Poland Prepares to Ban Disposable and Flavored Vapes
Poland’s Deputy Minister of Health, Wojciech Konieczny, announced during a parliamentary health committee meeting that a comprehensive and radical bill banning disposable vapes is ready. The proposed legislation would also eliminate all flavored e-cigarettes from the market, regardless of their form. While the exact timeline for further deliberation remains unclear, this proposal aligns with the appeals made by doctors and experts, particularly in the context of younger consumers’ health.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that despite a decrease in traditional smokers from over 42% in the 1980s to 28.8% in 2022, the market for novel tobacco products has exploded. He emphasized that there is no evidence suggesting e-cigarettes are a less harmful alternative. On the contrary, growing evidence indicates that the liquids used in e-cigarettes lack proper regulation and may contain harmful substances.
Flavored Vapes Pose Significant Threat to Youth
During the discussion, parliamentarians pointed out that flavored e-cigarettes pose a substantial threat to young people. The current bill under consideration, which addresses characteristically flavored tobacco products, will not eliminate this issue.
Deputy Minister Konieczny responded that the Ministry of Health’s goal is to eliminate harmful substances from the market as broadly as possible, regardless of their form. He announced a “far-reaching and radical” ban on disposable e-cigarettes, which would also prohibit all flavored vapes. However, the exact timing of the bill’s introduction remains undetermined.
Similar Bans Underway Across Europe
Reports indicate that the United Kingdom has recently passed legislation prohibiting the sale and supply of disposable vapes, set to take effect on June 1, 2025. Other countries, including France and Germany, are also developing similar regulations. Belgium will ban disposable e-cigarettes containing nicotine starting January 1, 2026.
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