The bill to ban the sale of non-smoking e-cigarettes for children and young people under the age of 18 was announced by wellness minister Izabela Leschina. The bill will go to a government gathering in January, and its discussion in the Sejm is scheduled for February. Minister Lestina hopes that fresh regulations will enter into force at the latest during the vacation period.
‘The ban must enter as shortly as possible’
During the TVP Info interview, the Minister of wellness stressed the importance of fast action: “The Prime Minister told me that it would definitely be January, either next Tuesday or last Tuesday of this month. Certainly, in January, it must be so," she pointed out. She added that she was counting on the adoption of the bill by the Sejm in February, allowing the ban to be imposed by spring.
The Minister besides stressed that not only the government but besides the Sejm would have a key impact on the final arrangements for the entry into force of the fresh rules. “I will opt for this time to be as short as possible”, she added.
Legal changes and fresh tightenings
The proposed changes will include a ban on advertising and the sale of certain tobacco products for children and young people. The plans besides include the inclusion of fresh equipment for excise smokers of PLN 40 and the withdrawal from the marketplace of aromatised contributions to e-cigarettes. The Ministry of wellness hopes that these changes will aid to reduce the popularity of specified products among the youngest.
Poland leader in tobacco production
Poland plays a key function in the production of tobacco products in the European Union. According to the Centre for Social and economical Analysis (CASE), our country accounts for 39% of the EU market, and in terms of production of natural tobacco it ranks 3rd in the EU, with a share of 18.1%.
CASE Report, entitled “The impact of tobacco production on the Polish economy. Edition 2024", reveals that there are around 3.5 1000 tobacco farms in Poland, employing a full of about 20,000 people. The full tobacco industry, covering cultivation, production and distribution, provides employment for about 560 000 people.
"Until 85% of cigarettes produced in Poland are exported, mainly to the countries of the European Union", says CASE's announcement on the presentation of the report. Exports of these products so play a key function in the Polish economy, emphasized the authors of the report.
What does change mean for the industry?
The planned changes can have a crucial impact on the tobacco industry, peculiarly in the field of fresh smokers' technologies and devices. The introduction of excise duties on fresh products and the ban on their advertising may affect demand, especially in the youth sector. Experts foretell that companies will gotta adapt to fresh regulations, which may entail additional costs.
At the same time, the implementation of these rules can contribute to improving public wellness and reducing the number of young people reaching for e-cigarettes. The Ministry of wellness hopes that fresh regulations will be a step towards reducing the problem of youth addiction.
Summary
The planned ban on the sale of non-smoking e-cigarettes to children and young people is an crucial component of the government's strategy to combat addictions among young people. The introduction of additional excise work and the withdrawal of aromatised contributions are intended to reduce the attractiveness of specified products. Although changes can affect the tobacco sector, the government hopes they will bring long-term social and wellness benefits.
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