Poland proposes mandatory manufacturer labeling for private-label foods

The Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed new regulations requiring food products sold under retail private labels to disclose the name and address of the actual manufacturer or importer. Currently, labels often only list the distributor or the entity that commissioned the production, leaving the actual factory identity undisclosed.

Under the proposed changes, if the distributor is not the producer, the label must clearly state ‘Producent’ (Producer) followed by the manufacturer's details. If the producer is located outside the EU or EFTA, the label must instead provide the name and address of the importer, marked as ‘Importer na rynek UE’ (Importer for the EU market).

The proposal includes strict formatting requirements to ensure visibility: the information must be presented in black font on a white background, with a font size no smaller than that used for the distributor's data. Additionally, this information must be placed within a black rectangular frame covering at least 50 percent of the area of the product's trademark. The ministry aims to increase consumer protection and enable more informed purchasing decisions.