Poland has introduced new rules affecting the supervision and use of plant varieties, following an amendment adopted on 7 November 2025 and published in the Journal of Laws shortly thereafter and key provisions such as sales controls on plant protection products have become effective from 6 March 2026. Some obligations apply immediately while others roll out over time. The change means better protection of plant breeders' rights, but also more inspection and administrative duties of and for farmers and seed companies and distributors.
Beeld: © Photo by Blake Weyland on Unsplash
The amendment is part of a broader reform of plant health and agricultural oversight. While it does not fundamentally rewrite plant breeders’ rights, it strengthens how those rights are enforced and monitored.
Authorities responsible for plant health and seed control have been given broader powers to inspect plant material. Controls are no longer limited to traditional checkpoints and inspections can take place at more locations across the supply chain. The reform aims to improve the detection of irregularities and ensure that protected plant varieties are used lawfully
The amendment also introduces more robust documentation and traceability rules for plant material. In practice, this means clearer identification of origin and movement of seeds and plants, stronger links between plant material and registered varieties and improved ability to verify compliance with breeders’ rights.
These changes mirror wider EU efforts to standardize traceability through tools like plant passports and operator registers.
The reform is closely linked to new rules on plant protection products and agricultural inputs, with a focus on safety and misuse prevention. It increases supervision of high-risk substances, introduces additional requirements when purchasing and using plant protection products and provides measures aimed at reducing environmental and health risks. Some of these rules are already entering into force, for example stricter conditions on the sale of professional-use plant protection products from March 2026.
A key goal of the amendment is to align Polish legislation with evolving EU plant health rules. Inspection standards are harmonized, cross-border consistency has improved as has the integration with EU biosecurity systems. The changes support EU-wide efforts to prevent the spread of pests and ensure safe trade in plant material.
Beeld: © Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
More information
The Netherlands Agricultural Network team at the Dutch Embassy stands ready to help any Dutch company interested in doing business with Poland.
For more information about this topic, please contact: war-lvvn@minbuza.nl