Stores must display products' country of origin starting August 10
Starting on August 10, 2026, retailers will be required to display the country of origin for food products on their price labels, as mandated by new provisions of the Internal Trade Law. This measure aims to provide consumers with clearer and more accurate information.
According to the National Food Safety Agency, price labels for pre-packaged food products must match the information on the packaging exactly. For unpackaged products, those packaged at the point of sale, or those intended for direct sale, the origin of the products must be indicated based on commercial and traceability documents.
The country of origin must be stated using the full name of the state; using only the flag without the country's name is not permitted. This information should be displayed on the price indicator or on an announcement placed near the product, with characters that are at least 0.3 centimeters high.
Traders who do not comply with these new requirements risk fines ranging from 3,000 to 4,500 lei for individuals responsible and between 6,000 and 12,000 lei for legal entities.
This measure was introduced by a legislative initiative adopted by Parliament in its final reading on April 24, 2026. The amendments relate to the Law on Internal Trade, and the authors argue that these new rules aim to increase transparency on store shelves, enabling consumers to make better-informed choices.
Deputy Radu Marian, a majority member of Parliament and one of the initiative's authors, stated that improved shelf visibility could encourage the development of short supply chains. In the medium- to long-term, this measure is expected to increase sales for local producers by 5% to 15% across fresh produce categories.
