Tobacco and nicotine product labelling in France: what must the pack show?

What the law requires

Plain packaging. Cigarettes and rolling tobacco sold in France need standardised plain packaging. The rule comes from the Administrative Order of 21 March 2016 and Art. L.3512-21 of the Code de la santé publique. The pack has a uniform dark brown/green background (Pantone 448C) and uses Helvetica throughout. Brand logos, decorative colours and distinguishing design elements are not allowed. Only the brand name in the prescribed typeface and the mandatory health warnings are permitted.

Health warnings. France operates three sets of 14 combined health warnings (text plus pictorial image). They cover 65% of the front and back of cigarette and rolling tobacco packs. The warnings come from ministerial orders implementing Directive 2014/40/EU. The sets rotate annually. Each set must appear across the year's production in equal proportions.

Flavours and oral tobacco. EU rules apply in France. Under Directive 2014/40/EU, Art. 7(1), cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco with a characterising flavour cannot be placed on the EU market. This has applied since May 2020 and includes menthol roll-your-own variants. Heated tobacco products with a characterising flavour have been barred since October 2023, following Delegated Directive (EU) 2022/2100. Snus and other oral tobacco are banned in every EU member state except Sweden (Directive 2014/40/EU, Art. 17).

Disposable vapes. Single-use e-cigarettes are banned in France under Art. L.3513-21-1 of the Code de la santé publique, inserted by Loi No. 2024-340 of 15 April 2024. Sale, import and distribution to consumers are not permitted, whatever the nicotine content. Refillable and rechargeable e-cigarettes that comply with TPD2 remain permitted.

Nicotine pouches. As of April 2026 their legal status was uncertain. Decree No. 2025-898 of 5 September 2025 set a ban, but the Conseil d'État suspended it in December 2025 pending a ruling on the merits. Sale outside a pharmaceutical framework was already restricted under Art. L.3511-1 of the Code de la santé publique. Check the current status before any decision. Do not launch pouches in France without current legal advice. For the wider picture, see selling nicotine pouches online in the EU.

What to change on your label

• Strip the design. On cigarette and rolling tobacco packs, remove logos, decorative colours and any distinguishing elements. Set the background to Pantone 448C and the type to Helvetica.
• Plan warnings per run. Record which warning set and warning number each packaging run carries. Over the year, each set must appear in equal proportions.
• Reserve the space. Keep 65% of the front and 65% of the back for the combined warning.
• Check flavour. If a cigarette, roll-your-own or heated tobacco product has a characterising flavour, remove or reformulate it before you create the label.
• Drop what cannot be sold. Do not create labels for disposable vapes or for snus aimed at France.
• Selling beyond France? Rules differ by market. Compare Poland and Spain.

Because the warning set changes each year, keep every label version and its warning set on file. CoLabel's label storage and version control keeps those versions in one place.