Cell suspension of Papaver somniferum L. (opium poppy) was permeabilized by Tween 80 and immobilized by glutaraldehyde. The highest saccharase activity was at pH 4.6 and 50°C. The hydrolysis of the substrate was linear for 5 h reaching 69% of conversion, A very good storage stability was achieved when using dry catalyst, or a solution of 0.15 M NaCl with the addition of chloramphenicol, (l-methyldodecyl)-dimethylamin-4-oxide (ATDNO), Chlortetracycline hydrochloride (CLCTC) or by freezing the immobilized cells in 0.15 M NaCl. The cells characterized by high enzyme activity and stability in long-term storage showed convenient technological and physicomechanical properties.