Poland Moves to Extend Sugar Tax to Confectionery and Sweetened Drinks

The Polish parliament and government have proposed expanding the existing sugar tax, which since 2021 applies only to sweetened beverages, to include confectionery items such as chocolates, biscuits, and candy bars, as well as fruit syrups and beverage‑based dietary supplements. A draft amendment to the Public Health Act, under consultation, would also raise rates for drinks with at least 20 % juice and up to 5 g of sugar, and bring caffeine‑, taurine‑, or artificially‑sweetened drinks, including energy drinks, into the levy. If adopted, the changes would take effect on 1 January 2027.

Officials say the wider tax will strengthen public‑health outcomes and increase revenue for the National Health Fund, which receives 96.5 % of current sugar‑tax proceeds. The Ministry of Health estimates obesity‑related health costs could reach 4.4‑15.4 billion zloty in 2026. The proposal has triggered strong opposition from a coalition of 20 food‑industry organisations, who argue it is a revenue‑raising measure lacking evidence of health benefits and threatening recent product reformulations. Parliamentary member Witold Zembaczyński has raised the issue in an interpellation, citing WHO guidelines that recommend limiting free sugars to under 10 % of daily energy intake, and highlighting that over half of Polish adults are overweight or obese.