BAT Pulls Pouches from France, Criticizes Debateless Ban
April 03, 2026 by tobaccoreporter.com
BAT Pulls Pouches from France, Criticizes Debateless Ban
British American Tobacco has withdrawn its nicotine pouch products from the French market following the implementation of a nationwide ban on oral nicotine products. The move comes in response to a government decree that took effect in April 2026, prohibiting the sale and distribution of such products. At the same time, the company has strongly criticised the decision, arguing that the ban was introduced without parliamentary debate or broader consultation. BAT contends that the measure runs counter to harm reduction strategies and could undermine efforts to reduce smoking rates by limiting access to lower-risk alternatives. The development highlights ongoing tensions between national regulatory approaches and wider European discussions on how to manage emerging nicotine products within a coherent public health framework.
28.30% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 15.7 million current smokers in France.
SOURCE: GSTHR
