Info-brief: EUTR enforcement in Poland

The document outlines Poland's implementation of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) through the Forestry Law (Ustawa o lasach), detailing the role of regional inspectors for environmental protection as the Competent Authority. It specifies administrative fines for illegal timber placement and due diligence failures, ranging from 5,000 PLN to 500,000 PLN, and notes that criminal sanctions for illegal logging can include up to 5 years imprisonment. Enforcement data shows 100 checks in 2016, 115 in 2017, and 80 between January and September 2018. The brief highlights strengths in customs cooperation and weaknesses regarding the requirement to prove intent in criminal cases and the mandatory withdrawal of sanctions if violations were unpreventable.

• The EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) is implemented in Poland via the Forestry Law (Ustawa o lasach), which took effect on 29 May 2015, with regional inspectors for environmental protection serving as the Competent Authority (CA) for all timber.
• Administrative fines for EUTR breaches vary by offense: placing illegally harvested timber on the market, failing to exercise due diligence, or failing to maintain a due diligence system can result in fines between 5,000 PLN and 500,000 PLN. Fines for failing to keep records or provide information to the CA range from 5,000 PLN to 20,000 PLN.
• The Polish Competent Authority conducted 100 checks in 2016, 115 checks in 2017, and 80 checks from January to September 2018.
• Domestic illegal logging may be prosecuted as a criminal offence of substantial damage to plant or animal life, carrying a penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment, and a fee of twice the timber's value. Other criminal activities related to timber obtained via crime can lead to sanctions up to 10 years imprisonment.
• Enforcement is strengthened by the CA's cooperation with customs authorities through quarterly reports on imports. However, weaknesses include the requirement to prove individual intent for criminal cases and a rule requiring the CA to withdraw administrative sanctions if the fined person could not have prevented the violation.

APA

ClientEarth (2019). Info-brief: EUTR enforcement in Poland. https://www.clientearth.org/media/gbknxe1m/2019-04-12-eutr-enforcement-brief-poland-ce-en.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Info-brief: EUTR enforcement in Poland. 2019. https://www.clientearth.org/media/gbknxe1m/2019-04-12-eutr-enforcement-brief-poland-ce-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=Info-brief: EUTR enforcement in Poland |date=March 2019 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/gbknxe1m/2019-04-12-eutr-enforcement-brief-poland-ce-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearth2019infobrief, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Info-brief: EUTR enforcement in Poland}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2019}, month = mar, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/gbknxe1m/2019-04-12-eutr-enforcement-brief-poland-ce-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }