Polish authorities strengthen control of imported agricultural products and foodPolish authorities strengthen control of imported agricultural products and food such as pepper, cinnamon, dried fruits. Illustrative photo.
According to information from the Vietnam Trade Office in Poland, food and spices are imported from different places to Poland mainly from Asia, the Middle East, South America and other European Union countries. Among them, the most imported products include nuts, rice, herbs, dried fruits and spices, including cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and pepper. Although most of the imported products meet European quality standards, there are also some substandard shipments.
On July 25, 2025, the Polish Inspectorate for Trade Quality of Agricultural Food Products (IJHARS) in Gdansk (Poland) announced that it had detained a food shipment of 22 tons of cinnamon from Vietnam entering Poland due to moldy odor, microbial impurities (mold and yeast) and other organic contaminants. According to the procedure, such a shipment will be returned to the sender or processed according to regulations. The decision was implemented immediately.
According to statistics, this is not the first time the Polish Inspectorate has detained goods from Vietnam. According to data released by IJHARS, in the first half of 2025, the agency issued a ban on 5 shipments originating from Vietnam, including black pepper and dried mango.
Not only Vietnam, many other countries also have goods blocked from import due to failure to meet food hygiene standards. Among them, China (12 shipments) followed by Ukraine (11 shipments), Türkiye (10 shipments), the UK (9 shipments), Egypt (8 shipments). India is behind Vietnam with 4 shipments. However, the number of shipments handled by Polish authorities this year is only approximately 30% of the same period last year, which is assessed to be due to the deterrent effect of increased control over imported agricultural products.
The Vietnam Trade Office in Poland warned that the IJHARS Agency announced that it will continue to control and cooperate more closely with foreign services to minimize the risk of dangerous products reaching Polish consumers.
Therefore, the Vietnam Trade Office in Poland recommends that Vietnamese enterprises exporting agricultural products and food to Poland pay close attention to tightening quality management, avoiding losses due to returned or destroyed goods; at the same time affecting the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products that are currently establishing a certain position in the Polish market.
According to experts, in reality, Vietnamese agricultural products are positively received by Polish consumers, especially in the Asian community and Asian restaurant chains. Therefore, any incident related to the quality of goods can cause great losses not only financially but also seriously affect the reputation and image of the industry in the local market.
In the event that shipments are returned or destroyed, businesses not only have to bear the costs of logistics, storage, and handling, but also risk being put on the warning list, causing difficulties for subsequent exports.
In addition to technical factors, businesses also need to pay attention to new regulations on packaging, labeling, nutritional information, and traceability that are being applied increasingly strictly by the EU. These requirements are not just administrative procedures but reflect the commitment to transparency, safety and social responsibility that the Polish market in particular and the European market in general place on international suppliers.
In that context, investing in quality control systems, standardized testing laboratories, as well as coordinating with international logistics and legal partners are prerequisites for Vietnamese enterprises to maintain and expand their market share in the Polish market as well as other EU countries.
Poland is currently one of the EU markets with great potential for Vietnamese agricultural and food products. Therefore, to effectively exploit this market, enterprises need to consider quality control as a key strategy, not only to meet import regulations but also to build sustainable brands, increase value and strengthen the trust of local consumers.
Polish authorities strengthen control of imported agricultural products and foodPolish authorities strengthen control of imported agricultural products and food such as pepper, cinnamon, dried fruits. Illustrative photo.
According to information from the Vietnam Trade Office in Poland, food and spices are imported from different places to Poland mainly from Asia, the Middle East, South America and other European Union countries. Among them, the most imported products include nuts, rice, herbs, dried fruits and spices, including cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and pepper. Although most of the imported products meet European quality standards, there are also some substandard shipments.
On July 25, 2025, the Polish Inspectorate for Trade Quality of Agricultural Food Products (IJHARS) in Gdansk (Poland) announced that it had detained a food shipment of 22 tons of cinnamon from Vietnam entering Poland due to moldy odor, microbial impurities (mold and yeast) and other organic contaminants. According to the procedure, such a shipment will be returned to the sender or processed according to regulations. The decision was implemented immediately.
According to statistics, this is not the first time the Polish Inspectorate has detained goods from Vietnam. According to data released by IJHARS, in the first half of 2025, the agency issued a ban on 5 shipments originating from Vietnam, including black pepper and dried mango.
Not only Vietnam, many other countries also have goods blocked from import due to failure to meet food hygiene standards. Among them, China (12 shipments) followed by Ukraine (11 shipments), Türkiye (10 shipments), the UK (9 shipments), Egypt (8 shipments). India is behind Vietnam with 4 shipments. However, the number of shipments handled by Polish authorities this year is only approximately 30% of the same period last year, which is assessed to be due to the deterrent effect of increased control over imported agricultural products.
The Vietnam Trade Office in Poland warned that the IJHARS Agency announced that it will continue to control and cooperate more closely with foreign services to minimize the risk of dangerous products reaching Polish consumers.
Therefore, the Vietnam Trade Office in Poland recommends that Vietnamese enterprises exporting agricultural products and food to Poland pay close attention to tightening quality management, avoiding losses due to returned or destroyed goods; at the same time affecting the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products that are currently establishing a certain position in the Polish market.
According to experts, in reality, Vietnamese agricultural products are positively received by Polish consumers, especially in the Asian community and Asian restaurant chains. Therefore, any incident related to the quality of goods can cause great losses not only financially but also seriously affect the reputation and image of the industry in the local market.
In the event that shipments are returned or destroyed, businesses not only have to bear the costs of logistics, storage, and handling, but also risk being put on the warning list, causing difficulties for subsequent exports.
In addition to technical factors, businesses also need to pay attention to new regulations on packaging, labeling, nutritional information, and traceability that are being applied increasingly strictly by the EU. These requirements are not just administrative procedures but reflect the commitment to transparency, safety and social responsibility that the Polish market in particular and the European market in general place on international suppliers.
In that context, investing in quality control systems, standardized testing laboratories, as well as coordinating with international logistics and legal partners are prerequisites for Vietnamese enterprises to maintain and expand their market share in the Polish market as well as other EU countries.
Poland is currently one of the EU markets with great potential for Vietnamese agricultural and food products. Therefore, to effectively exploit this market, enterprises need to consider quality control as a key strategy, not only to meet import regulations but also to build sustainable brands, increase value and strengthen the trust of local consumers.