Sanitary Inspection / Sanitary control for customs clearance of goods (food and articles in contact with food) 

When importing goods from outside the European Union (eu), customs clearance is necessary to allow the cargo to be released. However, a greater difficulty arises when the imported product is food or articles in contact with food. In this case, sanitary control is required. Below is a list of products that are subject to sanitary control. 

Food products:

• rice and pasta
• wheat and other cereal flours, groats, meal
• chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa beans
• bread, rolls, pastry, cakes and biscuits
• soybean oil, palm oil, sunflower seed oil, rapeseed oil and their fractions
• vegetables and fruit
• vegetables, fruit, nuts, fruit peel and other parts of plants preserved by sugar (drained, glacé or candied)
• coconuts, brazil nuts, cashew nuts
• peanuts, not roasted or cooked
• sunflower, rape and other seeds
• mushrooms and truffles
• jams, fruit jellies and similar preparations
• sauces and preparations
• mixed spices and seasonings
• edible ice cream
• coffee, tea, maté, extracts, essences and concentrates
• non-fermented fruit and vegetable juices
• waters, including mineral and aerated waters
• fresh grape wine, vermouth

Products in contact with food:

• crockery, cookware and tableware
• cutlery and similar kitchen or table articles
• Grinders, food mixers, juicers

The full list of products subject to notification for sanitary control can be found in the decree of the Minister of Health.

A detailed list of goods can be found here: list

Sanitary control of goods - what does it consist of? 

Border sanitary control consists of an application to the state sanitary inspector, followed by the authority checking the correctness of the documents, inspecting the goods and finally issuing a certificate or refusal of release.

The application should be submitted 48 hours (standard goods) or 24 hours (perishable goods) before the arrival of the goods. The cost of filing through the customs agency is approx. PLN 100-150. 

Below are the documents to be attached to the application. Of course, the specific documents will depend, on the specific goods - different documents will be required for pumpkin seeds and others for kitchen knives, for example. 

Sanitary inspections take place at border crossing points by road, sea, rail or air. 

What documents are required? 

Of course, the first basic document will be a completed application, as we mentioned earlier the cost for agencies to submit such an application should be approx. PLN 100-150. This will be followed by documents such as analyses, certificates, etc. 

Below is a list of other documents: 

• application for notification for sanitary inspection 
• transport documents (TIR, CMR, B/L, etc.)
• results of microbiological, chemical and biological analyses
• sometimes test results will be required (levels of pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals and GMOs, radioactive contamination) 
• a certificate indicating the production batch number and the expiry or minimum durability date

When is sanitary control not required? 

A sanitary check does not have to be carried out when goods are transported for the purposes of scientific research or marketing activities. This is also the case for products transported from other EU Member States, which are normally exempt from inspection. However, companies transporting these goods are obliged to have up-to-date documentation proving that the products meet safety requirements and do not pose a risk to public health. 

What if the goods do not pass inspection? 

In the event of failure to comply with all the formalities, the state sanitary inspectorate issues a decision to non-admission of goods. 

It can also: 

• decide on the return of the cargo outside the EU
• destruction of the cargo at the owner's expense 
• use for other purposes, e.g. industrial use

If you do not agree with the State Inspector's decision it is possible to appeal within 14 days of the decision. If the Inspector is successful, we can obtain:

• close the appeal proceedings
• revoke the decision issued in whole or in part,
• confirm and leave the decision unchanged.
  

Articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs 

It is also worth mentioning that products that will come into contact with food are also subject to sanitary inspection. For example, such items as crockery, cutlery, kitchen accessories and utensils and all other items which are subject to food contact. 

The list from the ministry's list below: 

• Tableware, kitchenware and other household articles made of plastics
• Tableware, kitchenware and other household articles of porcelain, including china
• Ceramic tableware, kitchenware and other household articles, other than of porcelain, including china
• Other ceramic products
• Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, of iron or steel 
• Hand-operated mechanical appliances (weighing up to 10 kg), used in the preparation, handling or serving of food and beverages
• Spoons, forks, ladles, strainers, pastry spatulas, fish and butter knives, sugar tongs and similar kitchen or tableware
• Food mills and mixers, juicers