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Tourists could get caught out by tough new legislation

Holidaymakers heading to France are being warned about strict new rules that could result in on-the-spot fines of up to €500. France remains one of the most popular destinations for UK travellers, but a nationwide ban on oral nicotine products, which came into force on April 1, 2026, is expected to catch out many visitors.

A spokesman for tobacco product retailer Northerner said: “Under the new law, nicotine pouches and similar oral nicotine products are completely banned in France. Despite objections from many European countries, the ban includes the sale, import, possession, and use of oral nicotine products, meaning holidaymakers could fall foul of the law just by having pouches in their possession.

“Possible consequences include fines, which some sources suggest can be around €100–€500+ on the spot, and potentially criminal penalties. If you’re going to France, don’t pack nicotine pouches at all.

“Any products containing nicotine (synthetic or natural), packaged for sale, and designed for oral use are included within the ban. This includes non-medicinal pouches, gums, lozenges, beads, pastes, strips, and liquids. The ban does not apply to smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco.”

Separate from the pouch ban, France is also tightening smoking rules. Smoking is banned in many outdoor public areas such as beaches, parks, areas near schools, outdoor sports venues, and bus stops. Fines for breaking these rules are typically around €90–€135, rising to much higher amounts if unpaid.

Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs from Northerner, said: “France still has an exceptionally high smoking rate, around 23% compared to about 12% in the UK. Nicotine pouches are an effective alternative to cancer-causing cigarettes, so completely banning them removes the option for French smokers.

“Absurdly, this ban doesn’t include chewing tobacco, which is known to be cancer-causing. If the French government’s goal really is to improve public health, then given the harms we know are caused by alcohol, it would actually make much more sense for them to ban champagne rather than nicotine pouches. We want to see strong regulation of nicotine pouches, not total prohibition.”

Defra and UK Border Force warn travellers about strict customs rules

Holidaymakers could face fines of up to £5,000 for bringing certain goods into England, even if those items were purchased at the duty free section of your departure airport.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) released an update at the end of March, calling on travellers to “take a simple step to help protect GB from animal diseases”. It continued: “To protect our animals from the devastating effects of diseases like foot and mouth, it’s illegal to bring meats such as lamb, pork or beef or dairy products from the EU into GB in your luggage.

“This means items such as cheese, cured or raw meats, sandwiches and milk, including duty free purchases. Products will be seized and you risk fines.”

Restrictions are in place regarding bringing meat, dairy, fish and animal products, as well as fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds into Great Britain from overseas. Should you declare any prohibited food items to Border Force officers at customs, they will confiscate and dispose of them.

Additional guidance on Gov.uk cautions: “If you do not declare banned food products, you could be fined up to £5,000 (in England) or you could be prosecuted.” The regulations surrounding the importation of meat, dairy, fish and other animal products vary depending on the country of origin.

If you are returning from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, you are prohibited from bringing in any of the following:

• cheese, milk and dairy products like butter and yoghurt
• pork
• beef
• lamb
• mutton
• goat
• venison
• other products made from these meats, for example sausages

You can bring in the following for personal use:

• fish
• poultry, for example chicken, duck, goose and any other products made from these meats
• other animal products, for example eggs and honey

You can also bring in up to 2kg per person of powdered infant milk, infant food, or special food needed for medical reasons. You can only bring it in if it does not need to be refrigerated before use, and is in branded, unopened packaging (unless in current use).

If you’re coming from a country outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, you cannot bring any meat or meat products, or milk or milk-based products, except for powdered infant milk, infant food or special food needed for medical reasons.

You can bring in up to 2kg per person of:

• honey
• powdered infant milk, infant food, or special food (including pet food) needed for medical reasons – you can only bring it in if it does not need to be refrigerated before use, and is in branded, unopened packaging (unless in current use)
• live mussels or oysters
• snails – these must be preserved or shelled, cooked and prepared
• frogs’ legs – these must be the back (hind) part of the frog with the skin and internal organs removed
• insect protein

You can bring in up to 20kg per person in total of fish, including:

• fresh fish – must be gutted
• fish products
• processed fish – must be dried, cooked, cured or smoked
• lobsters
• prawns