Poland Plans Pellet Quality Rules as Supply Tightens

Poland moves to regulate solid biofuels

Poland’s government is due to consider legislation on September 15 that would introduce mandatory quality requirements for pellets and other solid biofuels. According to WNP, products could no longer be sold without a certificate confirming that they comply with the new standards.

The proposal comes as pellets gain popularity in Poland, partly through the Czyste Powietrze clean-air programme. Supply has not kept pace with demand, however, and WNP reports that another shortage of raw material could occur this year. Restricted availability is already adding upward pressure to prices.

The bill would create a regulated category of “solid biofuels” and place it within Poland’s existing fuel-quality monitoring and control system. The category would include briquettes, pellets, firewood, and straw bales and cubes.

Testing and certification costs

Companies placing solid biofuels on the market would have to issue a solid-biofuel quality certificate. They would also need to have product quality tested by accredited laboratories. Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment estimates that sampling and one laboratory test would cost about 8,000 złoty.

A seller would be exempt from further tests if it made no changes affecting the quality requirements of the relevant biofuel. Even so, the initial expense and documentation could be significant for smaller suppliers, particularly in a market already facing limited availability.

The ministry’s regulatory assessment says woody biomass, agricultural biomass, pellets and briquettes currently placed on the market are not tested under the state quality-control system. It argues that this allows fuels contaminated with waste to reach customers. The proposed standards are intended to close that gap and establish a common compliance threshold.

Controls would cover domestic sales and imports

The draft would prohibit both the marketing and customs clearance of solid biofuels that fail to meet the quality requirements. Products without a valid certificate would also be barred. The Trade Inspection authority would monitor fuels sold on the Polish market and impose financial penalties for violations.

The National Revenue Administration would inspect imported solid biofuels during customs clearance. This means foreign suppliers would face the same product requirements at the border, making certificates and verifiable laboratory results important for continued access to Poland.

The government plans expenditure limits for enforcement between 2027 and 2036. The budget allocated to the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection and the Trade Inspection authority would rise from 6.4 million złoty in 2027 to more than 7.95 million złoty in 2036. The National Revenue Administration’s limit would increase from 1.2 million złoty to more than 1.49 million złoty over the same period.

Standards may compound near-term pressure

For compliant producers, uniform standards could reduce competition from low-quality or contaminated fuels and strengthen buyer confidence. For sellers without established testing and documentation, the bill would create a new cost and could delay market access.

The timing is sensitive because Polish pellet demand is growing faster than supply. If some domestic or foreign suppliers cannot obtain certificates promptly, available volumes could tighten further. Producers able to demonstrate compliance may gain pricing power, while distributors and heating customers could face fewer supply options and higher procurement costs.

The eventual effect will depend on the detailed standards, implementation timetable and the capacity of accredited laboratories. The proposal nevertheless links product quality directly to both domestic sales and customs procedures, making compliance a commercial requirement for every company serving the Polish solid-biofuel market.