Poland’s Poultry Industry Calls for Stronger EU Safeguards Against Cheap Imports.
Poland’s poultry sector is facing domestic, European and global challenges. Although the country is the European Union’s leading poultry producer, the industry must contend with low-cost imports from outside the bloc, administrative barriers and disruptions caused by geopolitical crises. Industry representatives argue that the European Commission should activate stronger protective mechanisms to help Poland preserve its position in international markets.
“Poland is the largest poultry meat producer in the European Union and the world’s third-largest exporter. This is a major privilege, but also a responsibility,” Dariusz Goszczyński, president of the National Poultry Council – Chamber of Commerce, told Newseria. “We must be aware that many countries are watching how we perform, but also the challenges we face.”
Over the past two decades, Poland’s poultry industry has tripled its production capacity and increased exports tenfold, he said. This, in his view, demonstrates the importance of quality and high production standards in gaining access to new markets and maintaining Poland’s position in existing ones.
According to the Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics, poultry meat production in Poland reached approximately 3.23 million tonnes in 2025. Data from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development indicate that Poland produced a combined 20.1 million tonnes of poultry between 2022 and 2026, the highest volume among EU member states.
Exports Remain a Key Driver
Poland exports poultry products to more than 100 countries, making international conditions especially important for the sector.
Data from Poland’s National Support Centre for Agriculture show that the value of poultry product exports between January and April 2026 reached €2.179 billion. Poultry accounted for 51% of the total value of Polish meat product exports during the period.
“Alongside our positive production and export results, we also face a number of challenges,” Goszczyński said. “They can be divided into three areas: domestic, European and global. Because we export to more than 100 countries worldwide, we also have to take global risks into account.”
At the domestic level, one of the biggest threats is animal disease, including avian influenza and Newcastle disease.
“These issues affect the entire sector and the whole production chain very strongly,” Goszczyński said. “Every outbreak is a tragedy not only for the farmer. It means birds that are not delivered, disrupted plans and consequences for every stage of the chain — from feed and chicks through slaughterhouses to processing plants.”
Disease Risks and Investment Barriers
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is working on legal solutions intended to protect the production role of rural areas while also addressing the interests of residents. Work is under way on legislation aimed at creating clearer and more stable rules for agricultural operations.
According to the poultry sector, securing the productive role of rural areas is particularly important. Producers say they are increasingly encountering difficulties when trying to build new livestock facilities or expand existing operations.
“It is essential that the entire animal production sector, not only poultry producers, works together with the ministry to protect the productive function of rural areas,” Goszczyński said. “Producers need a predictable future and the ability to operate both now and in the years ahead.”
Administrative procedures are another major concern. Poultry producers point in particular to environmental permits, operating approvals and permits for new facilities.
“Administrative procedures can drag on indefinitely,” Goszczyński said. “We expect the Ministry of Environment and its subordinate services to improve the whole process. We need new facilities equipped with the latest biosecurity solutions, also to strengthen resilience against animal disease outbreaks.”
Concerns Over Ukraine and Mercosur
At the European level, the poultry industry is closely monitoring trade agreements, imports from Ukraine and the future consequences of Ukraine’s potential accession to the EU.
Ukraine is currently the largest non-EU supplier of poultry meat to the European Union. According to the Ukrainian Poultry Farmers Association, Ukrainian poultry exports exceeded 450,000 tonnes in 2025, with around 140,000 tonnes going to EU countries.
“The European challenge is primarily about trade agreements, Mercosur, Ukraine and what will happen in the future with Ukraine’s accession to the European Union,” Goszczyński said. “New regulatory requirements introduced by the European Commission will also affect production costs in the EU, while trade agreements may allow imports of products that do not have to meet all the requirements imposed on European producers.”
Under the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, temporarily applied from May 1, 2026, a trade area covering around 700 million people has been created. The agreement was concluded between the European Union and the South American trade bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The agreement provides for a tariff-free quota of 180,000 tonnes of poultry imports from Mercosur, to be phased in over five years. This volume represents around 1.3% of current EU poultry production.
However, industry representatives argue that the impact on the market cannot be assessed solely by comparing the quota with total EU poultry output.
“Supporters of the Mercosur agreement often say they do not understand why poultry or beef producers are concerned, because an additional quota of 180,000 tonnes represents only 1.4% of EU production,” Goszczyński said. “But this is a misleading narrative.”
He argues that the relevant market is not total poultry production, but specific categories such as breast meat. According to his estimates, EU trade in poultry breast meat amounts to around 3.5 million tonnes, while imports already account for approximately 900,000 tonnes.
“After tariffs and quotas were opened for Ukraine, and the country increased its exports to the EU from 90,000 to 170,000 tonnes, we saw how strongly this affected the EU market,” he said. “This shows how little is needed to disrupt the market.”
Equal Standards and Clearer Labelling
The poultry industry is calling for imports entering the EU market to comply with the same production standards required of European producers.
“We expect the European Commission not to accept a situation in which imported products under these agreements do not have to meet all the requirements met by European and Polish producers,” Goszczyński said. “This leads to unequal competition. It is also important from the perspective of consumer trust.”
The sector is also seeking clearer country-of-origin labelling so consumers can distinguish between products made in the EU and those imported from outside the bloc.
The European Union was Ukraine’s largest trading partner in 2025, accounting for around 65% of the country’s goods trade. Ukraine, in turn, was the EU’s 15th-largest trading partner, representing approximately 1.3% of the bloc’s total goods trade. Total EU-Ukraine goods trade reached €68.2 billion in 2025, more than double the level recorded when the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area entered into force in 2016.
Goszczyński argues that Ukraine presents a particularly complex challenge because of differences in production models.
“We have two different production systems,” he said. “The Ukrainian model is based on large agricultural holdings — one company alone farms more than 500,000 hectares — while the European model is based on family farms.”
In his view, any future arrangements concerning Ukrainian poultry imports should include mechanisms that protect the economic viability of EU producers.
“On an open market without regulations, we will not be able to withstand this competition,” he said.
Food Security and Global Disruptions
The industry expects the European Commission to introduce all necessary measures to ensure fair competition.
“Standards required in the European Union must be met by everyone who wants to supply goods to the EU,” Goszczyński said. “We also expect country-of-origin labelling, allowing consumers to distinguish between products made in the EU and products originating outside it.”
New EU rules on poultry meat marketing standards have been in force since March 9, 2026. The regulations are intended to update and organise rules governing the marketing of poultry meat on the EU market.
The sector also supports clearer information on the origin of key ingredients used in processed foods.
“We realise this can be complicated when a product contains a dozen or even several dozen ingredients,” Goszczyński said. “However, the main ingredients used in processed products should carry this information.”
Beyond trade and administrative challenges, the poultry sector must also manage disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions, including supply-chain risks and increased production costs.
Another key issue is the potential use of vaccination against avian influenza in a way that does not restrict exports or disrupt trade with key partners.
“Poland exports 60% of its production,” Goszczyński said. “Any action that could disrupt exports is extremely important for us and must be taken into account.”
For Poland’s poultry sector, maintaining its international position will depend not only on production capacity and export performance, but also on disease control, investment conditions, transparent trade rules and equal standards for imported products.
