Tobacco producers: Mercosur deal will ruin Polish growers

The article highlights the concerns of the Polish Association of Tobacco Growers, led by Przemysław Noworyta, regarding the potential impact of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement on Poland's agricultural sector, particularly tobacco farming. The agreement, which has not yet been ratified, is expected to bring cheaper raw materials from Mercosur countries like Brazil, a major tobacco producer. This could lead to increased imports of cheaper South American tobacco, potentially replacing domestic production and threatening the existence of Polish tobacco farms.

Noworyta emphasizes the negative effects of the agreement on European agriculture, including the destruction of the Amazon rainforest for new plantations and the use of harmful substances in production, which could harm European consumers. He also worries that the agreement could disrupt efforts to increase purchases of Polish tobacco by tobacco companies, moving towards heated tobacco products. The article notes that tobacco is a significant part of Poland's agricultural sector, with about 3.6 thousand farms involving 20 thousand people and an annual production of 18-20 thousand tonnes. The export value of tobacco and tobacco products reached EUR 5.4 billion in 2023, accounting for 11% of Poland's total agri-food exports.