Poland's Minister of Health, Izabela Leszczyna, has announced that her ministry will begin working on a ban on the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes. The move comes in response to growing concerns about the rapid increase in usage among young people, with recent data indicating that 64 percent of youth have had contact with these products.
Exploring Legal Pathways for Swift Implementation
During an interview with TVP Info, Minister Leszczyna revealed that she had received the green light from Prime Minister Donald Tusk to proceed with drafting appropriate legislation. She emphasized her desire to pursue the fastest possible route to implement the ban, acknowledging the urgency of the situation.
According to Leszczyna, legal experts have identified two potential avenues for addressing the issue. One option involves a directive from the Chief Sanitary Inspector, who could exclude disposable e-cigarettes from commercial circulation due to their harmful nature. The other, more legally sound approach, which would minimize the risk of international arbitration and complaints from companies, entails drafting a bill and notifying the European Union.
Alarming Trends and Potential Health Risks
The health minister highlighted a recent study that revealed a staggering increase in the use and consumption of disposable e-cigarettes among children aged 15 to 18, rising from 16 to 64 percent. She expressed concern about the lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the toxic compounds released by these devices upon heating, noting that they have only recently emerged on the market.
Leszczyna cited initial information from the World Health Organization (WHO), indicating that the compounds released by disposable e-cigarettes are highly dangerous. She pledged to do everything in her power to ban the sale of these products in Poland as quickly as possible.
Support from Medical and Patient Communities
Representatives from medical and patient communities, who participated in a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Team for Counteracting Addictions, have expressed their support for the Ministry of Health's efforts to introduce a ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes.
Małgorzata Niemczyk (KO), chairwoman of the Parliamentary Team for Counteracting Addictions, stressed that the country is facing a new and extremely dangerous trend that threatens the health and lives of children and youth in particular. She noted that disposable e-cigarettes contain not only nicotine but also a sweetening substance, often sucralose, which is 300-800 times sweeter than sucrose. The attractive, colorful packaging and placement near sweets in stores further contribute to their appeal to young people.
Niemczyk cited research suggesting that sucralose, when inhaled in the form of water vapor, is highly addictive and may have carcinogenic effects and cause irreversible changes in the brain.
Skyrocketing Sales and Global Trends
Data presented by Niemczyk revealed a staggering increase in the sale of disposable e-cigarettes in Poland, rising from 32 million units in 2022 to over 100 million units in 2023. According to the World Health Organization, one in five cigarettes sold worldwide is a flavored disposable e-cigarette. A report from the Market Monitoring Center estimates the value of the disposable e-cigarette market in Poland at PLN 2 billion (approximately USD 500 million).
Dariusz Poznański, director of the public health department at the Ministry of Health, pointed out that Poland ranks among the top countries in the European Union in terms of the prevalence of e-cigarette use among children and youth. Despite existing regulations prohibiting the sale of both disposable and reusable e-cigarettes to individuals under 18, the ban appears to be largely ineffective.
International Momentum and Delayed EU Directive Implementation
Poland is not alone in its efforts to curb the sale of disposable e-cigarettes. The United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, and New Zealand have all announced similar plans to introduce bans.
However, Poland remains the only European Union member state that has failed to meet the deadline for implementing an EU directive prohibiting the sale of flavored heated tobacco products. The Social Education Foundation has appealed to Deputy Health Minister Wojciech Konieczny to implement the directive as soon as possible, which should have been done by July 2023.
As the Ministry of Health works towards drafting legislation to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. With the alarming rise in youth usage and the potential health risks associated with these products, swift action is crucial to protect the well-being of the nation's children and youth.
