France’s Council of State suspended a government decree that would have banned the manufacture, sale, and export of nicotine pouches from April 2026, pending a full legal review. The decision follows a challenge by EVLB Group, which argued the decree violated EU free trade rules and gave manufacturers insufficient time to reorganize operations. The court agreed, ruling that companies should have been granted a longer transition period and suspending the decree until a final judgment, expected by June 2026.
The Council of State noted, however, that the marketing of nicotine pouches is already prohibited under France’s Public Health Code outside pharmaceutical use, meaning the suspension is unlikely to change current retail conditions. The Health Ministry said it takes note of the ruling and emphasized that the ban on marketing and possession remains in effect for now, while industry groups welcomed the pause as an opportunity for a more thorough review of the products.
