Representing over 800 companies, FIVAPE has carried out an impact study on the vaping industry in the event of the application of Article 23 of the Finance Bill.
The French vape industry is threatened with death if the law is not amended.
Keeping vaping in Article 23 would create a veritable social plan for the industry, immediately destroying 4,000 jobs (distance selling) and threatening 21,000 others (stores and manufacturers). Bankruptcies would number in the hundreds. The extermination of a "French Tech sector" with a positive impact on public health would be an historic first.
FIVAPE has carried out an impact study to assess the scale of the situation. Based on consolidated data and conservative assumptions, the analysis reveals that the proposed reform would have significant negative economic, social, budgetary and health impacts.
Health impact
The study estimates an increase of 840,000 in the number of smokers. This would be the result of a return to smoking for some vapoteurs and a lesser transition of smokers to vape, due to more costly and complex access. Such an increase would run counter to the objectives of the French National Tobacco Control Plan.
Economic impact
The reform would lead to a sharp reduction in economic activity in the French vaping industry. The net loss in national added value is estimated at 1.12 billion euros per year. This drop in activity would mean the replacement of a fabric of French SMEs and VSEs by imports with lower added value.
Social impact
Net job losses are estimated at 4,000 as soon as the law is applied. This initial phase would be followed by a contraction threatening a large proportion of the industry's remaining 21,000 jobs in the near future.
Budgetary impact
The measure would result in a deficit for public finances. The net annual budgetary balance for the State is estimated at -365 million euros, taking into account losses in existing tax revenues (VAT, corporation tax, contributions), the social costs linked to unemployment and the expected gains from postponed activity.
Don't kill vape! Mobilizations in Bordeaux, Vannes, Lille, Cherbourg, Orléans, Aix-en-Provence and Strasbourg
Following the launch of the Ne tuez pas la vape petition, which has already reached over 160,000 signatories, employees and entrepreneurs in the industry are mobilizing to defend jobs in the sector and call for the withdrawal of vaping products from Article 23 of the PLF. These rallies in 7 French cities will rally all concerned to the defense of vape.
Declarations are made to the prefecture and the local media are notified:
- BORDEAUX | Tuesday, November 4 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Place de la bourse
- VANNES | Wednesday, November 5 | 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Quai Éric Tabarly
- LILLE | Wednesday, November 5 | 12 to 2 p.m. | Place du général de Gaulle
- CHERBOURG | Wednesday, November 5 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Place du général de Gaulle
- ORLÉANS | Wednesday, November 5 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Place Sainte Croix
- AIX-EN-PROVENCE | Wednesday, November 5 | 10am to 12pm | Place de l'hôtel de ville
- STRASBOURG | Wednesday, November 5 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Place Kléber
For information on local events, go to the Don't kill vape accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin or X.
Doctors and tobaccologists also raise their voices
Professionals and users are not the only ones to have their say. In the media, many doctors are severely criticizing the bill: Bertrand Dautzenberg, Marion Adler, Amine Benyamina, Antoine Flahaut, and many others.
Health professionals in the field have long recognized the benefits of vaping for smoking cessation. The Société francophone de tabacologie (SFT) has just confirmed this, with the publication of the consensus of its experts - doctors and tobaccologists - who work in direct contact with smokers. This collective work by specialists in the field of tabacology should become an authoritative reference.
FIVAPE remains fully mobilized to defend the industry and its jobs. It is once again calling on the public authorities to take the true benefit/risk ratio of vaping into account, given the cost of tobacco to our society.