The Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Stefan Radu Oprea, clarified that he is convinced that starting from August, prices for basic products will decrease, which indicates a normal dialogue between the Romanian state and market participants.

Shopping cart in a supermarketPhoto: David Izquierdo | Dreamstime.com

The market economy has led to very great inequality in recent times, including in terms of the balance of power in the market that different companies have. Through dialogue at the level of the prime minister, we managed to introduce into the legislation the norm regarding the reduction of commercial surcharges on basic products. I am convinced that we will see, starting from August, a drop in the prices of these products, which shows that it can be done through a normal dialogue between the state and market entities,” Minister Radu Oprya explained at the conference. organized on Saturday by PES Romania and PSD activists.

How to limit the commercial allowance

The government decided to limit commercial allowances for some basic products by its decree.

The scheme is as follows:

  • the commercial markup applied by the processor can be a maximum of 20% compared to the production cost of the product, calculated in accordance with current accounting regulations, which includes direct and indirect costs;
  • the commercial surcharge, applied cumulatively throughout the distribution chain, regardless of the number of distributors in the chain, can be a maximum of 5% compared to the purchase price, to which are added operating costs;
  • the commercial markup applied by the merchant for retail sales and cash&carry can be a maximum of 20% compared to the purchase price, to which the merchant’s direct and indirect costs are added; discounts and rebates will also be included in the maximum commercial markup of 20%.

Commercial allowances are applied to the VAT-exempt value of agricultural and food products supplied.

Companies will have to change within 30 days (from the date of entry into force – this depends on when it is adopted and published in the Official Gazette) current commercial contracts whose terms and conditions conflict with the regulation.

The list of agricultural and food products that should decrease in price in 3 months

  • 1. Plain white bread weighing 300-500 g, without dishes

  • 2. Fresh cow’s milk 1 liter, fat content 1.5%
  • 3. Telemea cheese from bulk cow’s milk
  • 4. Natural yogurt from cow’s milk 3.5% fat with a maximum weight of 200 g.
  • 5. White wheat flour “000” 1 kg
  • 6. Sieve 1 kg
  • 7. M caliber chicken eggs 10 pcs.
  • 8. Sunflower oil 1 liter
  • 9. Fresh chicken meat
  • 10. Fresh pork
  • 11. Fresh vegetables wholesale
  • 12. Fresh fruits wholesale
  • 13. Fresh white potatoes in bulk
  • 14. Cast white sugar 1 kg

    • Photo source: Dreamstime.com