The Standing Committee of the Polish Council of Ministers has officially adopted and recommended a revised draft bill to increase excise duties on tobacco and e-cigarettes. This legislative milestone, urged forward by the Ministry of Finance, reshapes Poland’s fiscal strategy for nicotine products while scaling back initial revenue projections to 3.5 billion PLN.
A major change in the approved draft is the exclusion of vaporization devices (hardware). The Ministry of Finance confirmed these devices will be addressed in a separate, dedicated bill. This adjustment, alongside potential timeline shifts, reduced the projected budget inflow by 700 million PLN from the original 4.2 billion PLN estimate.
The proposed tax hikes target traditional and alternative nicotine products aggressively, with e-liquids facing the steepest percentage increase.
| Product Category | Proposed Excise Increase | Implementation Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Cigarettes | 25% Increase | Phased (Jan 1 & May 1) |
| E-cigarette Liquids | 75% Increase | Phased (Jan 1 & May 1) |
| Vaporization Devices | Excluded from current bill | To be regulated via separate draft |
To mitigate the economic shock to the tobacco and vape sectors, the Polish government is considering a two-stage rollout. While the first phase of the tax hike is set for January 1, the second phase could be deferred to May 1, allowing businesses more time to adjust to the new pricing landscape.
