Poland proposes higher sugar tax on sweetened beverages, energy drinks and juice-based products

POLAND – The Polish government has proposed sweeping reforms to its sugar tax regime, including higher levies on sweetened beverages, new taxes on products currently exempt from the charge and revised rules for energy drinks, as part of efforts to improve public health and strengthen healthcare funding.  

The proposed amendments to the Public Health Act are currently under public consultation and, if approved, will take effect on January 1, 2027.   

According to Ingredients Network, the government said the reforms are intended to improve the effectiveness of Poland’s sugar tax by tightening the existing framework and updating tax rates for food and beverage manufacturers.  

Under the proposal, the sugar tax would be extended to beverages containing at least 20% juice and up to five grams of sugar per 100ml, as well as drinks containing caffeine, taurine or artificial sweeteners, including energy drinks.   

The government also plans to introduce a separate levy on concentrated products such as fruit syrups because of their higher sugar content and extend the tax to beverage-based dietary supplements that are currently exempt.  

According to the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the proposed measures are also expected to increase revenue for the National Health Fund (NFZ), which receives 96.5% of sugar tax collections to finance obesity prevention programmes and healthcare services.   

The Ministry of Health estimates that obesity-related healthcare costs could reach between 4.4 billion and 15.4 billion Polish zloty (€1 billion to €3.6 billion) in 2026.  

The proposals have drawn strong criticism from the food and beverage industry. A coalition of 20 organisations representing agriculture, food manufacturing, retail and employers has urged the government to withdraw the draft legislation, arguing that the reforms prioritise revenue generation over public health outcomes.  

The Polish Federation of Food Industry (PFPŻ ZP) said the government had not presented evidence demonstrating that higher tax rates or an expanded levy would deliver measurable health benefits.   

The federation also criticised the lack of new education and prevention initiatives to encourage healthier diets.  

Industry representatives further warned that the proposed changes would remove exemptions for beverages manufacturers had reformulated to comply with the current rules, undermining investments made to reduce sugar content.   

They added that higher taxes would increase production costs as companies are already adapting to new regulations, including Poland’s deposit return system and extended producer responsibility requirements.  

The coalition also cautioned that taxing juice-based beverages could reduce demand for domestically produced fruit, affecting growers and processors, while lower consumption of sugar-containing beverages could impact Poland’s sugar industry and sugar beet farmers.   

According to industry estimates, the proposals could increase retail prices by approximately 6% to more than 22%, depending on the product category.  

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