The Poland Senate has unanimously approved a bill prohibiting the sale of heated tobacco products with characteristic flavors, without proposing any amendments. The amendment to the Act on the Protection of Health against the Consequences of Using Tobacco and Tobacco Products, also known as the Tobacco Act, aims to implement an EU directive that member states should have been applying since October 23, 2023.
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A group of Democratic lawmakers, led by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoothi (D-IL-08), have introduced the End Tobacco Loopholes Act. This legislation seeks to close tax code loopholes for tobacco products, with the goal of reducing tobacco use and lowering healthcare spending in the United States.
Read moreManufacturers and Sellers to Have 9 Months to Prepare for New Regulations
The Polish Sejm is expected to pass a law introducing a ban on the sale of flavored heated tobacco products in the near future. The Sejm’s health committee supported this solution on Wednesday, February 19.
Read moreThe Polish government approved a draft amendment in January to expand excise taxes on nicotine alternatives, including reusable e-cigarettes, heated tobacco devices, and nicotine pouches. The proposal introduces a 40 PLN per-unit tax on vaping hardware and parts, while increasing taxes on disposable e-liquid content by 40 PLN. Industry groups warn this could raise retail prices by 50 PLN per device, potentially driving consumers back to combustible cigarettes or unregulated markets.
Read moreOn January 21/2025, the Polish government approved a bill that would prohibit the sale of all disposable and reusable e-cigarettes, including nicotine-free varieties and nicotine pouches, to individuals under the age of 18. Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna emphasized that the proposed amendments to the Act on the Protection of Health Against the Consequences of Using Tobacco and Tobacco Products would also ban the use of nicotine-free e-cigarettes in the same manner as nicotine-containing e-cigarettes.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Banning the sale of tobacco products, nicotine pouches, electronic cigarettes, and spare containers to minors
- Prohibiting the sale of nicotine-free e-cigarettes in vending machines and online, as well as their advertising
- Extending existing restrictions on the use of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes in public places, such as educational institutions and public transport stops, to nicotine-free devices
- Requiring nicotine-free and nicotine-containing e-liquid compositions to comply with current regulations, excluding mutagenic, carcinogenic, and reproductive function-affecting substances
The proposed measures must be notified to the European Commission, a process that takes three months. Minister Leszczyna expressed hope that after this period, the Sejm (lower house of the Polish parliament) would unanimously adopt the regulations. The provisions related to the sale of e-cigarettes to minors would come into force 14 days after the publication of the amended act.
The bill also allows electronic cigarettes and spare containers that do not meet the new requirements to remain on the market for no longer than six months from the date the law enters into force.
A separate bill approved by the government prohibits the introduction of flavored heated tobacco products into the market. Producers and sellers would have nine months to comply with the new regulations after they come into effect.
The Polish government is set to discuss a draft amendment to the Excise Tax Act, which proposes extending the excise tax to additional nicotine-containing products, including reusable e-cigarettes, HTPs, and nicotine pouches. The amendment also seeks to broaden the definition of so-called “innovative products.”
Read moreCollaboration with Health Ministry to Analyze Situation and Make Responsible Decisions
Andrzej Domański, the Polish Minister of Finance, informed TVP Info on Tuesday that the Ministry of Finance is considering the possibility of raising the excise tax on tobacco products, such as nicotine pouches, for health reasons. He added that the Ministry of Finance, along with the Ministry of Health, is thoroughly analyzing the situation.
Read morePoland needs effective regulations to prevent the sale of e-cigarettes, both with and without nicotine, to minors. The current laws fail to adequately address the issue, making these products too easily accessible to young people. The Ministry of Health has prepared amendments to the existing legislation to tackle this problem. However, according to the latest version of the draft, the new regulations are unlikely to come into force before the second quarter of 2025.
Read morePresident Andrzej Duda has signed an excise tax bill that will lead to significant increases in e-cigarette prices, affecting a growing number of Polish vapers.
Read morePoland is gearing up to increase excise taxes on tobacco products and electronic smoking devices over the next three years, following President Andrzej Duda’s approval of a bill passed by both houses of parliament. The move, which was initiated by the government in late July 2024, is part of a broader effort to curb smoking rates across the nation.
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