State Plant Health
and Seed Inspection Service

1. phytosanitary inspection of plants, plant products or objects, substrates, soil, and means of transport at points of entry into, and within the Republic of Poland;
2. assess harmful organism hazard status for plants and keep records of these organisms;
3. issue decisions on the control of harmful organisms;
4. establish and improve methods and schedules for the control of harmful organisms, and prevent their spread;
5. issue phytosanitary certificates, plant passports and credentials, and supervise units authorised to complete plant passport forms;
6. check on treatment, decontamination and processing of plants, plant products or objects;
7. notify plant protection organisation of the country of origin of the interception or destruction of plants, plant products or objects;
8. supervise introduction, spread and work with quarantine organisms, plants, plant products or objects contaminated by quarantine organisms or not meeting special requirements, and plants, plant products or objects, the introduction, or movement of which in the Republic of Poland is prohibited;
9. keep operators register;
10. laboratory testing of plants, plant products or objects;
11. issue decisions on the handling of plants, plant products or objects subject to border phytosanitary inspection

1. check manufacturers of plant protection products for compliance with the plant protection products legislation and with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 1, as amended), hereinafter referred to as “Regulation 1107/2009”;
2. authorise operators to carry out efficacy tests on plant protection products and check compliance with good experimental practice within the meaning of Article 3(20) of Regulation 1107/2009;
3. act as the body keeping the register of regulated activities related with placing on the market or packaging of plant protection products, including inspecting operators acting in this area;
4. check imports, storage and movement of plant protection products;
5. check packaging of plant protection products on the market for compliance with the plant protection products legislation and Regulation 1107/2009;
6. check composition, physical properties or chemical properties of plant protection products placed on the market;
7. inspect marketing of plant protection products;
8. check advertising of plant protection products within the scope set out in Regulation 1107/2009;
9. check the use of plant protection products, including sampling for residue testing;
10. take action in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF);
11. act as the body keeping the register of checking technical performance of sprayers, including inspecting operators acting in this area;
12. authorise operators to certify integrated plant production, check these operators for compliance with the integrated plant production legislation and certify integrated plant production;
13. act as the body keeping the register of activities related with providing training on plant protection products, including inspecting operators acting in this area;
14. monitor usage of plant protection products;
15. supervise marketing of fertilisers, fertilisers marked “EC FERTILISERS” and plant growing aids;
16. supervise packing of fertilisers, fertilisers marked “EC FERTILISER” and plant growing aids;
17. supervise labelling and packaging of fertilisers, fertilisers marked "EC FERTILISER" and plant growing aids;
18. sample fertilisers, fertilisers marked "EC FERTILISERS" and plant growing aids for laboratory testing;
19. assess compliance of fertilisers and plant protection products with EU Mutual Recognition Regulation 2019/515;
20. deliver Inspection’s responsibilities under the market surveillance information exchange system - ICSMS.

1. field, laboratory and external characteristics evaluation of seed;
2. cooperate with COBORU in evaluating varietal identity and purity;
3. ensure compliance with rules and requirements for the production, evaluation, storage, marketing and use of seed, including genetically modified seed;
4. grant accreditation for seed sampling and seed evaluation, and ensure compliance;
5. issue official labels and seals, and supervise entities authorised to fill out labels;
6. inspect seed imported from third countries;
7. reevaluate seed in the event of an appeal against evaluation made by Voivodeship Inspectorates;
8. organise training and examinations for authorised certifiers who evaluate field and external characteristics of seed, and accredited certifiers who carry out field seed evaluations;
9. supervise and inspect suppliers of nursery stock, propagating and planting material of vegetable and ornamental plants for compliance with seed regulations;
10. supervise fees for official seed evaluation;
11. prepare information on seed marketing and inspection of traders;
12. accept applications and grant administrative decisions authorising the use of conventional seed in organic farming;
13. inspect vine crops intended for the production of wine;
14. keep records of seed traders: traders, farmers, suppliers.

Central Laboratory - organisational units of the Central Laboratory that perform tests, in particular, in support of SPPSI inspections are:

1. Phytosanitary Reference Laboratory
2. Seed Reference Laboratory
3. GMO Testing Laboratory
4. Laboratory for Testing Plant Protection Products Residues
5. Central Laboratory Branches

Phytosanitary Reference Laboratory - National Reference Laboratory

1. test samples of plant material, water, soil and growing media to detect and identify organisms harmful to plants (bacteria, viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas, fungi, nematodes and insects);
2. verify test results from CL Branches;
3. supervise and coordinate CL Branches in terms of diagnostics of regulated pest;
4. organise and deliver proficiency tests and ring tests for CL Branches;
5. provide training in pest diagnostics.

Seed Reference Laboratory - National Reference Laboratory 

1. laboratory evaluation of seed sampes;
2. supervise and coordinate Central Laboratory's Branches in terms of official seed evaluation;
3. supervise operations of accredited laboratories owned by seed companies;
4. organise and deliver proficiency tests and ring tests for these laboratories;
5. provide training and examinations for seed analysts;
6. organise an official network of seed samplers authorised to issue international ISTA certificates, including provision of training.

GMO Testing Laboratory 

1. qualitative and quantitative analyses of seed samples from seed and production crops (maize, rape, soya), as well as of green material sampled during vegetation, to detect and identify genetically modified organisms (GMOs) using molecular techniques - PCR and Real-time PCR. 

Laboratory for Testing Plant Protection Products Residues

1. use chromatographic and spectrophotometric techniques to analyse plant material, mainly fruits and vegetables, for non-compliance with Maximum Residue Levels of plant protection products and to detect products unauthorised for a given crop.

Central Laboratory Branches 

1. analyse plant material for the presence of organisms harmful to plants;
2. laboratory seed evaluation.