PARIS: France plans to ban disposable electronic cigarettes, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has said in a radio interview. “It’s an important public health issue,” Ms Borne said, adding that the government is drawing up plans for a national programme to fight tobacco use that she said was responsible for 75,000 deaths a year in France.
So-called “puff” devices generate habits among young people that can lead to tobacco addiction, she added. However, the government does not plan to raise taxes on tobacco next year after an increase this year, the prime minister said.
French President Emmanuel Macron in 2021 set out ambitious plans to tackle tobacco and alcohol, pledging more smoking-free areas and aiming to make all 20-year-olds tobacco-free by 2030.
Several countries have taken measures to crack down on vaping, including Australia, which banned recreational vaping and tightened other aspects of e-cigarette laws in May.
Under the rules, vapes are only sold in pharmacies and require “pharmaceutical-type” packaging. Earlier this year the Cabinet approved plans to ban the sale of vaping products to under-18s.
The Bill to enact the ban remains before the Oireachtas. At the time, Tánaiste Micheál Martin described vaping as “very dangerous, particularly for young people”. He added that it was the “revenge of the tobacco industry in terms of getting people hooked on nicotine again.”
Protesters attend a rally against South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who declared martial law, which was...
A self-proclaimed witch lights a candle before a ceremony. — Reuters/FileLUSAKA: Zambian police said they have...
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini speaks to media upon his arrival at Pagliarelli bunker courthouse for a...
Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculpture of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on Puri...
A Taliban soldier walking past veiled women.— AFP/File GENEVA: Special envoys and representatives for Afghanistan...
Fireworks are seen over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney,...