2024-02-14 14:55 update: 2024-02-15, 14:55
Photo PAP/Archiwum Kalbar
Poland’s health minister has vowed to crack down on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes in order to protect young people from what she has called a ‘plague’.
The announcement came during a phone-in with listeners on the public Radio Three on Wednesday when Izabela Leszczyna was asked why the government was avoiding a decisive response to people's concerns about disposable e-cigarettes.
In reply, she said: "We are not running away from the reaction. These cigarettes are truly a plague and we will protect especially young people.
"At the Ministry of Health, with the Department of Public Health and Treatment, we are just starting work on this, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.
"I would like to ban the sale of such cigarettes... I will ask for it and ask them to agree with my point of view.”
At the end of January this year, the British government announced it would ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes to stop their growing use by children.
New regulations will also be introduced to prevent their sale to minors.
The UK has now joined a small group of countries planning to ban single-use e-cigarettes.
Australia, France, Germany and New Zealand have already announced similar plans, although only New Zealand has implemented them so far. (PAP)
ew/jd
