The government wants to limit the commercial allowance for three months, so that the prices of products on the shelf will decrease. The measure will be introduced by a government decree to be released early Wednesday.

foodPhoto: Davide Bonaldo/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Editorial/Profimedia

The commercial surcharge will not exceed 20% and the measure will be applied across the chain, from processors, distribution to supermarkets, according to government sources who say farmers will not be affected.

Processors will make a cost price of products, and include direct and indirect costs in the calculation, after which they can put a commercial markup of up to 20%. Now the allowance is from 10% to 45%. Distribution was also included in the chain, which can apply a maximum surcharge of 5%. In the supermarket, the trade margin is a maximum of 20%. For the period of validity of the normative act, the payment of fees provided for by the law on unfair commercial practices, regarding write-offs and refunds, is suspended, quoted sources said.

Targeted groups of agricultural and food products

  • 1. Ordinary whole white bread weighing from 300 g to 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, maximum weight 200 g.
  • 5. White wheat flour “000” 1 kg
  • 6. All-purpose flour 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

Chicken includes: whole chicken, chicken cutlery, whole bone-in chicken thighs and standard chicken wings. Carne porc means: working pork, pork leg.

Fresh bulk vegetables include: tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, dried beans, carrots, Bianca bell pepper and capia.

Fresh fruits in bulk – red and golden apples, plums, melons, table grapes.

Cholaku talks about a “guaranteed fall” in prices for some essential products

On June 22, Prime Minister Marcel Cholaku announced that he had received a response from large chain stores to a proposal for a scheme to reduce prices for basic food products, and in the next period “guaranteed price reductions for some basic products from the range of essential products for the population”.

At a press briefing after the government meeting, Economy Minister Radu Oprya wanted to make sure that producers would not be affected by the price reduction mechanism, as happened with milk.

According to him, this mechanism does not provide for price restrictions. “We have no intention of limiting prices. It is not about a fixed price for food products, but about limiting the commercial allowance in the comfort zone for those who produce, for those who sell and who distribute. It’s a longer chain, but Romanian producers will not suffer,” Opria told Radu.