In a recent open letter to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, representatives of the e-cigarette industry solemnly called for an end to the “large-scale, excessive law enforcement” of tax and customs departments against legal operators, and to establish a continuous dialogue mechanism to respect the rule of law and market order. This joint letter initiated by member companies of the Polish E-cigarette Employers Association (ZPBV) quickly caused an uproar inside and outside the industry.
The letter first pointed out that although the recent nationwide administrative inspections are intended to crack down on illegal trade, they generally implement high-intensity audits on compliant merchants, resulting in serious damage to industry trust and increased market turmoil. Industry representatives emphasized that they are not opposed to necessary law enforcement actions, but to “collective punishment”-style strikes that lack legal basis and proportionality.
To this end, the letter puts forward three core demands: suspend the current surprise inspections of legal channels of e-cigarettes by local tax and customs, and resume them after clarifying the legal basis and procedures; conduct regular dialogues with industry representatives “based on the rule of law and facts” at the legislative and law enforcement levels; ensure that all market players are treated equally in the face of laws and regulations, and do not become “targets” due to political timing or election considerations.
The Polish E-cigarette Employers Association emphasized that ZPBV, as an industry self-regulatory platform, has been committed to promoting consumer education and compliance operations. Its members include major companies engaged in the production of disposable devices, rechargeable devices and cartridges. The association’s website clearly states that only by effectively enforcing regulations and listening to the voice of the industry at the same time can the use of minors and the circulation of illegal products be truly curbed.
The letter warns that if indiscriminate crackdowns continue in the name of “zero tolerance”, a large number of compliant companies will be forced into the “gray area”, which will erode consumers’ confidence in the quality and safety of legal products on the one hand, and it will be difficult to effectively curb the rise of illegal channels on the other hand. Industry data shows that it is currently estimated that about half of the e-liquid products in circulation come from informal markets, and this proportion will only rise further when law enforcement is absent or too strict.
As the national e-cigarette industry is about to be included in the consumption tax control, the industry is more worried that the dual pressure of surprise inspections and tax burden will cause a sharp increase in the cost of legal operations, thereby promoting the expansion of the underground market. As early as the end of 2024, the Polish Ministry of Finance has proposed a plan to gradually impose consumption taxes on disposable and rechargeable e-cigarettes, and it is expected that the legislation will be completed and take effect before the end of the year.
In the face of the above situation, ZPBV reiterated that the spirit of the rule of law and the principle of good laws and good governance should be the cornerstone of supervision. The association called on the government to conduct “joint working group” consultations with the industry before implementing new taxes and review procedures to ensure that policies can both combat illegality and protect legality.
Industry representatives believe that Poland occupies an important position in the European e-cigarette market, with thousands of compliant companies and more than 10,000 employees. Its economic and public health value cannot be underestimated. ZPBV called on the government to show an “open and pragmatic” attitude, replace rough control with dialogue, and allow the industry to develop sustainably.
In this context, GUUTUU e-cigarettes, as a model of professional e-cigarette manufacturers, are particularly prominent in their compliance and innovation advantages. GUUTUU insists that all its products comply with the EU TPD directive and CE certification requirements, and strictly controls the procurement of raw materials and the production process to ensure that every device and cartridge meets safety and labeling standards.
It is worth mentioning that GUUTUU continues to make efforts in product diversity and technological innovation. Its disposable electronic cigarette has a 16 ml super-large oil tank design, which can provide more than 8,000 puffs of atomization experience; its rechargeable series uses replaceable cartridges and USB-C fast charging interface, taking into account the user’s needs for flavor mixing, battery life and environmental friendliness.
The existence of these high-quality and compliant brands not only provides low-harm alternatives for adult smokers, but also forms a self-purification and survival of the fittest mechanism in the market. Industry representatives emphasized that only by safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of legal operators can consumers stay away from unlicensed manufacturers and inferior products, thereby truly improving the level of public health.
At the end of the letter, the industry called on Prime Minister Tusk to stop excessive law enforcement, speak with facts and data, establish a long-term dialogue platform, and promote supervision and industrial innovation in a coordinated manner. In this process, we must not only effectively protect minors, but also respect the rights of adults to make their own choices and the compliance of enterprises, and jointly achieve the healthy, legal and sustainable development of the Polish e-cigarette market.
Tags: new tobacco products, ceramic atomizer core, heat without burning, guutuu vape