As the European nicotine landscape continues to evolve, Poland has become the latest member state to advance a national regulatory framework for nicotine pouches. The proposed law—now progressing through parliamentary stages—seeks to impose restrictions aimed at protecting youth while introducing much-needed clarity to a category that has, until now, operated in a regulatory grey area.
At the Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN), we welcome efforts to establish proportionate, evidence-based frameworks for novel nicotine products. However, these policies must strike a delicate balance: safeguarding minors without undermining adult access to harm reduction alternatives.
What’s in the Proposal?
According to official reports and regional sources, the legislation includes several key measures:
- Minimum Age Requirement: Sales restricted to individuals aged 18 and over.
- Sales Channel Restrictions: Online and vending machine sales prohibited, with a focus on point-of-sale control.
- Nicotine Strength Cap: Limit of 20 mg/g for nicotine content in pouches.
- Packaging Requirements: Health warnings must cover at least 30% of the package surface.
- Ingredient Oversight: Additives deemed harmful will be restricted to enhance consumer safety.
Why It Matters
The nicotine pouch market in Poland—like much of Eastern Europe—has grown rapidly in recent years, offering adult smokers a non-combustible alternative to cigarettes. Yet the absence of clear national legislation has created challenges for regulators, consumers, and responsible manufacturers alike.
This proposed framework, while designed to prevent youth uptake, also introduces questions about over-regulation. Prohibiting online sales may limit access for rural or mobility-limited consumers. Similarly, an arbitrarily low nicotine cap could risk pushing users back toward combustible products—or into unregulated markets.
GINN’s Position
As the only international institute dedicated solely to oral nicotine products and their regulation, GINN supports national regulation that is:
- Risk-Proportionate: Recognizing the significant difference in harm between combustible tobacco and modern nicotine alternatives.
- Consumer-Inclusive: Ensuring that adult users maintain access to lower-risk products.
- Science-Driven: Anchored in toxicological data and independent product assessments.
- Targeted: Focusing restrictions where risks are greatest—particularly youth appeal and misleading marketing.
We commend Poland’s decision to move toward regulation—but we urge lawmakers to engage with scientific, industry, and public health stakeholders before finalizing these measures.
A Model for the Region?
Poland’s approach could serve as a model—or a warning—for other EU countries watching closely. The outcome of this legislative process will influence how nicotine pouches are treated across the internal market, particularly as the EU considers reforms to the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) and Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).
GINN will continue monitoring developments in Poland and offering technical guidance to help shape effective, evidence-based regulation that supports public health without compromising innovation or access.
For policy updates and regulatory guidance, visit www.ginn.global or contact our team at info@ginn.global.
