The Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, proposes a protection mechanism for food prices when inflation exceeds 5%.

Florin Barbu, the Minister of Agriculture, stated that he agrees not to intervene in the market anymore, emphasizing that previous interventions were justified by an inflation rate of nearly 13% at the end of 2022. He proposes a legislative mechanism that would allow state intervention only when inflation exceeds 5%, similar to how the National Bank of Romania intervenes in the foreign exchange market. Barbu mentioned that capping the commercial markup has contributed to reducing inflation to 5.5% and that he wants this measure to be adopted by law in Parliament, not by government decision. He also requested the Competition Council to monitor market speculation, especially during the holiday season, and to check for any unfair trading practices. The measure to cap the commercial markup, instituted in July 2023, has been extended until March 31, 2026, and aims to protect vulnerable consumers. However, the president of the Competition Council warned that this measure has lost its effectiveness, and the market has adapted, leading to price increases in other categories of products.