Poland’s Ministry of Health is advancing legislation to ban flavoured nicotine pouches and disposable vape products, aiming to curb youth uptake and reduce nicotine experimentation among non-smokers. The draft bill, expected to pass given the ruling coalition’s parliamentary majority, would limit pouch flavours to tobacco-only options.
A Broader European Trend
Poland’s move aligns with a growing trend across Europe—one that increasingly favors prohibition over harm reduction. France recently took a dramatic turn by banning all nicotine pouches, with offenders facing up to one year in prison and fines of €100,000 for sale or distribution, even by tourists unaware of the policy. Critics argue that this sweeping crackdown is out of proportion, particularly in a country where smoking rates remain high and safer nicotine alternatives could play a critical role in reducing harm.
Luxembourg, meanwhile, is proposing ultra-low nicotine caps (0.048 mg/pouch) that could effectively make compliant product development impossible, raising additional questions about whether such measures prioritize precaution over pragmatism.
Diverging Approaches Within the EU
While Poland and France pursue restriction, Sweden stands apart. Long known for its success with snus and nicotine pouches, Sweden continues to embrace oral nicotine as a harm-reduction tool. With some of the lowest smoking rates in the EU, the Swedish experience underscores how moderate regulation and public education can drive better health outcomes.
Potential Implications of Stricter Regulations
Critics warn that banning flavoured pouches may backfire, pushing consumers toward unregulated or illicit markets. In Poland, harm reduction advocates caution that these measures may reduce legal access without reducing demand, undermining efforts to steer users toward safer alternatives.
GINN’s Perspective
The Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN) calls for balanced, evidence-driven policy. Instead of blanket bans or excessive fines, regulators should support scientifically backed harm reduction strategies that empower adult consumers to make safer choices.
As the EU considers revisions to both the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) and Tobacco Products Directive (TPD3), GINN urges policymakers to avoid repeating missteps that stifle innovation and limit access to less harmful options.
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