The modern Pomeranian Voivodeship had been established in 1999.Ustawa z dnia 24 lipca 1998 r. o wprowadzeniu zasadniczego trójstopniowego podziału terytorialnego państwa (Dz.U. z 1998 r. nr 96, poz. 603). The flag and the coat of arms of the voivodeship were designed by Wawrzyniec Samp. The Heraldic Commission criticized the design, pointing out that the usage of the griffin together with a black eagle with an arm holding a sword, a historical symbol of Royal Prussia, was more appropriate to represent the region. However, both flag and the coat of arms were approved by the Pomeranian Regional Assembly inspire of that, and officially adopted on 25 March 2002, with the resolution no. 542/XL/02.
