According to the Viet Nam Trade Office in Poland, from February 17, 2026, this country will apply new labeling regulations to certain food products including: fruits and vegetables, honey, fruit juices, and jams.

This is a concrete step in implementing Directive (EU) 2024/1438 of May 14, 2024, issued by the European Parliament and Council, aimed at increasing transparency and protecting consumer rights.

A notable aspect of this regulation from the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the stringent requirement for detailed product composition. The changes focus on four main product groups, including: jams and preserves; fruit juices; honey; and fresh produce.

Specifically, for jams, preserves, jellies, candied oranges, candied plums, and ground chestnuts, they must meet the commercial quality requirements according to Regulation No. 991 dated July 22, 2025, of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Product labels must clearly state the specific fruit content in the ingredients.

For packaged fruit juices, products containing two or more fruits must list the fruits in descending order of their proportion of juice or pulp; products containing three or more fruits may use the term "multi-fruit" or equivalent phrases, but must clearly state the number of each fruit used.

For honey, manufacturers are required to list the country of origin where the honey was harvested. If the honey is a blend from multiple sources, the label must detail the name of each country of origin and the corresponding percentage of each.

For fresh, unpackaged fruits, vegetables, and bananas for sale, the national flag of the country of origin must be displayed for easy consumer identification.

Regarding the implementation schedule, the general effective date is February 17, 2026; however, specific regulations on labeling for honey, fruit juices, and jams will take effect earlier (February 14, 2026). Products already in circulation before these dates and labeled according to current regulations may still be sold until stocks run out.

The Trade Office notes that Polish regulations are issued on the basis of specifying EU regulations. Depending on the EU market, the timing and details of implementation may not be exactly the same, but the principles of application are consistent.

Therefore, Vietnamese agricultural and food export businesses need to proactively update themselves on the specific regulations of each market to ensure that their business operations are not disrupted.

Source: People's Deputies News