The requirement stems from sanctions imposed by the Dutch government on products originating in territories occupied by Israel. Lidl's Polish division notified suppliers in a letter sent in late August, telling them to determine whether any items destined for Dutch shelves — food or non-food — contain raw materials, ingredients or semi-finished components from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.
The scope goes beyond finished products manufactured in the affected territories. Lidl's letter said the ban extends to goods containing even partial inputs from those areas, pushing suppliers to scrutinize not just their direct vendors but earlier links in the supply chain as well.
"We need to quickly review our entire supply chain so it doesn't turn out that, for example, some component in pig feed comes from territories covered by sanctions", a representative of a Polish meat-processing company told the newspaper.
The obligation extends to any business shipping goods into the Dutch market, not just Dutch-based companies, meaning Polish manufacturers who export indirectly through retail chains are also covered — a particular concern for firms producing for multiple European distribution networks simultaneously.
The Dutch move is part of a wider, still-unsettled European debate over trade with West Bank settlements, according to the newspaper. Several European countries have taken unilateral action, while the European Union has not agreed on bloc-wide restrictions. Compounding the problem, settlement-made goods are often labeled simply as Israeli products upon entering the EU, making it difficult for companies and retailers operating across several countries to verify compliance with varying national rules.
The Sept. 22 deadline applies to all Polish firms supplying the Dutch market, regardless of whether they do business with Israel directly.
(jh)
Source: Dziennik Gazeta Prawna