According to the proposed goal of the draft act on the amendment of certain laws in connection with the promotion of healthy consumer choices, the introduction of fiscal policy is to be a tool for promoting healthy nutritional choices in the field of products for which negative health effects (alcoholism, diabetes, obesity) have been proven, and additionally for supplying the state budget.
In the justification to the draft act was indicated that “improper, unjustified use of food supplements, lack of reliable information on contraindications to use, and excessive consumption of these products may be associated with the risk of adverse effects and cause serious health consequences”. Nevertheless, in the legislative impact assessment, the legislator was not able to objectively indicate how the introduction of a tax on advertising will prevent these risks.
Putting alcohol, drinks with added sugars (monosaccharides or disaccharides) and foodstuffs containing these substances, as well as added sweeteners and active substances on an equal footing with food supplements, for which no evidence have been submitted confirming the negative impact on health is an unjustified action that will have a negative impact on the market of Polish entrepreneurs, in particular from the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises and also on the products themselves. – indicates Ewa Jankowska, President of PASMI’s Management Board.
In addition, it should be noted that the act on Food and Nutrition Safety is not the right place to introduce tax regulations in relation to advertising of food supplements, as this act sets out the requirements and procedures necessary to ensure food and nutrition safety. The proposed procedure is legally incorrect and should be verified.
I am critical of the new idea of introducing an additional fee for advertising of food supplements, due to the fact that the project assumptions will not achieve the goal set by this law and additionally a particular category of food is discriminated against putting it on an equal footing with alcohol or high-sugar products. – states Ewa Jankowska, President of PASMI’s Management Board.
We also learn from the justification to the draft act, that “Poles knowledge of food supplements and awareness of significant differences between OTC medicinal products and food supplements is at a low level,” however, in this case as well the legislator’s goals will not be achieved, because the funds that the State will receive from taxation on advertisement of food supplements, will not be forwarded to educational activities aimed at shaping the right of consumer’s behavior regarding the proper and safe use of food supplements, but will only contribute to the budget of the National Health Fund in order to funding the healthcare services.
The obligation to pay fees will neither reduce the amount of advertisements of food supplements nor affect healthy consumer behaviors. Such action will definitely create a significant barrier for small and medium-sized enterprises in the area of television and radio advertising. The only measurable effect that can be noted is the increase in prices of dietary supplements, which will directly hit consumers and the income to the state budget at the level estimated by the Legislator of 50 -100 million. – concludes Ewa Jankowska, President of PASMI’s Management Board.
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PASMI Polish Association of Self Medication Industry promotes the responsible self-medication among the society through a conscious and safe use of products classified as drugs sold without Prescription. It pursues to establish relevant legal and systematic solutions for the development of the responsible use of OTC drugs as one of the elements of the healthcare system.
PASMI cooperates actively with European organisations whose goals and operations are in line with the statutory activity of PASMI. PASMI is a member of AESGP – Association of the European Self-Medication Industry. Currently, the Association has 20 members: Aboca, A&D Pharma, Adamed, Bayer, Biocodex, GSK, IPSEN Poland, Johnson&Johnson, Klosterfrau, Omega Pharma Poland, Queisser Pharma, Pfizer, Polpharma, Reckitt Benckiser, Sanofi, Takeda, Teva, USP Zdrowie, Verco and Polski Komitet Zielarski as a supporting member.
