President Andrzej Duda signed the amendment to the Act, which introduces any of the harshest regulations in Europe concerning the sale and usage of electronic cigarettes. fresh rules entering into force already in July 2024, mean a real revolution for both retailers and consumers. The key change is to ban the sale of all specified products to minors, even those completely nicotine-free. This is simply a fundamental tightening of the course aimed at protecting public wellness and, in particular, young people from early initiation.
The amendment, which will take effect within 14 days of publication in the authoritative diary of the Laws, introduces a comprehensive strategy of checks and severe penalties for violation. The restrictions will affect not only conventional shops, but besides online sales and vending machines. For thousands of buying points across Poland this means that it is essential to adapt immediately to strict requirements, and for millions of Poles to change existing habits and rules in the public space.
What precisely does the fresh ban include? It's a revolution for the market.
The most crucial and revolutionary change is to extend the ban on sales to people under the age of 18 to all types of electronic cigarettes and spare containerswhether or not they contain nicotine. This means that products marketed as "safe" or "zeros" which have so far been more readily available are now subject to the same restrictions as conventional tobacco products. The Ministry of wellness justifies this decision by the request to defend young people from the habit of inhalation itself, which can normalise smoking behaviour and in the future lead to addiction.
The fresh rules are comprehensive and cover a wide scope of products. The prohibition applies not only to equipment but besides to:
- Tobacco products and their substitutes.
- Electronic cigarettes and spare containers (with and without nicotine).
- News on the market, specified as nicotine bags.
- All accessories and components, including fluids, atomizers or dedicated batteries.
Such a broad approach aims to completely seal the strategy and prevent circumvention by selling individual components to minors. This is the end of a situation where a young individual could legally buy e-cigarettes without nicotine or individual parts to deposit it.
Responsibilities for sellers and severe penalties. See what you request to know
The fresh rules impose a number of strict obligations on sellers. all point of sale, from a tiny residential store to a large supermarket, will gotta put in a prominent place readable information about the sale ban the products mentioned are for persons under the age of 18. However, this is only the beginning of changes that will affect both entrepreneurs and customers.
The biggest challenge will be absolute age verification obligation the buyer in case of any uncertainty as to his maturity. In practice, this means that an identity paper is required from all young person. There are highly severe financial penalties for breaking the ban. The Act provides for a fine of up to 5000 PLN For a single offense. The authorities announce intensified checks to be carried out by the police, city guards and the State Sanitary Inspection.
The changes will besides affect distant sales channels. Online stores will gotta implement advanced age verification systems, and vending machines will be equipped with paper readers or transferred to zones accessible only to adults.
No more liming in public. Where are the fresh bans?
The bill's amendment is not just a regulation on sales. This is besides a crucial extension of the ban on the usage of electronic cigarettes in public spaces. To date, the government has been ambiguous, and non-smoking products have frequently been treated mildly. Now that changes – The ban on liming will apply in all places where you can no longer smoke conventional cigarettes today.
In practice, this means that the usage of e-cigarettes (including those without nicotine) will be prohibited, among another things:
- At public transportation stops.
- In public transport.
- In catering and entertainment.
- Sports facilities and recreational areas.
- Children's playgrounds.
- Schools, colleges and wellness care facilities.
The intent of this regulation is to defend bystanders against passive inhalation of aerosol produced by e-cigarettes. This is an crucial step towards equalising the legal position of calcium and conventional smoking, reflecting increasing concerns about the long-term wellness impact of these devices.
Read more:
The president signed a groundbreaking bill. No more e-cigarettes, no more nicotine!
