The Romanian government adopted a decree aimed at limiting the price of basic foodstuffs

By: STA Date: 2023. 06. 30. 10:30

In Romania, the government adopted an emergency decree on Friday in order to limit the prices of 17 staple foods. The legislation limits the permissible margin applied by processors and retailers to 20 percent in the next three months, and wholesale distributors (regardless of the number of sales) can collectively charge a maximum profit margin of 5 percent.

(Photo: Pixabay)

The decree applies to white bread of specified composition and packaging, fresh cow’s milk, “telemea” (Romanian cheese), yogurt, wheat flour, cornmeal, eggs, sunflower oil, chicken, pork, fresh vegetables, fruit, potatoes and sugar. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Florin Barbu emphasized in the government briefing that the legislation does not affect farmers in any way, they can set the price of the products they produce (food and raw materials for the food industry). At the beginning of the government meeting, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu pointed out that the temporary limitation of the margin cannot be expected to improve the supply of food at a fair price, so on Friday the government will also decide on a 600 million euro support framework to help strengthen the Romanian food industry companies. This is one of the first concrete steps of the “economic patriotism” announced at the inauguration of the cabinet, he added. The emergency decree aimed at reducing food prices enters into force 30 days after its publication in the gazette. The possible extension of its validity will be decided at the end of the three-month period depending on the experience of the application.