Poland audit reveals irregularities in fruit and tea imports

A report by the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) has highlighted inconsistencies in the supervision of fruit imports from outside the European Union. The audit examined the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant inspections, finding that while most actions were performed correctly, there were significant discrepancies regarding who performed laboratory tests and who bore the costs. In some instances, the state covered the costs of inspections that should have been paid for by importers.

Between 2022 and June 2025, inspectors issued 47 decisions banning 48 batches of imported fruit from the market. Frozen raspberries were the most affected, accounting for 33 of these bans. Other prohibited items included frozen blackberries and strawberries. Quality issues identified in various samples included mold, disease, insect larvae, contamination, and even plastic fragments in packaging.

In a separate enforcement action, the Main Inspectorate of Agricultural and Food Quality (IJHARS) blocked a shipment of tea from Sri Lanka from entering the Polish market due to detected irregularities, emphasizing the ongoing role of inspections in ensuring imported goods meet European safety and quality standards.