Sell Cosmetics in Poland: GIS Authority, Polish Labelling and CPSR Part B

• GIS (Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny — Chief Sanitary Inspectorate) is the competent authority for cosmetics in Poland under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 — Poland is the EU's sixth-largest cosmetics market at €5.84 billion in 2024.
• Polish is mandatory for all consumer-facing label elements under the Polish Act on Cosmetic Products of 4 October 2018 (Dz.U. 2018 poz. 2227); INCI ingredient names are exempt.
• Part B of the CPSR (safety assessment conclusions) must be exclusively in Polish — a national requirement without equivalent in most EU member states.

1. The EU framework applies — notify once, sell everywhere

Poland applies Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 directly — the harmonised rules that govern cosmetic products across the entire European Union. There is no parallel national regime: the safety, composition, and labelling rules are the same as in the rest of the EU.

In practice, selling in Poland within the EU framework means meeting four common obligations that are not specific to this country:

• A single CPNP notification covers the entire EU market, including Poland.
• A single EU-established Responsible Person is accountable for the product.
• A single product information file (PIF), which includes the cosmetic product safety report (CPSR).

This guide does not repeat that common framework — it focuses on what is specific to Poland. For the cross-cutting concepts, see also what the CosIng database is and how to use it.

2. The national competent authority

The competent authority for cosmetic products in Poland is the Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny (GIS — Chief Sanitary Inspectorate). GIS is the designated competent authority under Articles 24, 27, and 30 of Regulation 1223/2009. The Państwowa Inspekcja Sanitarna (PIS — State Sanitary Inspection) carries out operational tasks under Articles 25 and 26. Official URL: gis.gov.pl/dzialalnosc-gospodarcza/zglaszanie-produktow-kosmetycznych.

The UOKIK (Urząd Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów — Office of Competition and Consumer Protection) and the Trade Inspection (Inspekcja Handlowa) may conduct parallel product safety checks.

3. Labelling language requirements

Polish is mandatory for all consumer-facing label elements in Poland. The legal basis is the Ustawa z dnia 4 października 2018 r. o produktach kosmetycznych (Polish Act on Cosmetic Products of 4 October 2018, Dz.U. 2018 poz. 2227), which requires that cosmetic products placed on the Polish market be labelled in Polish.

Recognised exceptions include: trade names, manufacturer names and addresses, and INCI ingredient names — which may remain in their internationally standardised original form. For ingredient identification using INCI nomenclature, see the CosIng database.

4. National particularities

Polish Act on Cosmetic Products (2018)

The Ustawa z dnia 4 października 2018 r. is Poland's national act implementing Regulation 1223/2009. It designates GIS as the competent authority, establishes documentation obligations applicable in Poland, and sets out the administrative penalty regime. Readers wishing to understand the full scope of this Act should confirm details against the primary text or qualified legal counsel.

CPSR Part B in Polish

One of Poland's most significant national particularities is that Part B of the cosmetic product safety report (CPSR) — the safety assessor's conclusions — must be prepared exclusively in Polish. This requirement directly affects the safety assessor responsible for signing the CPSR: their conclusions must be in Polish for the PIF to be compliant on the Polish market.

This requirement is unusual in the EU context — in most member states, the PIF may be prepared in English or another language readily understood by the competent authority. For more on CPSR structure, see the cosmetic product safety report guide.

Penalties

The Polish Act on Cosmetic Products establishes administrative penalties with verified maximum amounts:

• Up to PLN 100,000 (~€23,000) for violations relating to prohibited or restricted substances or inadequate safety assessment.
• Up to PLN 70,000 (~€17,000) for labelling non-compliance.

For other markets in the region, see our guides to Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

5. Market context

Poland is the sixth-largest cosmetics market in the European Union. According to the Cosmetics Europe Annual Report 2024 (published June 2025), retail sales of cosmetic and personal care products reached €5.84 billion, placing Poland sixth in the EU. The Polish market has shown sustained growth over the past decade, driven by rising purchasing power and a dynamic e-commerce sector. Poland is also a significant cosmetics manufacturing hub for Central and Eastern Europe.

The CPSR Part B in Polish requirement is the most distinctive element for technical documentation planning and requires specific attention when designating the product safety assessor.

6. Frequently asked questions

Which authority regulates cosmetics in Poland? The Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny (GIS — Chief Sanitary Inspectorate) is the competent authority for cosmetics market surveillance in Poland. The Państwowa Inspekcja Sanitarna (State Sanitary Inspection) carries out operational functions under Articles 25 and 26 of Regulation 1223/2009.

What language must cosmetic labels be in for Poland? Polish is mandatory for all consumer-facing label elements under the Polish Act on Cosmetic Products of 4 October 2018 (Ustawa z dnia 4 października 2018 r., Dz.U. 2018 poz. 2227). Trade names, manufacturer names, and INCI ingredient names may remain in their original form.

Do I need a separate notification for Poland? No. A single CPNP notification covers the entire EU including Poland. The former Polish national cosmetics notification system was replaced by CPNP on 11 July 2013.

Are there national particularities beyond Regulation 1223/2009? Yes. Part B of the CPSR (safety assessment conclusions) must be exclusively in Polish — an unusual national requirement in the EU that directly affects the safety assessor. Penalties for non-compliance can reach up to PLN 100,000 (~€23,000) for substance violations or inadequate safety assessment.