Fruits and vegetables only with the country's flag. Retail chains are afraid of price increases
The Ministry of Agriculture explains that until now – in accordance with EU regulations – written information about the country of origin was sufficient. From now on, sellers are also obliged to display a clear graphic symbol – the country's flag. This information must be visible, legible and placed near the product so as not to mislead consumers.
The new regulations are to be in force permanently from February 17, 2026. As the Ministry of Agriculture emphasizes, the aim of the changes is to increase market transparency and provide consumers with even more complete information about the origin of products – both in text and graphic form. The ministry hopes that the new labeling will allow customers to make more informed purchasing decisions.
— The consumer has the right to full and transparent knowledge about the products he purchases. There will be an additional graphic marking on the shelves – the flag of the country of origin – covering fresh fruit and vegetables sold loose, packed at the customer's request or prepared for direct sale – emphasizes the Minister of Agriculture, Czesław Krajewski.
Read also: Poland's two-speed economy. These statistics are worrying
According to the Polish Press Agency, similar regulations already apply in Poland: from 2019 in relation to potatoes, and from 2020 also in the case of meat sold in bulk.
However, the new regulations raise doubts among retail chains associated with the Polish Organization of Trade and Distribution (POHiD). The organization emphasizes that the obligation to “flag” may contribute to price increases and increase the risk of mistakes when choosing products by customers.
According to POHiD, the “Polish Product” marking that is currently used is clear and effectively distinguishes domestic fruits and vegetables. The organization points out that flags can be easily confused, and the new regulations duplicate existing text information about the country of origin.
The cost of implementing new markings for large retail chains is estimated by POHiD at approx PLN 17 million.
