Philip Morris France and Philip Morris Products will also have to pay 50,000 euros in damages to two anti-tobacco associations which sued them - the National Committee Against Tobacco (CNCT) and Demain sera non-smoker (DNF) - considering that both companies were breaking the law on tobacco products by promoting IQOS devices.
This small electronic box, marketed in France since 2017, works with tobacco refills mixed with glycerin.
Its technology prevents the combustion of tobacco.
Philip Morris, whose headquarters of the parent company is in New York and its operational headquarters in Lausanne, highlights its product as being "less harmful" than conventional cigarettes because it does not generate tar, but no independent study does not. confirmed this reduction in the risk associated with its use.
At the hearing on September 23, the company argued that it was necessary to make "the distinction between the electronic device and its refills" and that the former not being "a tobacco product", the advertisement for this product "was therefore not subject to the regulation of tobacco products".
"It is the failure of a whole industrial strategy" for one of the main cigarette manufacturers in the world, commented to AFP Hugo Lévy, lawyer of the CNCT, at the announcement of the judgment, welcoming that the judges did not "fall into the trap" of the tobacco company's argument.
"We take note of today's decision and are studying the possibility of appealing this decision," reacted Jeanne Pollès, president of Philip Morris France.
"We maintain that the allegations raised by the CNCT are without merit. We hope that the final outcome of the case will recognize the legality of our commercial practices of our alternative product which heats the tobacco instead of burning it", t -she adds.
© 2021 AFP