National Inspectorates - Poland

The enforcement of provisions on chemicals in Poland is the competence of a few administrative authorities. The leading enforcement authority is the State Sanitary Inspectorate, within the scope of their competencies. Together with chemicals, its mission comprises also communicable diseases prevention and control, occupational and environmental hazard prevention, health, and safety surveillance as well as health promotion.

The State Sanitary Inspectorate realises tasks in the field of public health in particular by monitoring the conditions of hygiene, occupational hygiene, radiation hygiene, education and teaching process hygiene, food and nutrition safety, disease prevention and control.

Control activities are realised by the State Sanitary Inspectorate inspectors on the regional level (counties and voivodeship sanitary and epidemiological stations), coordinated/supervised by the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate. On the regional level inspectors dealing with chemicals and occupational health are responsible for among others, supervising REACH, CLP, biocidal products, cometic products, detergents, drug precursors category 2 and 3.

Authorities responsible for REACH and CLP enforcement

State Sanitary Inspectorate is, within its scope of competence, responsible for the supervision over compliance with the REACH and CLP Regulations (under the Act of 25 February 2011 on the chemical substances and their mixtures).

Other authorities responsible for REACH and CLP enforcement are:

• Inspectorate for Environmental Protection – regarding risks to the environment.
• State Labour Inspection – regarding the enforcement and inspection of compliance with the provisions of national laws, particularly labour protection – within the scope of its competence.
• Trade Inspection – operates within a joint administration in the area of 16 voivodeships. The Trade Inspection is responsible for the supervision of compliance with the restrictions on the use of chemical substances in consumer products (Annex XVII) by entrepreneurs. The Trade Inspection is responsible for the supervision of compliance with the provisions of Titles III and IV of the CLP Regulation – in relation to wholesale and retail trade by entrepreneurs.
• State Fire Service – regarding adequate labelling of the places where explosive, oxidizing and flammable substances/mixtures are stored.
• Customs Authorities – regarding compliance with the provisions concerning: export and import of dangerous chemicals according to PIC Regulation import of substances, mixtures and articles with regard to Annex XVII of REACH import of a substances, mixture or article referred to in Title VII of REACH.

Authorities responsible for BPR enforcement

State Sanitary Inspectorate and the Military Sanitary Inspectorate are, within their scopes of competence, responsible for the supervision over compliance with the BPR Regulation (under the Act of 9 October 2015 on biocidal products).

Other authorities responsible for BPR enforcement are:

• State Labour Inspection – deals with the enforcement and inspection of compliance of BPR provisions regarding labour protection issues.
• State Fire Service – controls adequate labelling of the places where biocidal products are stored.
• Trade Inspection – operates within a joint administration in the area of 16 voivodeships. The Trade Inspection is responsible for the supervision of compliance with the provisions of the BPR regulation within its jurisdiction – regarding the marking of unit packages of biocidal products and articles treated with biocidal products in wholesale and retail sale.
• Inspectorate for Environmental Protection – inspects the handling of biocidal products and active substances that become waste and reviews procedures regarding used packaging of these products.

Authorities responsible for POP enforcement

Inspectorate for Environmental Protection is the main authority responsible for the environmental monitoring, including, the supervision of the POP Regulation. However, other authorities may also be involved if the issue involves food safety, animal safety or other emerging hazards connected to POPs.

More details on persistent organic pollutants and the provisions of the POP Regulation are available on the websites of the Ministry of Climate and Environment as well as the Bureau for Chemical Substances.

Authorities responsible for PIC enforcement

Customs Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the PIC Regulation (under Article 29 of the Act of 25 February 2011 on the chemical substances and their mixtures).