This year’s debate is essential for shaping the global anti-smoking policy and the future of tobacco cultivation in Poland and other EU countries.

The Undersecretary of State Małgorzata Gromadzka represents Poland during COP11, where, among others, recommendations of the WHO expert group on limiting support for tobacco cultivation and gradual reduction of the very production of this raw material are discussed. Poland has consistently stressed that all decisions must consider not only health objectives, but also social and economic consequences for countries where tobacco cultivation is an important element of local economies.

– Our objective is to secure the interest of Polish farmers, for whom the tobacco sector is of great importance – indicates Gromadzka.

Poland is one of the largest producers of tobacco in the European Union. In our country, these crops occupy about 9 thousand ha, and the whole sector – from field to final product – involves nearly 600 thousand people. Therefore, proposals to reduce support for the production of tobacco are unacceptable for Poland in their current form.

No common EU position – Polish statement

As part of preparation for the COP11, a common position between the Member States as regards the recommendations of WHO experts has not been developed in the European Union forum. In this situation, Poland presented its own statement in which it stressed the need to maintain tobacco cultivation as a regional, traditional and important branch of agricultural production in Poland.

Deputy Minister Gromadzka is actively looking for partners to cooperate. On the first day of the Conference, she held a meeting with Jindřich Fialka, Director General for Food Production from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic. Further talks are planned.

Support for farmers is a key objective of the Polish delegation

The Polish delegation highlights that the fight against nicotine addiction is an important objective of public health, but it cannot be at the expense of farmers and entire sectors of the economy. Therefore, the presence of Poland in the debate is so important.