Marisol Touraine is about to sign a circular which will ban advertising around e-cigarettes. The ban on vaping in public places is also being studied.
Whether in France or in Europe, the e-cigarette remains at the center of the debate! While MEPs ruled in favor on October 9 to consumers who did not want electronic cigarettes to be sold in pharmacies, it is now the French Government which is preparing to better regulate this product which is attracting more and more consumers. According to Le Parisien, new bans for vapers are on the program …
Vaping in public places threatened
The approximately 1.5 million French vapers, according to the latest estimates, could first of all be banned from vaping in public places. This wish of the government is for the moment suspended from an advisory opinion of the Council of State which should intervene, “by the end of the month”, estimates the ministry. And if the opinion of the judges goes in the direction of a ban in all public places, the effectiveness of the decision could arrive as quickly as possible, because the legislative framework is already ready.
In its May newspaper, the Research and Safety Institute estimated that electronic cigarettes present a risk at work. The Institute recalled, in fact, that the propylene glycol, present in the e-cigarette, is responsible, when inhaled, for eye irritation and breathing difficulties. The employer would therefore be entitled to prohibit it in the premises. This is what the Ministry of Health is already recommending to public transport companies. The RATP has, for example, decided to prohibit the use of the product in all of its spaces, including vehicles.
Finally, in its report submitted to the Minister in May, the French Office for the Prevention of Smoking recommended, for its part, that “the use of electronic cigarettes should be prohibited in public places, not in the name of a health problem but for the exemplarity, because it can encourage to smoke ”, indicated Pr Bertrand Dautzenberg, principal author of the report.
E-cigarette advertising is illegal, tobacconists say
In addition, the Minister of Health Marisol Touraine would also be on the verge of signing in the coming days a circular which will prohibit all forms of advertising around the “e-cigarette”. The measure will surely calm the war of nerves that is looming between sellers of electronic cigarettes and tobacconists. The latter accuse the former of “unfair competition” and accuse them of being outlawed.
This is the case which is currently taking place between two neighboring merchants of Plaisance-du-Touch (Haute-Garonne). A tobacconist in the city subpoenaed a seller of electronic cigarettes on October 8.
The tobacconist is subject to the laws concerning tobacco products. He cannot therefore promote his products outside the tobacco shop. The owners of the e-cigarette store claim they have a right to it. In any case, the law does not prohibit them. But, in the eyes of the tobacconist, the e-cigarette is a tobacco product. They contain nicotine and must therefore fall under the state monopoly. As such, he calls for the prohibition of any promotion and wants to stop the marketing of products outside sworn offices. Any contrary action would be, according to him, “a violation of French law!” The case will be before the summary judge on October 17.
.