Poland's parliament has passed a comprehensive law banning the sale of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches to people under 18. However, the ban also covers non-nicotine products and imposes new restrictions on online sales, use in public places and advertising.
The lower chamber of the Polish Parliament has adopted a law banning the sale of all types of e-cigarettes to people under 18: the ban applies regardless of whether the products contain nicotine or not and also covers nicotine pouches and other electronic nicotine products. The rules will also apply to online sales.
The bill passed the parliament by a wide margin - 417 members voted in favour while only a few were against or abstained. The amendment now awaits consideration by the Polish upper house and then the signature of the president, national conservative Karol Nawrocki, before formally taking effect.
Comprehensive ban
According to the text of the law, all types of e-cigarettes are covered, including disposable vejp, refill containers and nicotine-free variants. The bill also prohibits any type of advertising for such products.
The changes represent a significant tightening of Poland's previous regulations. Poland already had an age limit for tobacco products, but nicotine-free e-cigarettes and related products were previously exempt, according to the website Vapeobservation.
Part of a broader regulatory package
Poland's ban on sales to young people does not come as an isolated event. In 2025, the government has also implemented increased taxes on vejp products, nicotine pouches and other alternative nicotine products, leading to significantly higher prices and a restructuring of the market's economy. Inspection authorities now require products to be correctly classified and manufacturers to register the composition before sale.
There are also proposals for a future total ban on disposable vejps, whether they contain nicotine or not. This proposal has not yet entered into force, but is planned to be further discussed in Parliament in 2026.
Reactions and impact
The Polish Ministry of Health justifies the proposal with the ambition to reduce the availability of nicotine products for young people, thereby preventing addiction and long-term effects on public health. It is thus flying the same flag as in several other places in Europe and the world. At the same time, industry stakeholders and analysts have expressed concerns that the ban will create a black market or divert consumption to other forms of nicotine. This is a dynamic that has already occurred in several other countries with strict rules, and which Vejpkollen has written about regularly.
