Poland to ban “characterising flavours” in heated tobacco sticks from Jan. 18, 2026

Key points

• Effective date: January 18, 2026

• Scope: tobacco inserts used in heated tobacco devices

• Core change: ban on products with a “characterising flavour”

• Flavour range: fruit, menthol, herbal, spice, vanilla and candy-like variants fall under the restriction

• Transition: products authorised before entry into force may remain on sale for up to nine months

2Firsts, January 20, 2026

According to Gazeta Prawna, a new restriction will take effect on January 18, 2026, under an amendment to Poland’s law on protecting health from the consequences of tobacco and tobacco product use, which may leave smokers unable to find certain products in shops and will remove many tobacco products from sale.

The report says users of heated tobacco devices should prepare for significant changes in product availability. Under the amendment adopted on February 21, 2025, heated tobacco products will be treated the same as traditional cigarettes with regard to flavour prohibitions from January 18, 2026.

A central change is the withdrawal from sale of heated tobacco inserts with a so-called “characterising flavour.” The new law prohibits placing on the market products that have a clearly noticeable taste or smell other than tobacco. The report explains that “characterising flavour” refers to a smell or taste resulting from additives that is clearly noticeable before use or during use.

In practice, the report says inserts with fruit, menthol, herbal, spice, vanilla or candy-like flavours will disappear from shops. Any product whose scent profile departs from the natural aroma of tobacco will fall under the new sales restrictions.

The report also notes transition arrangements to allow the market to adjust. Although the ban begins in mid-January 2026, products that obtained the relevant authorisations before the amendment takes effect may remain on sale for no longer than nine months from that date, allowing retailers to run down stock.

The report further states that from January 17, 2026, the heated tobacco market will become more uniform and focused on classic tobacco, with inserts without “characterising flavours” remaining as the available option for users of heated tobacco systems.

Image source: Gazeta Prawna