The government extends the cap on the commercial markup for basic food items. List of products

The Romanian government has decided to extend the measure of capping the commercial markup for basic food products, aiming to protect the purchasing power of the population and ensure access to essential food at fair prices.

The Emergency Ordinance no. 67/2023 was established to combat the excessive increase in prices in the food sector. The Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, stated that the state has the obligation to intervene in case of imbalances in the market, to prevent the inaccessibility of basic products. Although Barbu claimed that food prices have decreased by 15-33%, official INS data contradicts these statements, showing a general increase in food prices.

The measure applies to a list of basic food products:

simple white bread (300–500 g)

consumption milk 1 l (1.5% fat, without UHT)

bulk cow telemea cheese

simple cow yogurt (3.5% fat, max. 200 g)

white wheat flour "000" (up to 1 kg)

cornmeal (up to 1 kg)

chicken eggs size M

sunflower oil (up to 2 l)

fresh chicken meat

fresh pork meat

bulk fresh vegetables (e.g., tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, carrots, peppers, etc.)

bulk fresh fruits (e.g., apples, pears, plums, grapes)

bulk white fresh potatoes

granulated white sugar (up to 1 kg)

sour cream (12% fat)

butter (up to 250 g)

fruit spread (up to 350 g)

Capping the commercial markup is considered a necessary tool to ensure a fair balance between farmers, processors, and retailers.