The French Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq’s announcement to ban nicotine pouches disregards a valuable tool in the fight against smoking-related disease and, by extension, undermines consumer choice and public health.

The Consumer Choice Center advocates for policies grounded in harm reduction and consumer freedom, both of which are compromised by this ban. Nicotine pouches are proven, safer alternatives that help individuals quit smoking by providing a non-combustible, low-risk source of nicotine, similar to nicotine patches or gums but with greater appeal to adult consumers. Instead of enhancing public health, this decision risks pushing former smokers back to cigarettes or into unregulated markets where quality and safety are unmonitored​​.

Countries that support alternatives like nicotine pouches, alongside vaping products, have made meaningful strides toward lowering smoking rates and related health risks. For instance, smokeless nicotine products have contributed to reduced cancer and smoking-related mortality in Sweden, underscoring the effectiveness of such options in fostering a smoke-free society​.

France has an opportunity to lead with policies that prioritize science and harm reduction, supporting consumer access to less harmful products rather than pushing them out. The Consumer Choice Center urges the French government to revisit this decision and adopt evidence-based policies that align with modern public health goals: fewer smokers, lower health risks, and a true empowerment of consumer choice.

For a healthier future, let’s choose innovation over prohibition.