Regulatory compliance inspections in Poland

Regulatory inspections in Poland have uncovered widespread non-compliance across various sectors, including retail, manufacturing, and hospitality.

Initial audits by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) and the Trade Inspection focused on children’s clothing. These inspections of nearly 1,000 batches revealed that approximately 25% contained irregularities, such as labeling discrepancies and inaccurate material compositions. In some instances, products labeled as cotton were found to be composed entirely of polyester.

Subsequent inspections expanded to include the catering and broader retail sectors. Trade Inspection audits of catering establishments found irregularities in 80% of inspected locations, including violations of alcohol laws, pricing obligations, and the substitution of high-quality ingredients with cheaper alternatives. Additionally, the State Labour Inspection (PIP) reported that 63.5% of large-scale supermarkets were operating in violation of the Sunday trading ban. In response to these findings, the Ministry of Labour has indicated that legislative changes may be considered to improve deterrence.