Polish rail regulator warns customs debt could bankrupt freight operators

The Polish Office for Rail Transport (UTK) warns that joint liability for customs debt could push Polish rail freight operators into insolvency. The regulator’s president will write to the ministers of infrastructure and finance, calling for an urgent analysis of the situation. The problem mainly concerns transports on the China–Europe rail route. During inspections, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) uncovered numerous irregularities, such as undervalued goods in containers from China (such as e-bikes) or falsely declared contents. The joint customs debt mechanism may place a financial burden on Polish carriers, UTK warned. In other words, the companies that moved the containers could end up paying for irregularities committed by others.

The UTK president is watching the situation with concern, as it could lead to bankruptcies among Polish rail companies, the regulator said. The letters to the two ministers will set out “in detail the direct threats to the continuity of supply chains”, UTK wrote. They will appeal for an urgent analysis to protect the Polish transport sector.

It is notable that the alarm now also sounds from within Poland. Until now, the criticism primarily came from European industry associations, which pointed the finger at Polish authorities.

RailFreight.com reported earlier that CER, the freight forwarding association CLECAT, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and the combined transport association UIRR sent a letter to the European Commission in August, asking for intervention.

This story was originally published by RailFreight.com. Read the full story at RailFreight.com →