Sugar Fee Rises From 2027, With Extra Billions Headed to Poland's National Health Fund

In brief

• Poland's sugar fee on sweetened and energy drinks is set to rise from 1 January 2027 if the president signs the bill.
• The fixed charge per litre would rise from 50 to 70 groszy, and the caffeine and taurine rate tenfold.
• The Finance Ministry expects about 1.3 billion zloty a year for the NFZ, a figure producers dispute.

Parliament clears the increase

The Sejm has rejected the Senate's amendments to a bill that would substantially raise charges on producers of sweetened and energy drinks, (Opłata cukrowa mocno w górę. Sejm zdecydował, nowe stawki od 2027 roku – dlahandlu.pl) and the measure now awaits the president's signature. If it is signed, the new rates would apply from 1 January 2027.

What changes in the rates

The fixed charge per litre would go up from 50 groszy to 70 groszy. The variable charge on sugar above the set threshold would rise from 5 groszy to 10 groszy per gram. The largest jump concerns caffeine and taurine, where the rate would increase tenfold, from 10 groszy.

Money for the health fund

The Ministry of Finance estimates that the higher fee would bring about 1.3 billion zloty a year to the NFZ. (Wyższa opłata cukrowa od 2027 roku. Ministerstwo Finansów liczy na 1,3 mld zł dla NFZ – Bankier.pl) (Opłata cukrowa w górę. Na drożejących napojach skorzysta NFZ – Puls Biznesu) The government presents the fee as a way to discourage consumption of sugary drinks and to tackle obesity and diabetes, a rationale used since the charge was introduced five years ago. (Podatek cukrowy w górę. Od nowego roku za napoje zapłacimy więcej – spidersweb.pl)

Industry concerns

The Polish Federation of Food Producers doubts the ministry's revenue estimate, and warns that for some small and medium-sized bottling plants the new rates could mean bankruptcy. Commentators also link the move to a planned record budget deficit of 281.2 billion zloty for 2027, with parliamentary elections due the same year.

Key figures

| Charge | Current rate | Rate from 2027 | |---|---|---| | Fixed fee per litre | 50 groszy | 70 groszy | | Sugar, per gram above limit | 5 groszy | 10 groszy |