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

https://colabelms.com/knowledge-base/en/tobacco-nicotine-labelling-france-what-must-pack-show  
Published: October 15, 2026 · Last checked: October 15, 2026  
France · Tobacco & Nicotine  
CoLabel — https://colabelms.com

## Short answer

Cigarette and rolling tobacco packs in France must be standardised plain packs. Combined health warnings cover 65% of the front and back, and the warning set rotates every year. Disposable vapes are banned, and the legal status of nicotine pouches was uncertain as of April 2026.

## Key facts

- **What:** Plain packaging, rotating combined health warnings at 65% coverage, and bans on disposable vapes and certain flavoured or oral products
- **Applies to:** Cigarettes and rolling tobacco (plain pack and warnings); e-cigarettes (disposable ban); cigarettes, roll-your-own and heated tobacco (flavour bans); snus and oral tobacco
- **Since:** Plain packaging order of 21 March 2016; flavour bans for cigarettes and roll-your-own since May 2020, for heated tobacco since October 2023; disposable vape ban under Loi No. 2024-340 of 15 April 2024
- **Official source:** [Code de la santé publique (Art. L.3512-21, Art. L.3513-21-1) and Directive 2014/40/EU](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr)

## 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](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr). 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](https://solidarites-sante.gouv.fr). 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)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32014L0040), 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](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32022L2100). 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](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr), 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](https://www.conseil-etat.fr) 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](https://snuskitchen.com/laws/france/) 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](https://colabelms.com/knowledge-base/en/selling-nicotine-pouches-online-eu-regulations-2026).

## 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](https://colabelms.com/knowledge-base/en/tobacco-nicotine-labelling-poland-what-must-pack-show) and [Spain](https://colabelms.com/knowledge-base/en/what-rules-apply-to-tobacco-and-nicotine-pack-labels-in-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](https://colabelms.com/label-storage-version-control) keeps those versions in one place.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I sell a low-nicotine disposable vape in France?

No. The ban on disposable single-use e-cigarettes applies regardless of nicotine content (Art. L.3513-21-1 Code de la santé publique). Refillable and rechargeable e-cigarettes that comply with TPD2 remain permitted.

### Can French packs use a menthol roll-your-own tobacco?

No. Roll-your-own tobacco with a characterising flavour cannot be placed on the EU market. The ban has applied since May 2020 and includes menthol variants (Directive 2014/40/EU, Art. 7(1)).

### How often do the health warnings change?

France has three sets of 14 combined warnings, and the sets rotate annually. Each set must appear across the year's production in equal proportions. The warnings cover 65% of the front and back of cigarette and rolling tobacco packs.

## Sources

1. [Légifrance — Code de la santé publique (Art. L.3512-21, L.3513-21-1, L.3511-1)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr)
2. [Conseil d'État — suspension of Decree No. 2025-898](https://www.conseil-etat.fr)
3. [Ministère des Solidarités et de la Santé — combined health warnings](https://solidarites-sante.gouv.fr)
4. [Directive 2014/40/EU (TPD2)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32014L0040)
5. [Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2022/2100](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32022L2100)
6. [Nicotine pouch status in France](https://snuskitchen.com/laws/france/)