Polish Health Ministry Proposes Ban on Flavored Tobacco Products

According to a report from the Polish media outlet Portalspozywczy on May 15th, the Polish Ministry of Health has added a new provision to the draft of the Health Protection Act Amendment, which prohibits the sale of flavored heated tobacco products. The draft document has been published for public consultation, which will last for 30 days.

The draft clarifies the definition of flavored heated tobacco products, prohibits "placing tobacco products with distinctive flavors on the market," and requires manufacturers and importers to "immediately provide the Director of the Chemicals Agency with all new or updated information on the analysis, testing, and other information related to these products." These changes are intended to implement the European directive which will be enforced on June 29, 2022.

According to the Ministry of Health, additional information will enable the Director of the Chemicals Bureau to more comprehensively assess innovative tobacco products for the benefit of consumers. "It will enhance public health protection as public administration agencies will have access to more information.

The case will come into effect within three months from the date of enactment. Manufacturers will be able to cease the sale of seasoning products from the date of announcement.

According to the fourth edition of the Nicotine Consumption Quantitative Study report by the Chemical Substances Bureau, 1.5% of the population in Poland currently uses heated tobacco products.

After the flavoring tobacco ban went into effect, one in ten smokers (11.6%) decided to quit smoking. However, 8.8% of those who used these products switched to heated tobacco products or e-cigarettes (6.1% of men and 11.2% of women, respectively). Additionally, the report pointed out that the most common demographic affected were young people (23.7% in the 18-24 age group and 13.9% in the 25-34 age group).

According to the Ministry of Health, "innovative tobacco products with distinctive flavors" make up about 80% of the market for all innovative tobacco products.

Despite the recent significant increase in sales of heated tobacco products, the consumption of tobacco products in Poland remains at a stable level. If the provisions of this law are put into effect, the Polish government will receive an annual budget revenue of 68.3 million zloty (17.4 million dollars).

Currently, the project has been opened for public consultation for a period of 30 days.