The Polish Society for the Advancement of Medicine (PTPM) and the Polish Pediatric Society have jointly urged the government to ban disposable e-cigarettes. This urgent appeal follows data revealing that Poland has become one of Europe’s fastest-growing vape markets, with annual disposable sales tripling to 100 million units.
Medical experts warn that the age of nicotine initiation is dropping rapidly. Professor Krzysztof J. Filipiak, President of PTPM, revealed that 75% of Polish children try nicotine before the age of 15. In this demographic, e-cigarette use is now three times more common than traditional smoking.
Poland’s e-cigarette market growth has outpaced many of its European neighbors. In 2024, Polish consumers are projected to spend over 1.2 billion PLN on e-cigarettes, representing a steep year-over-year increase.
| Country | Projected E-Cigarette Market Growth (YoY) |
|---|---|
| Poland | 5.5% |
| Slovakia | 5.0% |
| Czechia | 4.3% |
| Germany | 2.1% |
The rapid expansion is heavily driven by cheap, disposable devices imported from China—ironically, where the domestic sale of flavored vapes is banned. A typical disposable vape in Poland costs around 30 PLN (equivalent to three packs of cigarettes) and delivers roughly 600 puffs, making them highly accessible to minors.
Beyond accessibility, pediatricians are deeply concerned about the toxicological risks. Professor Teresa Jackowska, President of the Polish Pediatric Society, emphasized that the long-term health consequences of inhaling modern e-liquid flavorings remain entirely unknown. She noted that Polish authorities do not independently test vape ingredients, relying solely on importer declarations.
“E-liquids contain not only nicotine but also heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and cancer-causing chemicals,” warned Professor Jackowska, pointing out that over 200 unique chemical components have been identified in these products.
With youth vaping rates in Poland now ranking among the highest in the world, medical groups are urging Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to follow the lead of other European nations. Belgium has already secured EU approval to ban disposables, while France and the United Kingdom are actively moving toward similar prohibitions.
