The Polish Deputy Minister of Health, Wojciech Konieczny, discussed the latest information on traditional and novel tobacco products before a parliamentary committee, according to Prawo.PL on 25 October.
The Deputy Minister pointed out that in the 1980s, nicotine addiction in Poland was very high, with almost one in two Poles smoking (over 42% of the population). By 2022, this proportion had fallen to 28.8%.
However, the situation with new tobacco products is not optimistic. The European Commission reports that the market for heated tobacco products (HTP) has grown by 2009% in recent years. Young people often see these products as a less harmful alternative, but Konecki emphasises that this has not been confirmed.
Instead, there is growing concern about inadequate regulation of e-cigarette e-liquids, which may contain harmful substances.
During the discussion, some lawmakers pointed out that flavoured e-cigarettes pose a significant threat to young people. The current proposed revisions to tobacco regulations are not sufficient to ban them outright.
Malgorzata Niemczyk, a member of the Civic Coalition, said that flavoured e-cigarettes are now widely available and their packaging is attractive. She called for standardised packaging for these products.
The Deputy Minister emphasised that the aim of the Ministry of Health is to eliminate harmful substances from the market as far as possible, regardless of their form. He revealed that two bills are currently being pushed forward, including a proposal to ban disposable e-cigarettes, which is expected to include all flavoured e-cigarettes. However, the exact timetable for implementation has yet to be determined.
In addition, Gabriela Lenartowicz, a member of the Citizens' Coalition, raised the issue of smoking on balconies and terraces, which has been a recurring theme in petitions submitted to the Chamber of Deputies over the years. The Deputy Minister replied that while Poland was considering regulations to restrict smoking, the proposal to ban smoking on balconies in residential buildings was considered unlikely.
He pointed out that private residences are not considered public spaces, so they are unlikely to be included in smoking bans. However, residents can set their own smoking rules for communal areas through housing associations.
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