Nearly 200,000 signatures were collected this Wednesday evening on a petition entitled “Vaping is not smoking”, launched by an organization representing the interests of the sector, the Interprofessional Vaping Federation. The goal? The request to abolish the vaping tax, was examined this Thursday in the National Assembly as part of the 2026 Finance Bill.
The government’s draft budget sets the tax at 30 to 50 cents per 10 milliliter (ml) bottle, which is generally sold for between 5 and 7 euros. The government is also considering requiring vaping shops to obtain approvals similar to those given to tobacco sellers, for example prohibiting proximity to schools.
Most importantly, distance sales to individuals, which professionals say is the source of a quarter of sales in the sector, will be completely banned. With these measures, Fivape, the sector federation, which is the origin of the petition whose uniqueness is only verified by email, estimates that 3,000 jobs in the field of online sales will “disappear instantly”.
“Public health measures”
“These are public health measures, which are in line with the regulations that apply to tobacco,” said the office of Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin. For the Ministry of Health, “this step aims to reduce exposure and accessibility to vaping products, especially among the younger generation.”
“This is not a simple tax adjustment, but a decision that will have dire consequences for public health and employment in France. In the name of the 4 million vaping users who have freed themselves from the scourge of tobacco, in the name of 20,000 French independent vaping employees, we ask you to save vaping,” the petition reads.
The National Anti-Smoking Committee (CNCT) disagrees. “These products are highly addictive, their marketing mainly targets young people,” said Emmanuelle Béguinot, director of the anti-tobacco association, who considers “better control through a ban on everything related to online sales essential.”
