CONTEST RULES

“Polish Functional Product – Quality Leader 2025”

§1

General provisions

1. The organizer of the “Polish Functional Product – Quality Leader 2025” competition is PPH EWA BIS Sp. z o.o. (with its registered office at ul. Serwituty 25, 02-233 Warsaw).
2. The competition will take place as part of the 12th Food Safety Congress on October 29, 2025, in Warsaw.

§2. Purpose of the competition

The purpose of the competition is to promote Polish functional food products of the highest quality, with documented health benefits and compliance with applicable legal regulations.

§3. Definition of a Polish functional product

For the purposes of these rules, a “Polish Functional Product” is defined as a product:

• a food product intended for general consumption which, in addition to its basic nutritional value, has a documented beneficial effect on one or more bodily functions, improving the health or well-being of the consumer or reducing the risk of disease,
• a product that meets the requirements of European Union food law and national law, in particular:
  • Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods,
  • Regulation (EC) No. 1925/2006 on the addition of vitamins, minerals, and certain other substances to foods,
  • Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers,
• manufactured in the Republic of Poland,
• submitted by a company based and registered in Poland,
• regardless of its capital structure (foreign capital share is not an evaluation criterion).

§4. Participants

Companies that meet the criteria set out in §3 and manufacture and market functional food products are eligible to participate in the Competition.

§5. Competition category

“Quality Leader 2025” – an award for a product that meets the highest criteria of quality, functionality, and safety, setting standards for the entire market.

§6. Evaluation criteria

1. Product quality and safety – compliance with EU and Polish food law, quality certificates, proper labeling.
2. Confirmed functionality – documented health effects (research, scientific literature, EFSA opinions, certificates).
3. Innovation and uniqueness – innovative solutions in the recipe, technology, or application.
4. Value for the consumer – real health benefits, sensory qualities (taste, smell, texture), ease of use.
5. Transparency and reliability – clear and honest information for consumers about the composition, properties, and effects of the product.

§7. The jury

The Jury, appointed by the Organizer, consists of industry experts, scientists, and representatives of consumer organizations. The Jury evaluates the entries according to the criteria specified in §6. The Jury’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

The jury consisted of:

Beata Kuczewska, Member of the Management Board of PPH Ewa Bis Sp. z o.o.

Prof. Jakub Fichna, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Head of the Chair of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Director of the Doctoral School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Łódź

Aneta Koronowicz, PhD, Eng., Prof. URK; Hugo Kołłątaj University of Agriculture in Krakow

§8. Award

The winner will receive a statuette and a diploma “Polish Functional Product – Quality Leader 2025” and the right to use this title and logo in marketing communications.

§9. Application rules and deadlines

1. Deadline for product submissions: October 17, 2025.
2. Applications for the Competition shall be submitted by a representative of the entity, and the condition for participation is the submission of a correctly completed Application Form.
3. Entries submitted incorrectly, i.e., in particular:
   • in a form other than that specified in point 2
   • sent by an unauthorized person
   • not containing a correctly completed Application Form – will not be considered
4. The results of the Competition will be announced on October 29, 2025, during the 12th Food Safety Congress

§10. Final provisions

1. The Organizer reserves the right to change the rules.
2. The rules are valid from the date of publication until the end of the Competition.
3. The Organizer reserves the right to randomly verify the accuracy of the information provided.
4. Company names may be used for promotional purposes for the Competition and the Congress by the Organizer and its partners.
5. The data contained in the Application Form may be processed by the Contest Organizer in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.
6. By entering the Contest, the participant accepts the provisions of the Rules and Regulations.