Investigation procedure regarding the introduction of dietary supplements into the market in Poland

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to describe and graphically visualise the investigation procedure carried out by the Chief Sanitary Inspector (GIS) as part of an entity’s introduction of foodstuffs, especially dietary supplements into the market in the Republic of Poland. Methodology: The basis for the paper was a study of the legislation governing the investigation procedure carried out by the Chief Sanitary Inspector in Poland. In addition, it involved an analysis of the comments to the current legislation and of the subject literature available in international and domestic reference databases. Findings: The conducted study resulted in the development of a visualisation of the investigation procedure for dietary supplements’ notification in Poland. A criticism of the aforementioned procedure and issues that require regulation are included in the paper. Practical implications: The developed procedure provides a useful visualisation of the legal requirements in the aforementioned area. Social implications: The presented discussion is intended to draw attention to the legal provisions that are important in terms of the life and health of consumers of dietary supplements. Originality: The procedure of introducing foodstuffs, especially dietary supplements into the market in the Republic of Poland is described in legislation. Similarly, legislation also describes the investigation procedure for non-compliances occurring during the notification of dietary supplements. Nevertheless, the authors proposed a description and visualisation of the procedure by analysing its legal conditions in detail. Furthermore, they drew attention to the provisions’ ambiguity and the resulting formal doubts.