The Romanian government has extended the margin restrictions on basic foodstuffs

The margin freeze was due to expire on September 30, but the Bolojan cabinet has extended its validity by six months. The measure covers 17 foodstuffs, including white bread, milk and various dairy products, chicken and pork, eggs, cooking oil, sugar, and vegetables. According to the regulation, producers and traders can apply a maximum margin of 20 percent each.

The margin limit on basic foodstuffs was introduced by the Bucharest government in August 2023, hoping to curb inflation.

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan opposed the extension of the measure, while the ruling coalition members, the Hungarian Democratic Alliance in Romania (RMDSZ) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), supported it.

The Bucharest Competition Council also opposed the extension of the margin regulation, arguing that it would have no impact on the inflation rate. Bogdan Chiritoiu, the president of the competition council, said that retail companies had compensated for the loss of revenue caused by the margin regulation on basic foodstuffs by raising the prices of other products, such as detergents.