Romania extends staple foods price cap

Parliament moved to extend a cap on commercial mark-up on staple foods by the end of the year.

Mihai Pelin, 11.06.2026, 13:50

A number of staple food categories will continue to be sold in Romania at capped prices, according to a law passed by Parliament. This is an extension of a social protection measure taken against the background of high inflation and a decrease in people’s purchasing power. Under this recent decision, traders will continue to respect the limits imposed on commercial mark-ups added to a list of food products considered essential. These include white bread, milk, eggs, fresh chicken and pork, as well as a number of fruits and vegetables sold in bulk. The list includes products such as tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and beans, but also fruits such as apples, pears, plums and grapes.

Interim agriculture minister Tánczos Barna said that although he does not agree with state intervention in the economy, he considers the extension of the cap necessary in order to preserve people’s purchasing power. Tánczos Barna

“We are in a situation where we see how great the inflationary pressure is on prices and on the daily basket, which is why, even if state interventions in the free market are not desirable, at the moment this price cap extension is absolutely necessary in the case of some products, there are 17 products are on the list of staple foods on which mark-ups are subject to regulation. We have constantly maintained that when the inflationary pressure is extraordinary, the state must intervene and protect the purchasing power where possible, at least for staple foods.”

According to the explanatory document accompanying the bill, the authorities say the measure is necessary to maintain balance on the agri-food market and to protect consumers in the context of high inflation. The authorities also speak of the fight against unfair commercial practices and mitigating the effects of a lower purchasing power.

On the other hand, traders say the measure does not solve the fundamental problems of the Romanian economy and that pressures on costs remain high. They also argue that this measure will lead to price hikes for other types of products that are not included in the capping scheme.

The decision comes within a difficult economic context, with Romania still recording the highest inflation rate in the European Union. According to the latest figures, the inflation rate had reached 10.7%, the highest in recent months, as fuelled by the increase in the price of energy, transport and raw materials. Although initially introduced as a temporary solution, the capping has been constantly extended from 2023. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the pressure on food prices has increased constantly and the authorities have put in place this scheme in order to try to limit the constant price increases.