Poland introduces new regulations to combat food fraud

Poland is introducing new regulations to combat food fraud and strengthen oversight of food quality throughout the production, import, and sales processes. Prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the legislation aims to protect both consumers and honest producers from unfair competition and misleading information.

The new rules expand the definition of a falsified agricultural and food product to include items lacking required information, such as country of origin or manufacturer details. The law also introduces criminal liability for intentional food fraud conducted for financial gain.

In addition to physical retail, the regulations target e-commerce. The Inspection of Commercial Quality of Agricultural and Food Products (IJHARS) will have the authority to monitor food information in online advertisements, leaflets, and promotional materials. To facilitate these inspections and prevent anonymous illegal activity, online sales platforms will be required to provide data regarding food sellers.