Poland, a country associated with the European Community and aspiring to join the EC, adjusts its legislation to the EC directives to the maximum possible extent. It is reflected by the new act on protection of cultivars of July 12th 1995 and the ordinance by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Economy of March 12th 1996 on detailed principles for issuing licences for marketing pesticides and their application. The two pieces of legislation contain a number of modern elements. The most important issues are highlighted.