Krzysztof Łanda Poland’s former deputy health minister (Krzysztof Łanda) has commented on the reasons for the rise in excise taxes on cigarette goods. He argues that increasing tobacco taxes is not enough to encourage people to quit smoking. High taxes can reduce the attractiveness of relevant tobacco products and may also lead to an increase in illegal imports and production of tobacco products.
Poland’s former Deputy Minister of Health on Tobacco
According to an August 3 report by portalspozywczy, Krzysztof Łanda, Poland’s former deputy health minister, commented on the reasons for increased excise taxes on cigarette goods. He argued that while increasing tobacco taxes can fill the budget gap, it is not enough to motivate people to quit smoking. High taxes can reduce the attractiveness of cigarette products. Still, if the tax rate exceeds a certain threshold, it may lead to an increase in the illegal import and production of cigarette products.
On Friday, the website of the Polish government’s legislative center published a new draft amendment to the tobacco tax law. The proposal aims to adjust tax rates on tobacco products, new tobacco products, and vape oils, and to tax new machines used to atomize E-liquid. The Finance Ministry noted that the new tax policy and higher prices will reduce the consumption of tobacco products and their substitutes, especially among teenagers. Prof. Jarosław Pinkas, a former national health advisor, also said that global studies have found that high-priced tobacco products will reduce demand.
Raising tobacco taxes is not enough to encourage smoking cessation
The Finance Ministry forecasts that the new tax law will bring revenues to PLN 4.2 billion (about $1.07 billion) in 2025 and PLN 4.3 billion (about $1.1 billion) in 2026.
Randa suggested that the government should focus on restructuring e-cigarette use by restricting sales and marketing. For example, banning the sale of vapes to minors and the sale of vapes in attractive packaging. He also noted.
- “Scientific studies have shown that traditional tobacco produces more harmful toxins than vapes. The long-term effects of vapes on the body cannot be fully assessed at this time and need to be modeled for research over recent decades.”
In 2014, the European Parliament and the European Commission reportedly adopted a directive restricting the production, display, and sale of tobacco products in the hope of achieving a smoke-free EU by 2040.
