Vice Prime Minister Tánczos Barna, interim Minister of Agriculture, says that capping the commercial markup on basic food items should be extended beyond June 30, given the high inflation and pressure on prices.
„I believe that an extension is needed after June 30,” said Tánczos Barna in a press conference on Wednesday.
The interim Minister of Agriculture admitted that state interventions in the market are not normally encouraged, but he believes that the current economic context justifies maintaining the measure.
High inflation, an argument for continuing the measure
Tánczos Barna, an economist by profession, explained that capping the commercial markup can remain a temporary solution to protect the population, especially as Romania continues to have one of the highest inflation rates in the European Union.
According to INS data, the annual inflation rate reached 10.7% in April 2026 compared to April 2025. Since the beginning of the year, prices have increased by 3.1%.
The current commercial markup capping scheme expires on June 30, 2026.
Measure extended several times since 2023
At the end of March, the government decided to extend the application of the measure until the end of June, at the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The capping of the commercial markup was initially introduced in July 2023 for a period of 90 days but has been successively extended.
The ordinance provides for limiting commercial markups across the entire food chain to temper the rise in prices of essential agricultural and food products.
Currently, processors can apply a commercial markup of up to 20% over production costs, and retailers have the same cap for retail and cash & carry sales.
Which products are subject to capping
The list of products subject to capping includes:
- plain white bread (300-500g),
- 1.5% cow's milk (non-UHT),
- bulk cow's telemea cheese,
- plain yogurt (max. 200g),
- white flour "000" and cornmeal (up to 1 kg),
- size M eggs,
- sunflower oil (up to 2L),
- standard chicken and pork meat,
- bulk fresh fruits and vegetables (onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, plums, etc.),
- bulk white potatoes,
- sugar, sour cream, butter, and jam.