Paris - An unusual public intervention has just taken place on the European scene: the Swedish Minister of Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, sent a message of concern to France, following the announcement of a controversial health measure. The French government decree provides for a ban on nicotine pouches as of April 2026, a decision that Sweden—a leader in tobacco-related harm reduction—considers a strategic error.
A unilateral and misunderstood decision
Without any public consultation or published impact studies, France has decided to ban a product that is used as an alternative to smoked tobacco. Nicotine pouches, although tobacco-free and requiring no combustion, are being banned by regulation, creating a divide between France and several of its European neighbors, which favor regulation over outright bans.
In his official correspondence, the Swedish minister expressed two concerns: on the one hand, Swedish citizens visiting France could be punished for possessing a product that is legal in their country; on the other hand, he questioned the lack of alignment with European approaches based on harm reduction.
Nicotine is not the enemy
The debate is often misdirected. The health hazard does not come from nicotine itself, but from the by-products of tobacco combustion, including tar, carbon monoxide, and other toxic agents. By tackling nicotine pouches, France is banning a combustion-free option that is potentially less harmful than conventional cigarettes.
Co-founder of Nicotine World, Norbert Neuvy, a former heavy smoker for 17 years, testifies to the effectiveness of these alternative devices. After failing with traditional substitutes, he managed to kick the habit thanks to e-cigarettes and then nicotine pouches. Like him, many users find these products a springboard to lasting cessation. Why close this door?
Prohibition as a health dead end
Banning a product doesn't mean its disappearance. Quite the opposite: it opens the door to uncontrollable parallel trade, lacking standards or quality control. Far from promoting public health, this approach could increase risks for users. It reflects an ideological stance rather than a pragmatic choice.
Other countries, such as Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Canada, have adopted clear policies focused on harm reduction, with convincing results: lower smoking rates, better consumer information, and strict supervision of alternatives. France, on the other hand, persists in a logic of stigmatizing smoking cessation tools.
Call for a political shift
Faced with this worrying observation, Nicotine World solemnly calls on the French authorities—Prime Minister, parliamentarians, and public health officials—to reconsider this direction. The signal from Sweden is not an isolated criticism, but the expression of a proven model. It is time to abandon prohibitionist reflexes and adopt a coherent, caring, and scientifically based policy. The objective should not be to combat nicotine at all costs, but to eradicate the preventable causes of death linked to smoking.
