Guides · Drinks & juices

Exporting drinks and juices to Poland

Producers of soft drinks, juices and nectars, coconut water, tea and coffee drinks, aloe vera and energy drinks.

Updated 28 Oct 2026 · 2 min read · Free

In short

Since 1 October 2025 drinks in plastic bottles up to 3 l, cans up to 1 l and reusable glass bottles sold in Poland carry a deposit (0.50 zł; 1 zł for glass) and the deposit symbol.
Drinks with added sugars or sweeteners, caffeine or taurine pay the Polish sugar fee. The government adopted a draft increase in autumn 2026; check the status before you set prices.
“Juice” and “nectar” are protected names with minimum fruit content and no added sugar in juice.
Poland bans the sale of energy drinks to people under 18.

The deposit system

The Polish importer of drinks counts as the “introducer” of the packaging. It must join a licensed deposit system operator, put the deposit symbol on the packaging and register in the BDO database. Agree with your buyer, before the first order, whether the deposit marking is printed by you or added in Poland, and who pays the operator's fees. Milk and dairy drinks are not covered.

Sugar fee and VAT

Poland charges a fee on drinks with added sugars or sweeteners: a fixed amount per litre plus an amount for sugar above a threshold, with extra charges for caffeine and taurine. In 2026 the government proposed higher rates and higher VAT on some drinks; the changes were still going through the legislative process in October 2026. We report the final rates in the Regulatory digest.

Product rules

Juice and nectar names follow the EU Breakfast Directive (2001/112/EC as amended): juice may not contain added sugar; nectar has minimum fruit content by fruit.
Caffeine. Drinks with more than 150 mg/l caffeine (except tea and coffee drinks) must state „Wysoka zawartość kofeiny” and that the drink is not recommended for children and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Aloe vera drinks. The EU restricts hydroxyanthracene derivatives from aloe leaves (Regulation (EU) 2021/468): ask your lab to test.
Sweeteners, colours and preservatives must be allowed for “flavoured drinks” in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
Coconut water and juices are tested for pesticide residues from the fruit.

What Poland imports: latest figures

Imports into Poland, € (Eurostat Comext), latest month Aug 2026. Change: vs the same months a year earlier.

Official sources

This guide is a plain-language overview, not legal, tax or customs advice. Rules change: check the official text and your product code before you ship.

In short

Since 1 October 2025 drinks in plastic bottles up to 3 l, cans up to 1 l and reusable glass bottles sold in Poland carry a deposit (0.50 zł; 1 zł for glass) and the deposit symbol.

Drinks with added sugars or sweeteners, caffeine or taurine pay the Polish sugar fee. The government adopted a draft increase in autumn 2026; check the status before you set prices.

“Juice” and “nectar” are protected names with minimum fruit content and no added sugar in juice.

Poland bans the sale of energy drinks to people under 18.

The deposit system

Sugar fee and VAT

Product rules

Juice and nectar names follow the EU Breakfast Directive (2001/112/EC as amended): juice may not contain added sugar; nectar has minimum fruit content by fruit.

Caffeine. Drinks with more than 150 mg/l caffeine (except tea and coffee drinks) must state „Wysoka zawartość kofeiny” and that the drink is not recommended for children and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Aloe vera drinks. The EU restricts hydroxyanthracene derivatives from aloe leaves (Regulation (EU) 2021/468): ask your lab to test.

Sweeteners, colours and preservatives must be allowed for “flavoured drinks” in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.

Coconut water and juices are tested for pesticide residues from the fruit.