The Petit Vapoteur blog

Article 23: The Successful Mobilisation of Vapers

02/3/2026 / Health, Society and Law news

Article updated: January 30, 2026.

Article 23 of the 2026 Finance Bill encountered unexpected resistance. For the first time, vapers, the professional industry and their federation, as well as doctors and tobacco specialists mobilised against this article.

The article represented a concrete threat to the entire French vaping industry, with a destructive impact on vapers.

This article which we have been rid of since the end of January went through a long and chaotic parliamentary process.

It was on the 14th of October 2025 that the industry learned the news. Among the government’s plans: the ban on online sales, taxation of vaping products even without nicotine just like tobacco and for vape shops, a change of status modeled after tobacco shops. How ? Under what conditions ? No one knows, and perhaps no one ever will.

It was not until 20th of November that the National Assembly rejected Article 23 in its entirety.

Later on the 1st of December the Senate took its turn stripping the article of its substance but nevertheless retaining an excise duty set it at €0. This would have opened the door to possible future taxes on e liquids.

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Finally on the 23rd of December 23, due to a lack of agreement among parliamentarians and the absence of a budget a special law was adopted at the end of December. More waiting followed during the holiday season until 15th of January 2026.

The Finance Bill and the article returned to the National Assembly. Amendments supported by players in the vaping industry were accepted. However, the special licensing requirement for vape shops reappeared in the text.

Four days later, Sébastien Lecornu reversed his decision and invoked Article 49.3.

Three months of waiting. Three months during which all stakeholders in the French vaping industry, independent from tobacco, mobilised and anxious but determined.

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Looking back:

The vaping industry, led by its federation FIVAPE, reacted as early as October. The petition “Vaping is not smoking” was launched and gathered more than 250,000 signatures.

At the beginning of November, industry professionals came together and demonstrated for the first time in seven cities across France. Employees of Le Petit Vapoteur demonstrated for the first time with the support of local members of parliament. Vape shops wrote to deputies in their regions to ask for support.

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On 9th of December 2025, a second demonstration brought together more than 800 people in Paris, in front of the Ministry of Health.

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All these actions generated media coverage. The general public seemed to discover what vaping the electronic cigarette really is. A genuine industry with more than 20,000 jobs created in nearly 15 years. Many vapers and former smokers were able to testify that they freed themselves from tobacco thanks to electronic cigarettes.

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Some members of parliament listened and submitted decisive amendments calling for the complete withdrawal of Article 23. The mobilisation even appeared to resonate within the government.

Amélie de Montchalin, Minister for Public Accounts, 15th January 2026:

“We have acknowledged that it is a good substitute product and, in some cases, a tool for smoking cessation. We are therefore in favour of not implementing a specific tax on vaping products starting in 2026.”

This was exceptional: the minister publicly associated vaping products with smoking cessation before members of parliament.

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After these long weeks, and following the use of Article 49.3 on the 19th of January 2026, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu chose to adopt Amendment 1481, calling for the complete removal of Article 23.

The government presented the final version of the 2026 Finance Bill without Article 23 at the end of January.

The final adoption was confirmed on 3rd of February 2026.

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Pascal & Sam

View all comments (12)

Lajla

08/7/2026 22:16:40

???????????? Good job, mobilizing. We've had some issues here in Sweden, like the proposal to ban all flavorings except tobacco that was thankfully not passed, there's several things they've done in the name of protecting children and adults that's basically just been beneficial to big tobacco.

Gerard

03/30/2026 22:37:15

WOW! this is great news for the better alternative for smoking cigs. I know LPV for a long time and glad to see that your still in business ! Congratulations LPV !

Eelco

03/2/2026 09:42:28

I just read this now. So great to hear! Since vaping is as good as banned here in The Netherlands I have relied on le Petit Vapoteur for my liquids and coils. And yes, I finally managed to stop smoking in 2023 thanks to the e-cigarette. Way to go France!!!

Elektrolurch

02/15/2026 11:02:16

Hi there! I’m from Germany… That’s great news! Happy with this decision! Thanks to all supporters! ????????

Fab

02/12/2026 14:31:37

On aurait du vous demander de venir en Belgique pour aussi les bloquer :'( chez nous c'est bloqué ... Et on ne peut même plus commander en ligne sur vos sites, dans les boutiques, ils ont du tout cloisonné au même titre que les cigarettes et le tabac! Les magasins de vape chez nous, ne peuvent vendre qu'en boutique, interdiction en ligne ... Et tout cela bien évidemment c'est surtout pour protéger les jeunes qui ont trop d'attrait a la vape ... Même se fournir de la drogue est plus facile que de trouver des bons produits de vapes, vive la Belgique !

Joost

02/11/2026 20:45:18

What a great victory! With this bill we would have had a big problem continuing our vaping here in the Netherlands. Merci a tous!

Philippe CLEC'H

02/5/2026 14:09:51

Enfin un peu de bon sens...pour l'instant. Mais c'est une belle victoire ????

Pascal

02/4/2026 10:32:01

Thank you, Ilco. We remain committed to the next steps. Have a good day.

Pascal

02/4/2026 10:31:12

Danke, Bernie. Wir bleiben dem weiteren Vorgehen treu. Schönen Tag noch.

Pascal

02/4/2026 10:29:50

Danke, Bernie. Wir bleiben dem weiteren Vorgehen treu. Schönen Tag noch.

Bernd Soia

02/4/2026 06:29:40

Super super super!!! Ich komme aus Deutschland und habe das bei euch Le Petit Vapoteur mit verfolgt. Ich finde es so super wie in Frankreich mit dem Thema umgegangen wird, auch mit Tabaksteuer usw.. Ich habe natürlich die Petition auch mit unterschrieben. Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland Bernie;-)

ilco bosboom

02/3/2026 19:27:50

this is great news - lpv is my ony hope for getting eliquid . in the netherlands . i was worried it would pass . and we woulkd see the end of vaping globely this is truel great to hear