Distributing a product

Evolution of the sector

In a few years, distribution has become practically a private sector and the number of outlets has risen considerably. However, nowadays, this sector remains unstructured with a majority of small shops in rural areas where hypermarkets have not yet set up business. On the other hand, in large towns, the big foreign groups have moved in and out of 900 supermarkets, 432 are of foreign origin. We can mention:
- Real which belongs to the Metro AG group and has 27 stores,
- Hypernova (Ahold group) with 27 stores,
- Tesco with 37 stores,
- Auchan, Geant and Carrefour (respectively 19, 17 and 14 outlets).
Among the discount stores, we can recognize the names:
- Biedronka,
- Plus discount, etc.
Modern distribution (hypermarkets, supermarkets, discount) has a market share in the food trade of 35%. It is estimated that, ten years from now, Poland will have an identical distribution system to that existing in western countries.

On the other hand, specialized distribution does not escape either from internationalization:
- in the DIY sector, we find Leroy Merlin, Castorama...
- for household appliances, Ikea, Conforama... are on the scene
- for sports items, we find Décathlon, Go sport, etc.

Market shares

Organizations in the retail sector

Polska Organizacja Handlu i Dystrybucji (Association of employers in big distribution companies)
Polska Rada Centrow Handlowych (Polish Council for Shopping Centers)

We can identify professional tradeshows on your sector.

Market access procedures

International Conventions

Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of OECD
Party to the Kyoto protocol
Party to the Washington convention on International trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora
Party to the Basel convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal
Party to the Montreal protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer
Wassenaar arrangement on export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies
Party of the International coffee agreement 2001

Main International economic cooperation

Member of the European Union
Member of the European Economic Area which has guaranteed, since 1 January 1993, the free movement of most goods between European countries.
Multilateral agreements and bilateral agreements with many countries.

Non tariff barriers

As it joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, Poland follows the commercial policy of the EU, including anti-dumping or anti-subsidy measures. The import regime of the European Union, especially in the sector of textile goods, is widespread in Poland. If the country integrated much of community legislation the day it joined the EU, a transition period was defined to adapt the rest of community benefits such as, for example, the free movement of salaried workers or coastal navigation services for some member States. In addition, Poland was given time until 2008 to bring up to standard its marketing authorizations for pharmaceutical products. Time was also given until 2005 to bring licenses for medical apparatus up to standard.
The EU has a liberal import regime where having to obtain import licenses is uncommon. However, you should ensure that importing a particular product does not need an import license.
At the European level, agricultural products are protected within the framework of the common agricultural policy and textile goods coming from China, Belarus, North Korea, Montenegro, Kosovo and Uzbekistan are subject to particular formalities and to import licenses or control procedures (export document, inspection document).

Customs duties and taxes on imports

Transactions carried out inside the EEA are free of duty.
The European Union's Common Customs Tarif (CCT) applies to goods from outside Europe. In general, duty is relatively low, especially for industrial goods (4.2% on average).

Customs classification

The combined Nomenclature of the European Community (EC) integrates the HS nomenclature and has supplementary eight figure subdivisions and its own legal notes created for community purposes.

Import procedures

When goods from inside the European community are introduced into Poland, the exporter is obliged to fill in, at the end of the month, a Declaration of Exchange of Goods or Intrastat Declaration.
The Customs declaration (SAD) is still in force for trade between Poland and third countries.

As part of the "SAFE" standards advocated by the World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Union has set up a new system of import controls, the "Import Control System" (ICS), which aims to secure the flow of goods at the time of their entry into the customs territory of the EU. This control system, part of the Community Program eCustomer, has been in effect since January 1, 2011. Since then, operators are required to pass an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to the customs of the country of entry, prior to the introduction of goods into the customs territory of the European Union.

Importing samples

Importing samples are not taxed.

For further information

Customs Service
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Finance

We can indicate you which are the customs duties applied to your product.

Find out the local taxes that apply to your product.

Organizing goods transport

Main useful means of transport

Poland's main ports are Gdansk and Szeczin-Swinoujscie. They have been considerably improved over the last few years with a view to European integration. More than 50 million of tonnes of maritime freight transit via Poland each year.

Goods freight by road represents 74.4 billion tonnes-kms.

The Polish rail network is the third-best rail network in Europe for its infrastructures, the second for the volume of goods transported, and is the leading employer in Poland. International lines (Intercity) give excellent service but the regional lines remain poor. Modernization is essential as regards signals and rolling stock, for about 40% of goods traffic is carried out by rail (47,400 million tonnes-km of freight).

Ports

Port of Gdansk
Port of Szczecin

Airports

Polish Airports

Sea transport organizations

Ministry of Infrastructure
Ministry of Maritime Economy

Air transport organizations

Ministry of Infrastructure
Civil aviation transport office

Road transport organizations

Ministry of Transport
General inspectorate for road transport
Institute for road transport

Rail transport organizations

Ministry of transport
Rail transport office

Get a ballpark figure for transportation costs for your product in this country through a shipping estimate.

Identifying a supplier

Type of production

Industry in Poland contributes 38.2% to GDP, including 7.9% by the building sector, which is the most dynamic sector. The best situation concerns the sectors of industrial processing (excluding the textile industry), paper, chemical products, transport vehicles, rubber, synthetic materials, metals, the mechanical industries and medical, optical and precision apparatus industry, IT, foodstuffs and tobacco goods and furniture.

Business directories

The Yellow Pages
TeleAdreson
Poland Business

Manufacturers associations of the main industries

Rubber Manufacturers Association
National Chamber of Furniture Manufacturers
Chamber of car Industries
Chamber of Construction Industries
Chamber of Chemical Industries
Chamber of pharmaceuticals and medical devices industries
National Chamber of Electronic and Telecommunications

Trade Agencies and their representations abroad

Polish Chambers of Commerce

Enterprises federation

Standards

National standards organizations

Polish Standardization Committee

Integration in the international standards network

Poland has developed a widespread system of standards and certifications of its own, not always harmonized with international standards. It is a member of different international standards organizations: ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC, ETSI. It also cooperates with other international organizations for the harmonization of standards and certifications, such as UN/ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), WTO/TBT (WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade).

Classification of standards

Concerning marketing, in Poland, products subject to the field of application of New Approach European directives: since 1 May 2004 they must carry the "CE" mark. For further information about CE marking, please consult the information on EC marking.

Online consultation of standards

Catalog of Polish Standards

Certification organizations

Polish Center for Analysis and Certification
Polish Center for Accreditation

Find out the standards and labelling requirements that apply to your products.

Intellectual Property

National organizations

The organization responsible for the protection of intellectual property in Poland is the Urzad Patentowy RP, it is a member of the European Patent Office (EPO).

Regional organizations

Copyright Office
Industrial Property Office

International membership

Member of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
Signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Intellectual Property