The Polish Senate has unanimously approved a major amendment to the country’s anti-tobacco law, banning the sale of all e-cigarettes – including nicotine-free products – and nicotine pouches to minors under 18. This decisive 90-0 vote on June 11 moves Poland one step closer to enacting some of Europe’s strictest youth vaping regulations before the upcoming summer holidays.
Under the new legislation, which now awaits the signature of President Andrzej Duda, nicotine-free e-cigarettes will be treated identically to standard nicotine products. This means they can no longer be sold online, via vending machines, or advertised. Furthermore, using nicotine-free vapes will be banned in public spaces such as schools, playgrounds, public transport stops, and restaurants.
The amendment also targets nicotine pouches, defining them as tobacco-free oral nicotine products and capping their nicotine content at 20 mg/g. To prevent harmful chemicals from entering the market, manufacturers must submit product composition data to the Bureau for Chemical Substances at least six months before retail distribution, ensuring no carcinogenic ingredients are used.
Deputy Health Minister Wojciech Konieczny emphasized that the health risks of nicotine-free vapes are not significantly lower than those containing nicotine, making immediate intervention vital to protect youth. “This amendment is necessary due to the urgent need to curb the phenomenon of electronic cigarette use among young people,” Konieczny stated.
This vote is only the first wave of Poland’s crackdown. A secondary, more restrictive draft bill was sent for public consultation on June 11. This future legislation seeks:
- A total ban on all disposable e-cigarettes (both nicotine and nicotine-free).
- The removal of all non-tobacco flavored nicotine pouches from the market.
- Restricting other nicotine replacement therapies (like gums and patches) to pharmacies only.
- Mandatory testing of all e-liquid ingredients.
While this secondary bill will require a longer European Union notification process—potentially taking up to a year—Poland is moving forward rapidly. These actions follow the April 17 ban on flavored heated tobacco products, signaling Poland’s comprehensive strategy to eliminate youth-appealing nicotine products.
