
2
2022
Yes
A
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=85. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.

Regulation

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Allowed
2024 Allowed 1B
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/
  2. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2022 Yes 2B
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/
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=85. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2022 Yes 2B
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/
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=85. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
Yes
3
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
  2. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=85. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
  3. 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

References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.

Regulations and restrictions

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2022 YES 1A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=85. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
YES
1
2022
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2024 YES 2A A
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. Text health warnings : “La nicotine contenue dans ce produit crée une forte dépendance. Son utilisation par les non-fumeurs n’est pas recommandée” (“This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance. It is not recommended for use by nonsmokers”) .
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 Yes: 18 years 0A
2022 Yes: 18 years
References:
  1. https://ec.europa.eu/health/tobacco/products/revision_en
NO
2 B
2024
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2024 Yes Equal or less than 20mg/ml 2A
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2022 YES 1A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=85. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2022 2 ml or less 1A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=85. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=85. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
  2. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. Text health warnings : “La nicotine contenue dans ce produit crée une forte dépendance. Son utilisation par les non-fumeurs n’est pas recommandée” (“This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance. It is not recommended for use by nonsmokers”) .
  2. Ingredients/ flavours should not be harmful to health.

Perception of harm

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

Tax

No excise taxes on this product
1
2024
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
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.