The Polish national poultry council KRD-IG doesn’t recognise itself in articles published in the media, including the British press, concerning alleged ‘ghost poultry farms’ in Poland. It states that claims brought forward by a study by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism clearly diverge from the truth and from the realities of how the poultry sector operates.

KRD-IG firmly emphasises several key points regarding the functioning of the poultry sector in Poland: “The Polish poultry sector constitutes one of the pillars of the country’s food security and of food exports within the EU, and operates under one of the most stringent regulatory systems in the world. The UK market represents one of the key export destinations for Polish poultry.”

The council continued: “Regrettably, this is not the first time we have encountered disinformation aimed at reducing interest in Polish poultry products. Such actions damage the reputation of our sector and have a broad, negative impact on the entire industry. The claims presented in the material clearly diverge from the truth and from the realities of how the poultry sector operates.”

Unfounded claims

The national poultry council marks the publications as being based on imprecise and often unverified information that constitute a classic example of the manipulation of public opinion. The articles raise the issue of ‘ghost farms’, alleging a lack of uniform oversight and a fragmentation of responsibilities among various institutions in Poland.

“Such claims are unfounded and are not borne out of reality. We firmly emphasise that poultry farms, like all other entities involved in food production in Poland and the EU, do not operate in a regulatory vacuum but in accordance with stringent requirements arising from national and EU legislation, and under the supervision and control of the competent authorities.”

Mandatory registration and continuous veterinary supervision

It added that all entities are subject to mandatory registration, remain under continuous veterinary supervision, and operate within a supply chain that requires full traceability of production, from the farm through to the processing plant and the final market.

“Any irregularities in their operations constitute grounds for the competent supervisory authorities to impose appropriate sanctions. Accordingly, the operation of entities supplying food products outside the system is, in practice, impossible,” the council added.

KRD-IG continues to note that the claim that “almost half of large farms operate without the required permits”, is made without citing any source, which constitutes an element of disinformation, often used to generate sensationalism and increase the reach of publications.

“The materials do not present any evidence of a systemic issue. In Poland, oversight of poultry production is carried out by the Veterinary Inspectorate, which conducts both scheduled and ad hoc inspections. If any indication of irregularities arises, it is verified – this in itself demonstrates that the system is functioning properly. For this reason, the narrative of an ‘international scandal’ is an exaggeration used to increase attention and engagement.”