Polish Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna has confirmed that the Ministry of Health is actively drafting legislation to completely ban synthetic nicotine pouches. This regulatory move addresses the rapid rise of these high-strength products among Polish youth and closes a loophole left by existing bans on traditional tobacco-based snus.
While traditional snus containing tobacco is already illegal under European Union directives and Polish law, synthetic nicotine pouches have remained widely available. These pouches, placed between the lip and gum, often deliver significantly higher doses of nicotine than conventional cigarettes.
Minister Leszczyna emphasized that nicotine should be restricted to therapeutic use rather than recreational enjoyment. “Nicotine is, for example, in chewing gum, which is a medical product sold only in pharmacies,” she stated, reinforcing that synthetic pouches have no place on open retail shelves.
The timeline for the bill’s presentation to the Sejm (the Polish parliament) depends on the progress of the upcoming consultation phase. However, the Ministry of Health has made it clear that a total ban remains the definitive goal of the ongoing legislative process.
