Poland Plans Total Prohibition of Single-Use Vapes to Protect Youth

Key Points

• The draft law UD213 seeks a total ban on disposable e-cigarettes, including nicotine-free devices.
• The Ministry of Health highlights the addictive appeal and environmental hazards of single-use vapes.
• Nicotine pouches, gums, sprays, and drinks would also fall under stricter regulation.
• Doctors support the ban; pharmacists urge retention of regulated nicotine pouches for adults.
• Public debate calls for a national harm-reduction strategy rather than blanket prohibition.

2Firsts, November 25, 2025 - According to Polish media Strefa Biznesu, Poland’s government is moving forward with a bill (UD213) that would introduce a total ban on disposable e-cigarettes, regardless of nicotine content. The Ministry of Health says the measure is designed to protect youth from nicotine addiction and to limit both health and environmental damage caused by such products.

The ministry noted that disposable vapes:

• Have high marketing appeal, particularly to young users;
• Are ready-to-use and highly addictive;
• Contain toxic and immunosuppressive substances;
• Are difficult to recycle due to their plastic bodies and lithium-ion batteries.

The bill would also bring nicotine pouches and other emerging nicotine products — such as gums, sprays, and beverages — under a pharmaceutical-style regime, restricting their sale and distribution. Poland’s Office for Chemical Substances would be empowered to order composition testing of e-liquid formulations.

Medical experts broadly support the ban as a key step in public health protection but urge policymakers not to overreach.

Pulmonologist Dr. Katarzyna Kołcz wrote in a letter to Health Minister Maciej Berek that single-use vapes pose a serious threat to youth:

“These products have an exceptionally high potential to initiate nicotine addiction among young people — especially because of their attractive design, colorful packaging, and aggressive marketing.”

Pharmacists, however, signed a letter from Dr. Dawid Panek calling for adult access to nicotine pouches to remain legal:

“Although these products are not medical devices, their pharmacological and toxicological profiles resemble nicotine replacement therapies (NRT). They do not involve the respiratory system and thus present fewer health risks.”

Both medical and pharmaceutical groups argue that Poland’s anti-nicotine policy should combine restrictions with harm-reduction strategies. Their proposals include:

Maintaining adult access to smokeless nicotine alternatives;

Implementing strict composition and labeling controls;

Allowing certain flavors (e.g., mint) to support cessation programs;

Developing a national anti-nicotine strategy modeled on Sweden and New Zealand, where regulated smokeless products have successfully reduced smoking rates.

Open Letter to the President

The Jump 93 Association sent an open letter to President Karol Nawrocki (卡罗尔·纳夫罗茨基), calling for an open national debate on nicotine policy. The organization criticized the Health Ministry for ignoring months of requests for a transparent, science-based discussion.

The letter warns that equating the risks of traditional cigarettes with alternative nicotine forms — such as pouches and e-cigarettes — contradicts scientific evidence and international experience.

“Conventional cigarettes cause the greatest harm. Transitioning to less harmful nicotine products forms the basis of anti-nicotine policies in countries like Sweden, New Zealand, and the UK,” said Jacek Charmast, president of Jump 93.

The organization stressed that silencing harm-reduction advocates stigmatizes scientific perspectives and undermines efforts to protect both youth and smokers seeking to quit.

Image source: Strefa Biznesu