Poland to file complaint over TPD

The Polish government has decided to file a complaint with the Court of Justice of the European Union against the EU’s new Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), according to a Polish News Bulletin story.

The new TPD entered into force on May 20 and member states are required to bring into force by May 20, 2016, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive.

The complaint is due to be filed under Article 263 of the Treaty, which covers the functioning of the EU.

It will be based on both legal and economic arguments.

Poland will object to the proposed ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes, due to come into force in 2020, on the grounds that this type of cigarette has been on the Polish market since 1953 and could be regarded as a traditional product.

Poland is one of the biggest consumers of menthol cigarettes, which account for more than 20 per cent of the local market.

Menthol cigarettes are said to be manufactured in six factories in Poland, with 70 per cent of the output exported, 50 per cent to the EU, which implies that outlawing the sale of such products would have serious consequences for Poland’s economy.