Poland Bans Flavoured Heated Tobacco Products, Soon Voting on Significant Tax Increase in Major Health Policy Shift

The amendment to the ‘Act on Health Protection against the Consequences of Tobacco and Tobacco Products Use’ was passed by the Polish Parliament in 2025 with overwhelming support: 412 deputies voted in favour, 15 against, and one abstained.

This legislation proposed by the Ministry of Health, prohibits the marketing and sale of HTP with a “characteristic aroma” – effectively outlawing flavoured variants. Producers and retailers will have nine months to comply with the new regulation. This amendment aligns Polish law with the EU Commission Delegated Directive 2022/2100, adopted on 23 October 2023, which mandates all member states to enforce similar restrictions.

HTP use so-called tobacco sticks that are heated at very high temperatures and are considered by public health experts as being as dangerous as traditional cigarettes, contrary to what the tobacco industry says in its propaganda. The tobacco sticks are often “flavoured”, with chemical-based aromas like menthol. In 2020, the EU already banned menthol in cigarettes, and Poland is taking a logical step in adopting this flavour ban for HTP as well.

This is the first of three proposed legislative changes targeting nicotine products.

Two additional proposals are still under consideration:

• A second amendment from the Ministry of Health would ban the sale of e-cigarettes, nicotine refill packs, and nicotine pouches to anyone under 18. It also introduces stricter rules on advertising, promotions, and distribution of e-cigarettes.
• The Ministry of Finance has introduced a third proposal that would significantly raise taxes on HTP, re-usable and disposable e-cigarettes, and any other multifunctional nicotine devices. The estimated price hike is around PLN 50 (CHF 11.31) per vaporize device (e-cigarettes, HTP), including VAT. Disposable products would also face a higher excise duty on liquids, and other nicotine devices would be reclassified as excise goods.

While the ban on flavoured HTP has already passed, the two remaining proposals — especially the planned tax increases — have stirred strong reactions within the tobacco industry. Lobbyists submitted 34 opinions during public consultations and in official positions to influence the policies. Also in Switzerland, where the tobacco industry lobby holds significant sway in policymaking, the industry has successfully established and continues to profit from low HTP taxation and a wide availability of flavour variants. However, ongoing parliamentary discussions now include proposals for increasing HTP taxes, with the aim of addressing Social Security Fund (i.e. Old Age Insurance) deficits — a move supported by Swiss public health organisations.

Original source (in Polish): Business Insider Polska