Poland dairy and livestock groups oppose contract law changes and German labeling plan

The Polish Milk Chamber, representing about 90 % of the national dairy sector, has called for an immediate halt to work on a parliamentary draft amending the law against unfair contract advantage. The Chamber argues that the proposed provisions – which would broaden practices deemed abusive and allow large retailers to demand detailed production‑cost data from suppliers – could weaken the competitiveness of the Polish food supply chain and expose confidential cost information.

Separately, Poland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has formally objected to a German proposal for a new EU food‑labeling system that would require information on animal‑welfare practices. The ministry says the plan breaches the EU principle of free movement of goods, would force costly certification on Polish producers, and should not impose a German labeling regime on other member states. Deputy minister Jacek Czerniak warned that Polish farmers and meat producers should not be placed "in an unfavorable market situation" because they do not use national‑specific labeling beyond EU standards.

Both actions reflect Polish agricultural organisations’ concerns that upcoming legislation and cross‑border regulatory proposals could reduce competitiveness and increase compliance burdens for domestic producers.