Poland plans to mandate customer access to retail toilets

The Polish Ministry of Development and Technology is working on new regulations to clarify access to public toilets in retail spaces and other public utility buildings. The initiative aims to resolve ambiguities in current technical and construction regulations regarding what constitutes a ‘publicly accessible’ facility.

Currently, some large-scale stores and discount chains, such as Biedronka, provide toilets that are restricted exclusively to staff, despite existing laws requiring public access in buildings over 100 square meters. This has caused difficulties for elderly people, pregnant women, families with children, and individuals with medical conditions.

The proposed changes will specify that a facility designated as ‘publicly accessible’ must be available to non-employees, including customers. The Ministry has clarified that the new regulations will not mandate the construction of new toilets in locations where none currently exist; instead, the goal is to ensure that existing facilities are opened to the general public rather than being reserved solely for personnel.