Romanian farm policy has followed the EU common agricultural policy since accession on 1 January 2007. The CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027, approved on 7 December 2022 and last amended on 18 February 2026, plans EUR 15.83 billion of public support for the five years (about US$18.4 billion at the end-August 2026 rate, own calculation), of which EUR 14.97 billion from the EU budget. EU payments for agriculture and rural development in Romania were EUR 3.03 billion in 2025. Private ownership of farmland was restored by the restitution laws of 1991 and 2000, and since October 2020 Law 17/2014 has limited sales of farmland to pre-emptors and to buyers with at least five years of residence and farming in Romania.
This note explains how the entries are linked. Romanian acts link to their page on the Portal Legislativ of the Ministry of Justice (legislatie.just.ro), which gives the number and date of the act, the Monitorul Oficial reference and the list of consolidated versions. The portal and the Monitorul Oficial website could not be reached from the review environment in October 2026, so each act was read on an Internet Archive copy of its portal page, and the link points to that copy. EU acts link to the Official Journal and were read on the copy held by the EU Publications Office. Numbers, dates and amounts were checked on these copies on 20 October 2026.
Milestones in agricultural and agri-finance policy
Feb 1991
Land Fund Law restores private ownership of farmland1Law
Apr 1991
Law on agricultural companies and associations2Law
National programme for free land registration11Strategy
Oct 2016
Programme to rehabilitate main irrigation infrastructure12Strategy
Aug 2020
Law 175/2020 tightens the rules on farmland sales13Law
Oct 2021
Council approves the recovery and resilience plan14Finance
Apr 2022
Law on unfair trading practices in the food chain15Law
Dec 2022
Commission approves the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–202716Strategy
May 2023
EU preventive measures on Ukrainian grain and oilseeds17Market
Feb 2026
Fifth amendment of the CAP Strategic Plan approved18Strategy
8.1
The CAP Strategic Plan and its money
The plan. Romania submitted its CAP Strategic Plan on 28 February 2022 and a revised version on 21 November 2022, and the Commission approved it on 7 December 2022 for 1 January 2023 to 31 December 202716. Five amendments followed, the latest approved on 18 February 202618. In that version the plan allocates EUR 14.97 billion from the EU budget and EUR 0.86 billion of national co-financing, EUR 15.83 billion in all19. Direct payments account for EUR 9.78 billion, rural development for EUR 5.87 billion including national funds, and sectoral support for EUR 0.18 billion, whose national share relates to apiculture19. Of the EU money, EUR 2.45 billion is reserved for eco-schemes, EUR 0.98 billion for complementary redistributive income support, EUR 2.08 billion for environmental and climate objectives in rural development and EUR 0.43 billion for LEADER19. The Commission's factsheet also cites almost EUR 1.5 billion of coupled income support, EUR 1.1 billion for investments in farms and processing and EUR 82 million for risk management tools such as insurance premium support, complemented by 3% of the direct payments envelope19. These are planned allocations for five years, not payments.
EU payments. EU spending on agriculture in Romania rose from EUR 8.4 million under the EAGF in 2007, the year of accession, to between EUR 1.81 billion and EUR 2.00 billion a year from 2017 to 202520. EAFRD spending varied more, between EUR 0.78 billion (2019) and EUR 1.50 billion (2015) in the years 2014–202520. In 2025 the EAGF spent EUR 1,896.6 million and the EAFRD EUR 1,132.8 million in Romania, EUR 3.03 billion together, about US$3.41 billion at the 2025 average rate (own calculation)2021. These two funds made up 34.8% of all EU spending in Romania in 2025, and between 34.8% (2025) and 69.9% (2017) in the years 2008–2025 (own calculation)20. From 2007 to 2025 they paid EUR 44.8 billion in Romania (own calculation)20.
Who receives direct payments. APIA, the paying agency for direct payments, received 730,395 payment applications for 9.96 million ha in 2024 and 708,012 applications for 9.88 million ha in 202522. For claim year 2024, advance payments of EUR 1.28 billion were made from EAGF, EAFRD and national funds, and between 2 December 2024 and 3 February 2025 APIA authorised final payments of EUR 478.9 million to 658,651 farmers23. In financial year 2021, beneficiaries with up to 5 ha were 73.1% of Romania's recipients of direct payments and received 12.8% of the money, while beneficiaries with more than 250 ha were 0.7% of recipients, farmed 42.2% of the area and received 37.9% of the payments, against 1.1% of recipients and 22.1% of payments in the EU-2724.
National aid. Alongside the CAP, the government finances state aid and de minimis schemes adopted by Government Decision. For the refund of excise on diesel used in agriculture, RON 815.3 million was allocated for 2025 (about US$182 million at the 2025 average rate, own calculation)1021. De minimis schemes support vegetables grown in greenhouses and polytunnels (RON 342.4 million for 2025), garlic (RON 41.2 million in 2023) and the local Bazna and Mangalița pig breeds (RON 1.5 million in 2025)252627.
CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027 financing by type of support
Planned EU and national public funding, EUR million, version approved on 18 February 2026
Type of support
EU budget (EAGF and EAFRD) (EUR m)
National co-financing (EUR m)
Direct payments
9,783.1
0
Sectoral support (apiculture and other sectors)
151.7
30.4
Rural development
5,034.7
833
Source: European Commission — Financial annex of the Commission factsheet 'At a glance – Romania's CAP Strategic Plan', updated February 2026, which reflects the amendments approved up to 18 February 2026. Totals EUR 14,969.6 million EU and EUR 863.4 million national, EUR 15,833.0 million in all. Direct payments include possible transfers between pillars, rural development includes technical assistance, and national funding for sectoral support relates only to apiculture. Additional national financing under Article 146 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 and market support under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 are not included. These are planned allocations, not payments.
Ring-fenced EU funding in Romania's CAP Strategic Plan
EU funding reserved for selected objectives, 2023–2027, EUR million, version of February 2026
Objective
EU funding reserved (EUR m)
Eco-schemes (direct payments)
2,447.4
Environment and climate objectives (rural development)
2,083.3
Complementary redistributive income support
978.7
LEADER
428.8
Young farmers (generational renewal)
309.6
Source: European Commission — Commission factsheet, financial annex, 'EU funding reserved for'. Eco-schemes are 25% and redistributive support 10% of the direct payments allocation in Annex IX of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, environment and climate 41% and LEADER 8% of the rural development allocation in Annex XI. The young farmers amount is the minimum set in Annex XII, reserved under direct payments and/or rural development. The factsheet also cites almost EUR 1.5 billion of coupled income support, EUR 1.1 billion for investments in farms and processing, EUR 663 million for areas with natural constraints and EUR 82 million for risk management tools.
EU agricultural funds spent in Romania
EAGF (market measures and direct payments) and EAFRD (rural development), EUR million, 2007–2025
Year
EAGF (market measures and direct payments) (EUR m)
EAFRD (rural development) (EUR m)
2007
8.4
0
2008
480.3
561.6
2009
600.4
565.9
2010
674.3
760.5
2011
796
894.9
2012
1,026.1
1,101.9
2013
1,211.2
1,191.6
2014
1,334.8
822.8
2015
1,462.3
1,501.5
2016
1,568.9
1,140.8
2017
1,829.1
1,487
2018
1,812.8
1,146.2
2019
1,893.1
782.9
2020
1,978.1
1,132.4
2021
1,951
1,215.2
2022
1,964.2
890.3
2023
2,003
1,045.8
2024
1,973.5
916.3
2025
1,896.6
1,132.8
Source: European Commission · IMF ER — European Commission, EU spending and revenue 2000–2025, operating expenditure in Romania by budget line, EUR million (expenditure in the budget year, not commitments). The budget headings changed in 2014 and 2021 (2007–2013 'market related expenditure and direct aids' and 'rural development'), but the funds are the same. EAFRD 2022–2025 includes NextGenerationEU (EURI) amounts of EUR 140.9 million in 2022, 231.1 million in 2023, 176.0 million in 2024 and 45.9 million in 2025. Romania's EAFRD line is zero in 2007, the year of accession. Cumulative 2007–2025 EAGF EUR 26.5 billion and EAFRD EUR 18.3 billion (own calculation). At the IMF 2025 average rate of EUR 0.8871 per US$, the 2025 total of EUR 3,029 million is about US$3.41 billion (own calculation).
Agricultural funds in total EU spending in Romania
EAGF and EAFRD as a share of all EU operating expenditure in Romania, %, 2008–2025
Year
EAGF and EAFRD, % of total EU expenditure in Romania (%)
2008
39.1
2009
39.5
2010
61.9
2011
63.6
2012
61.8
2013
43.2
2014
36.3
2015
45.3
2016
36.8
2017
69.9
2018
60.8
2019
52.1
2020
44.6
2021
47.7
2022
35
2023
35.2
2024
54.9
2025
34.8
Source: European Commission — Own calculation from the European Commission's EU spending and revenue file, EAGF plus EAFRD divided by total EU expenditure in Romania in the same year. Total expenditure includes cohesion funds and, from 2021, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, whose payments vary from year to year, so the share moves with the timing of other programmes as well as with agricultural spending. 2007 is left out because Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007 and the EAFRD line is zero that year.
Direct payments by farm size class, Romania and the EU
Share of beneficiaries, area and direct payments, %, financial year 2021
Farm size class and indicator
Romania (%)
EU-27 (%)
Up to 5 ha – beneficiaries
73.1
48.9
Up to 5 ha – area
13.9
4.9
Up to 5 ha – payments
12.8
5.8
5–250 ha – beneficiaries
26.1
50
5–250 ha – area
44
68.7
5–250 ha – payments
49.3
72.1
Over 250 ha – beneficiaries
0.7
1.1
Over 250 ha – area
42.2
26.4
Over 250 ha – payments
37.9
22.1
Source: European Commission — DG AGRI, Direct payments to agricultural producers, graphs and figures, financial year 2021. Payments for claim year N are made in financial year N+1, so these data mostly reflect claim year 2020 under the 2014–2020 CAP. Beneficiaries of direct payments, not holdings in the farm structure survey.
Diesel excise refund for agriculture, amounts allocated
State aid scheme under Government Decision 1,174/2014, RON million, 2015–2025
Year
Amount allocated for the year (RON m)
2015
377.5
2016
765.3
2017
553.9
2018
487.6
2019
595.6
2020
806.7
2021
757
2022
817
2023
665
2024
462.5
2025
815.3
Source: Portal Legislativ · IMF ER — Article 10 of Government Decision 1,174/2014 as consolidated after Government Decision 1,106 of 18 December 2025, amounts allocated from the state budget through the ministry's budget (budget ceilings set and revised during the year, not reported payments). Farmers are refunded the difference between the standard excise and the EU minimum of EUR 21 per 1,000 litres (RON 104.49 per 1,000 litres in 2025), within a national ceiling of 410 million litres a year. The scheme runs until 31 December 2026. At the IMF 2025 average rate of RON 4.4705 per US$, the 2025 allocation of RON 815.3 million is about US$182 million (own calculation).
Romania's CAP Strategic Plan, from first draft to the fifth amendment
Date
Step
18 Dec 2020
Commission Staff Working Document SWD(2020) 391 with recommendations for Romania's plan
28 Feb 2022
Romania submits its first proposal
12 May 2022
Commission observation letter
21 Nov 2022
Romania submits a revised proposal
7 Dec 2022
Commission Implementing Decision C(2022) 8783 approves the plan (CCI 2023RO06AFSP001) for 1 January 2023 to 31 December 202716
11 Dec 2023
First amendment approved
22 May 2024
Second amendment approved
29 Nov 2024
Third amendment approved
12 Dec 2025
Fourth amendment approved
18 Feb 2026
Fifth amendment approved, the latest version listed by the Commission in October 2026
Source: European Commission — Dates from the Commission's country page and factsheet, read on 20 October 2026. The full national plan and its amended versions are published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (madr.ro), which could not be reached from the review environment, so the content of each amendment is not described here.
Area-based payment applications and payments managed by APIA
Claim year
Indicator
Value
2023
Farmers who applied in 2023 and were authorised for payment, 16 Oct 2023 to 11 Jan 202428
714,041
2023
Amount authorised for them from EU and national funds, 16 Oct 2023 to 11 Jan 2024 (EUR million)28
Source: APIA — APIA press releases read on Internet Archive copies because apia.org.ro could not be reached from the review environment. Applications are payment applications (cereri de plată), not unique holdings, and payment figures cover the periods stated, not full claim years. In the 2024 campaign, EAFRD-funded rural development payments were made by AFIR, not APIA. APIA paid EAGF amounts in lei at RON 4.9753 per euro for claim year 2024.
Selected national state aid and de minimis schemes for agriculture
Scheme
Legal act (Monitorul Oficial)
Period
Rate of support
Budget
Diesel excise refund for agriculture (state aid, block-exempted)
Government Decision 1,174/2014 (MO 965 of 30 Dec 2014), extended by Government Decision 1,228/202310
2015 to 31 Dec 2026
Refund of the excise above EUR 21 per 1,000 litres, RON 104.49 per 1,000 litres in 2025, up to 410 million litres a year
RON 815.258 million allocated for 2025
Vegetables grown in protected spaces (de minimis)
Government Decision 1,342/2024 (MO 1095 of 1 Nov 2024)29
2024–2025
Up to EUR 1,000 per 1,000 m2
RON 124.3 million (EUR 25 million)
Vegetables grown in protected spaces (de minimis)
Government Decision 325/2025 (MO 304 of 7 Apr 2025)25
2025–2027
EUR 1.5 per m2 for at least 1,000 m2
RON 342.4 million for 2025
Garlic production (de minimis)
Government Decision 393/2023 (MO 398 of 9 May 2023), amended by Government Decision 1,288/202326
2023
EUR 3,000 per ha, minimum 3,000 m2
RON 41.2 million (at most EUR 8.3 million)
Breeding sows of the Bazna and Mangalița breeds (de minimis)
Government Decision 401/2025 (MO 363 of 24 Apr 2025)27
2025
RON 2,300 per sow per year
RON 1.5 million
Source: Portal Legislativ — Budgets are the amounts set in the Government Decisions (budget ceilings), not payments. De minimis aid in agriculture falls under Commission Regulation (EU) No 1408/2013, and Government Decision 401/2025 sets a ceiling of EUR 50,000 per undertaking over three years. Euro amounts are paid in lei at the exchange rate set in each decision. MO = Monitorul Oficial al României, Part I.
8.2
Land, markets and the EU framework
Private ownership of farmland was restored by the Land Fund Law of February 1991, which returned land held by agricultural production cooperatives to former owners and their heirs, and by Law 1/2000, under which, as amended in 2005, natural persons may recover up to 50 ha per dispossessed owner14. Law 17/2014 governs sales of farmland outside built-up areas. Since the amendments of Law 175/2020 took effect on 13 October 2020, land must be offered first to pre-emptors such as co-owners, relatives and lessees, then to buyers who have lived, farmed and been registered for tax in Romania for at least five years, and resale within eight years is taxed at 80% of the gain813. The national programme for cadastre and land registration, approved in 2015 and made multiannual in 2022, registers properties free of charge11.
As an EU member since 2007, Romania applies the CAP regulations directly, including Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 on CAP Strategic Plans, under which Romania's plan runs from 1 January 2023, and Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 on financing, which applies from the same date301631. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Romania took part in the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes. On 2 May 2023 the Commission found that imports of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed were saturating storage and logistics in Romania and four other Member States, and until 5 June 2023 allowed these products to be released for free circulation only in other Member States, with transit still permitted17.
8.3
Core agriculture and land laws
Land Fund LawLaw No. 18/1991 (republished)Dated 19 Feb 1991, MO No. 37 of 20 Feb 1991, in force on publication, republished in MO No. 1 of 5 Jan 1998
Legea fondului funciar nr. 18/1991
The founding law of post-1989 land reform. It defines the land fund of Romania as all land of any kind, whatever its use, title or ownership, and classifies land by use, starting with agricultural land. It established private ownership over the land held by agricultural production cooperatives, by reconstituting the rights of former owners who had brought land into the cooperatives, and their heirs, or by constituting new rights.1
Recent changes: Republished in 1998 under Law 169/1997. The Portal Legislativ lists consolidated versions up to 20 July 2025, including changes by Law 165/2013 and, most recently, Law 136 of 17 July 2025 (MO No. 674 of 17 July 2025).1
Law on the reconstitution of ownership of agricultural and forest landLaw No. 1/2000Dated 11 Jan 2000, MO No. 8 of 12 Jan 2000
Legea nr. 1/2000 pentru reconstituirea dreptului de proprietate asupra terenurilor agricole și celor forestiere
Extended the restitution of agricultural and forest land claimed under Law 18/1991 and Law 169/1997. As amended by Law 247/2005, natural persons may recover the difference between 10 ha per family and the land they brought into the cooperative, up to 50 ha per dispossessed owner. Law 193/2007 added a ceiling for pastures and hayfields of 50 ha per family and 100 ha per owner.4
Recent changes: 18 consolidated versions between 9 July 2002 and 19 May 2022, including Law 247/2005, Law 193/2007 and Law 267/2011.4
Law on the sale of agricultural land outside built-up areasLaw No. 17/2014Dated 7 Mar 2014, MO No. 178 of 12 Mar 2014, in force 30 days after publication
Legea nr. 17/2014 privind unele măsuri de reglementare a vânzării terenurilor agricole situate în extravilan
Regulates the sale of agricultural land outside built-up areas (extravilan). Sellers must offer the land first to holders of a right of pre-emption, at the offered price, in a fixed order that starts with co-owners, spouses and relatives. If no pre-emptor buys, natural persons may buy only if they have lived in Romania, carried out agricultural activities in Romania and been registered with the Romanian tax authorities for at least five years before the offer, and similar conditions apply to companies. Land resold within eight years of purchase carries an 80% tax on the gain over the purchase value. Land within 30 km of the state border and the Black Sea coast, or close to special sites, may be sold only with the opinion of the Ministry of National Defence.8
Recent changes: Law 175 of 14 August 2020 (MO No. 741 of 14 August 2020, in force 60 days after publication, the amended text applying from 13 October 2020) introduced the residence and activity conditions, the eight-year rule and new pre-emption ranks. Emergency Ordinance 104 of 30 June 2022 (MO No. 657 of 30 June 2022) changed the order of pre-emptors and the buyer conditions again. Latest consolidated version 3 May 2024.138
Law on cadastre and land registrationLaw No. 7/1996 (republished)Dated 13 Mar 1996, last republished in MO No. 720 of 24 Sep 2015
Legea cadastrului și a publicității imobiliare nr. 7/1996
Makes the cadastre and the land book a single, compulsory system of technical, economic and legal records of all real estate in Romania. The National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration (ANCPI) manages the national registration programme based on it. It is the legal basis of the national programme for free systematic registration of properties.3211
Recent changes: Republished in 2013 and again in 2015 after Law 150/2015. Consolidated versions up to 11 December 2025.32
National Programme for Cadastre and Land RegistrationGovernment Decision No. 294/2015Dated 29 Apr 2015, MO No. 309 of 6 May 2015
Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 294/2015 privind aprobarea Programului național de cadastru și carte funciară
Approves the national programme, managed by ANCPI, whose purpose is the free registration of all properties in the integrated cadastre and land book system. The state allocates funding each year until systematic registration is completed in each commune, town and Bucharest sector.11
Recent changes: Government Decision 836 of 29 June 2022 (MO No. 670 of 5 July 2022) changed the title and made the programme multiannual.11
Law on agricultural companies and other forms of association in agricultureLaw No. 36/1991Dated 30 Apr 1991, MO No. 97 of 6 May 1991
Legea nr. 36/1991 privind societățile agricole și alte forme de asociere în agricultură
Allows owners of farmland, including those who received land under Law 18/1991, to farm it jointly through agricultural companies (societăți agricole) or through simple associations between two or more families.2
Recent changes: Consolidated versions of 29 December 2006, 26 May 2007, 23 March 2015, 1 April 2017 and 14 October 2019.2
Law on agricultural cooperationLaw No. 566/2004Dated 9 Dec 2004, MO No. 1236 of 22 Dec 2004
Legea cooperației agricole nr. 566/2004
Framework for agricultural cooperatives, which may provide services, organise joint purchasing and sales, process products or carry out other activities for their members. At least five cooperatives of the same profile may form a branch union. The law also sets tax measures for cooperatives and their members.6
Recent changes: Amended by Law 164/2016 (MO No. 564 of 26 July 2016) and Law 21/2019 (MO No. 29 of 10 January 2019), with changes to the tax measures applying from 1 January 2021. Latest consolidated version 10 January 2022.6
Ordinance on the recognition of producer groups and organisationsGovernment Ordinance No. 37/2005Dated 14 Jul 2005, MO No. 652 of 22 Jul 2005, approved by Law 338/2005
Ordonanța Guvernului nr. 37/2005 privind recunoașterea și funcționarea grupurilor și organizațiilor de producători, pentru comercializarea produselor agricole și silvice
Sets the rules for recognising groups and organisations of agricultural and forestry producers whose purpose is to market their members' agricultural and forestry products jointly.33
Recent changes: Approved with amendments, including a new title, by Law 338 of 29 November 2005 (MO No. 1,098 of 6 December 2005). Consolidated versions up to 11 March 2016.33
Law on chambers for agriculture, food industry, fish farming, forestry and rural developmentLaw No. 283/2010 (republished)Dated 28 Dec 2010, MO No. 15 of 7 Jan 2011, republished in MO No. 553 of 7 Aug 2012
Legea nr. 283/2010 privind camerele pentru agricultură, industrie alimentară, piscicultură, silvicultură și dezvoltare rurală
Provides for county agricultural chambers and a National Agricultural Chamber as private, non-profit institutions of public interest with legal personality, set up to represent and promote the interests of farmers and of food, fish farming, forestry and rural businesses.34
Recent changes: Law 122/2012 (MO No. 472 of 11 July 2012) renamed the chambers and removed the regional level. The Portal Legislativ page read lists consolidated versions up to 12 June 2013. Whether the chambers were constituted could not be verified.34
Law on the classification of farms and agricultural holdingsLaw No. 37/2015Dated 11 Mar 2015, MO No. 172 of 12 Mar 2015
Legea nr. 37/2015 privind clasificarea fermelor și exploatațiilor agricole
Sets a single national classification of farms for programmes financed from the national budget and EU funds. By economic size, farms under EUR 1,999 are subsistence farms producing wholly for own consumption, EUR 2,000–7,999 semi-subsistence farms, EUR 8,000–49,999 small commercial farms selling more than half of their output, EUR 50,000–999,999 medium commercial farms and holdings, and over EUR 1,000,000 large commercial farms and holdings.35
Recent changes: Consolidated version of 26 November 2015.35
Emergency ordinances reorganising the agriculture ministry and its agenciesEmergency Ordinance No. 85/2024, amended by Emergency Ordinance No. 92/2025OUG 85/2024 dated 28 Jun 2024, MO No. 609 of 29 Jun 2024, approved by Law No. 314 of 16 Dec 2024 (MO No. 1270 of 17 Dec 2024). OUG 92/2025 dated 30 Dec 2025, MO No. 1225 of 31 Dec 2025
Ordonanța de urgență nr. 85/2024 privind unele măsuri pentru reorganizarea Ministerului Agriculturii și Dezvoltării Rurale și a unor instituții aflate în subordinea acestuia
OUG 85/2024 merged the Bucharest agricultural directorate into the ministry and the territorial seed inspectorates and the soil and agrochemical study offices into the county agricultural directorates, and adjusted the 2022–2023 state aid scheme for pig and poultry farmers. Law 314/2024 repealed its article dissolving the National Agency for Zootechnics.3637
Recent changes: OUG 92/2025 dissolved the National Agency for Zootechnics and the National Mountain Area Agency by total division, moved the territorial seed inspectorates, the Central Laboratory for Seed and Planting Material Quality and the Central Laboratory for Wine Quality and Hygiene Control into the State Institute for Variety Testing and Registration, merged the National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture into the State Domains Agency, which it renamed the National Authority for the Administration of State Domains, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and repealed from 1 January 2026 Law 133/2019 establishing the Agency for Quality and Marketing of Agri-food Products. The bill approving OUG 92/2025 was deemed adopted by the Senate on 2 March 2026 (tacit adoption under Article 115(5) of the Constitution), and in October 2026 the bill was before the Chamber of Deputies (PLX171/2026).38
Law on food and feed safetyLaw No. 150/2004 (republished)Dated 14 May 2004, MO No. 462 of 24 May 2004, republished in MO No. 959 of 29 Nov 2006
Legea nr. 150/2004 privind siguranța alimentelor și a hranei pentru animale
Sets the general principles of food and feed safety at all stages of production, processing and distribution. The republished text enters into force 30 days after publication.39
Recent changes: Amended by Law 412/2004 and republished in 2006.39
Ordinance on veterinary and food safety servicesGovernment Ordinance No. 42/2004Dated 29 Jan 2004, MO No. 94 of 31 Jan 2004, approved by Law 215/2004
Ordonanța Guvernului nr. 42/2004 privind organizarea activității sanitar-veterinare și pentru siguranța alimentelor
Organises veterinary and food safety services as a single system headed by the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), the central authority that coordinates official veterinary and food safety controls through county directorates.40
Recent changes: Approved with amendments by Law 215 of 27 May 2004 (MO No. 531 of 14 June 2004). 24 consolidated versions up to 26 July 2021, including Emergency Ordinance 117/2020 approved by Law 291/2020.40
Emergency Ordinance on plant protection productsEmergency Ordinance No. 53/2025Dated 2 Oct 2025, MO No. 908 of 2 Oct 2025
Ordonanța de urgență nr. 53/2025 privind fabricarea, ambalarea, etichetarea, reambalarea, depozitarea, comercializarea, importul, exportul, utilizarea și prestarea de servicii cu produse de protecție a plantelor
Regulates the manufacture, packaging, labelling, storage, marketing, import, export and use of plant protection products and related services in Romania, with reference to the EU official controls regulation. It replaced the 1995 framework.41
Recent changes: Repeals Government Ordinance 4/1995 (MO No. 18 of 30 January 1995, approved by Law 85/1995), except one article that lapses when an implementing order takes effect, and Government Ordinance 41/2007 with listed exceptions. Article 66 entered into force 30 days after publication.41
Law on seeds and planting material and the registration of plant varietiesLaw No. 266/2002 (republished)Dated 15 May 2002, republished in MO No. 7 of 4 Jan 2011 and MO No. 239 of 3 Apr 2014
Legea nr. 266/2002 privind producerea, prelucrarea, controlul și certificarea calității, comercializarea semințelor și a materialului săditor, precum și testarea și înregistrarea soiurilor de plante
Governs the production, processing, quality certification and marketing of seed and planting material and the testing and registration of plant varieties. As consolidated in 2021, the law assigned official control to the National Inspection for Seed Quality and the State Institute for Variety Testing and Registration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.42
Recent changes: Republished in 2011 and in 2014 (after the criminal code implementing law, Law 187/2012). Latest consolidated version 12 July 2021.42 Emergency Ordinance No. 92 of 30 December 2025 (MO No. 1225 of 31 December 2025) merged the territorial seed inspectorates and the Central Laboratory for Seed and Planting Material Quality into the State Institute for Variety Testing and Registration.38
Law on unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chainLaw No. 81/2022Dated 11 Apr 2022, MO No. 363 of 12 Apr 2022
Legea nr. 81/2022 privind practicile comerciale neloiale dintre întreprinderi în cadrul lanțului de aprovizionare agricol și alimentar
Bans unfair practices between buyers and suppliers of agricultural and food products. Buyers may not pay more than 14 calendar days after the contractual due date for perishable products or more than 30 days for other products, and may not cancel orders with less than 30 working days' notice. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development monitors the practices and reports to the European Commission, and the Competition Council investigates and sanctions them.15
Law on the market for products from the agricultural sectorLaw No. 145/2014Dated 21 Oct 2014, MO No. 794 of 31 Oct 2014
Legea nr. 145/2014 pentru stabilirea unor măsuri de reglementare a pieței produselor din sectorul agricol
Regulates how individual farmers sell their own produce. The mayor issues a producer certificate (atestat de producător) and a sales booklet (carnet de comercializare), valid for seven years and issued within five working days, which farmers and close family members use to sell produce from their own farm or household.43
Recent changes: Consolidated versions from 8 May 2016 to 10 October 2019.43
Land Improvement LawLaw No. 138/2004 (republished)Dated 27 Apr 2004, MO No. 369 of 28 Apr 2004, republished in MO No. 88 of 13 Feb 2009
Legea îmbunătățirilor funciare nr. 138/2004
The framework for irrigation, drainage, and flood and erosion control works. Water users' organisations for irrigation take water from the National Land Improvement Agency (ANIF), which also authorises local irrigation systems.44
Recent changes: Republished in 2009 under Law 167/2008. Consolidated versions up to 18 April 2025, including Law 133/2017, Law 130/2018 and Law 136/2022.44
Law establishing the Paying and Intervention Agency for Agriculture (APIA)Law No. 1/2004Dated 16 Feb 2004, MO No. 162 of 25 Feb 2004
Legea nr. 1/2004 privind înființarea, organizarea și funcționarea Agenției de Plăți și Intervenție pentru Agricultură
Set up the paying agency for direct payments and market measures as a public institution under the agriculture ministry, with legal personality and financed from the state budget. APIA also implements national schemes such as the diesel excise refund.545
Recent changes: First named the Paying and Intervention Agency for Agriculture, Food Industry and Rural Development. Consolidated versions from 3 September 2004 to 31 October 2011.5
Emergency Ordinance establishing the Agency for the Financing of Rural Investments (AFIR)Emergency Ordinance No. 41/2014Dated 18 Jun 2014, MO No. 472 of 26 Jun 2014
Ordonanța de urgență nr. 41/2014 privind înființarea, organizarea și funcționarea Agenției pentru Finanțarea Investițiilor Rurale
Set up AFIR by reorganising the Paying Agency for Rural Development and Fisheries, to implement and pay EAFRD support. In the 2024 campaign AFIR, not APIA, made the EAFRD-funded rural development payments under the CAP Strategic Plan.946
Recent changes: The archived page read shows consolidated versions of 15 January 2015 and 1 July 2017. Later changes were not seen.9
Law on the storage of grain and oilseeds and on warehouse receiptsLaw No. 101/2014Dated 8 Jul 2014, MO No. 516 of 10 Jul 2014
Legea nr. 101/2014 privind măsuri de reglementare a depozitării semințelor de consum și a regimului certificatelor de depozit pentru acestea
Sets up licensing of warehouses for grain and oilseeds and the regime of warehouse receipts (certificate de depozit), which can be used as security for loans. Warehouses may issue receipts for at most 90% of the quantity delivered, a receipt is valid for up to 12 months, and it must be renewed at the request of a lender for longer financing.47
Recent changes: Replaced Emergency Ordinance 141/2002 (MO No. 828 of 18 November 2002), approved by Law 149/2003, which had regulated warehouse receipts for grain and oilseeds and set up a guarantee fund for them. Version read updated to 26 March 2015. The Monitorul Oficial reference is taken from the Senate record of the bill (L173/2014).4748
State aid scheme reducing the excise duty on diesel used in agricultureGovernment Decision No. 1,174/2014Dated 29 Dec 2014, MO No. 965 of 30 Dec 2014
Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 1.174/2014 privind instituirea unei scheme de ajutor de stat pentru reducerea accizei la motorina utilizată în agricultură
Refunds to farmers, through APIA, the difference between the standard excise on diesel used for mechanised work in crops, livestock and land improvement and the EU minimum rate of EUR 21 per 1,000 litres, set at RON 104.49 per 1,000 litres for 2025. The national ceiling is 410 million litres a year. Each year's budget is fixed by amending decisions, RON 815.3 million for 2025.1045
Recent changes: Extended to 31 December 2026 by Government Decision 1,228/2023. Government Decision 61 of 20 February 2025 (MO No. 153 of 20 February 2025) set the 2025 rate, and Government Decision 1,106 of 18 December 2025 set the 2025 budget.1045
De minimis aid for vegetables grown in protected spacesGovernment Decision No. 325/2025Dated 3 Apr 2025, MO No. 304 of 7 Apr 2025, in force on the first working day after publication
Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 325/2025 privind aprobarea schemei „Ajutor de minimis pentru aplicarea Programului de susținere a producției de legume cultivate în spații protejate“, în perioada 2025-2027
Pays EUR 1.5 per m2 to growers with at least 1,000 m2 of greenhouses or polytunnels under peppers, cucumbers, green onions, green beans, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cabbage or aubergines, for 2025–2027. The 2025 budget is RON 342.4 million. It follows the 2024–2025 scheme under Government Decision 1,342/2024 (up to EUR 1,000 per 1,000 m2, RON 124.3 million).2529
Recent changes: Amended by Government Decision 854 of 9 October 2025.25
De minimis aid for garlic production, 2023Government Decision No. 393/2023Dated 4 May 2023, MO No. 398 of 9 May 2023
Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 393/2023 privind aprobarea schemei „Ajutor de minimis pentru aplicarea Programului de susținere a producției de usturoi“
Paid EUR 3,000 per hectare, in lei, to growers with at least 3,000 m2 of garlic in 2023.26
Recent changes: Government Decision 1,288 of 18 December 2023 (MO No. 1149 of 19 December 2023) set the budget at RON 41.2 million, at most EUR 8.3 million.26
De minimis aid for breeders of Bazna and Mangalița pigs, 2025Government Decision No. 401/2025Dated 16 Apr 2025, MO No. 363 of 24 Apr 2025
Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 401/2025 privind instituirea unei scheme de ajutor de minimis pentru susținerea crescătorilor de porci de reproducție din rasele Bazna și/sau Mangalița pentru anul 2025
Pays RON 2,300 per breeding sow per year of the local Bazna and Mangalița breeds, within the de minimis ceiling of EUR 50,000 per undertaking over three years. The 2025 budget is RON 1.5 million.27
CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027 (Planul Național Strategic)Commission Implementing Decision C(2022) 8783, CCI 2023RO06AFSP001Approved 7 Dec 2022, applies 1 Jan 2023 to 31 Dec 2027, fifth amendment approved 18 Feb 2026
Planul Național Strategic PAC 2023-2027
Romania's plan for all CAP support, namely direct payments, sectoral interventions and rural development. In the version approved in February 2026 it plans EUR 14.97 billion of EU funds and EUR 0.86 billion of national co-financing, EUR 15.83 billion in all. EUR 2.45 billion is reserved for eco-schemes, EUR 0.98 billion for redistributive income support and EUR 2.08 billion for environmental and climate objectives in rural development.1619
Recent changes: Amendments approved on 11 December 2023, 22 May 2024, 29 November 2024, 12 December 2025 and 18 February 2026.18
National programme for the rehabilitation of main irrigation and drainage infrastructureGovernment Decision No. 793/2016Dated 26 Oct 2016, MO No. 879 of 2 Nov 2016
Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 793/2016 pentru aprobarea Programului național de reabilitare și/sau înființare a infrastructurii principale de irigații și infrastructurii de desecare și drenaj
Programme for rehabilitating state-owned main irrigation infrastructure, carried out by the ministry through ANIF. The programme text records about 3.1 million ha equipped for irrigation in systems built up to 1990, of which about 1.5 million ha viable or marginally viable, and planned EUR 1.015 billion over 2016–2020.1251
Recent changes: Amended by Government Decision 557/2018. Government Decision 988 of 3 August 2022 (MO No. 783 of 5 August 2022) extended it to drainage and renamed it. Latest consolidated version 7 March 2025.12
National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR)Council Implementing Decision approving the planApproved by the Council 29 Oct 2021, last amended 5 Aug 2026 according to Commission Implementing Decision C(2026) 7018
Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență
Romania's plan under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility, worth EUR 20.1 billion, of which EUR 13.6 billion in grants and EUR 6.5 billion in loans, with 118 investment streams and 67 reforms. 39.1% of the plan supports climate objectives. The fourth payment was authorised by the Commission on 18 June 2026.14
Recent changes: Amended by Council Implementing Decisions of 8 December 2023 (which added a REPowerEU chapter) and 13 November 20255214, and on 5 August 2026 according to Commission Implementing Decision C(2026) 701853. After the August 2026 revision the estimated total cost was EUR 20.11 billion.52
Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European UnionOJ L 157, 21.6.2005Signed 25 Apr 2005 at Luxembourg, in force 1 Jan 2007
Tratatul de aderare a Republicii Bulgaria și a României la Uniunea Europeană
Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007 and has applied the common agricultural policy since then. EU payments to Romanian agriculture under the EAGF started in 2007 and under the EAFRD in 2008.720
World Trade Organization membership—GATT member 14 Nov 1971, WTO member 1 Jan 1995
Romania has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a GATT member since 14 November 1971. It has been an EU member State since 1 January 2007, and the EU is itself a WTO member.3
Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 on CAP Strategic PlansRegulation (EU) 2021/2115Adopted 2 Dec 2021, OJ L 435 of 6 Dec 2021, in force the following day
Sets the rules for the CAP Strategic Plans financed by the EAGF and the EAFRD from 2023, including the national allocations for direct payments and rural development and the minimum shares for eco-schemes, redistributive support and environmental objectives. It repealed Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and No 1307/2013.3019
Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 on the financing, management and monitoring of the CAPRegulation (EU) 2021/2116Adopted 2 Dec 2021, OJ L 435 of 6 Dec 2021, applies from 1 Jan 2023
The horizontal CAP regulation on paying agencies, financial management, controls and monitoring. It applies from 1 January 2023, and its Article 16 to EAGF expenditure from 16 October 2022. It repealed Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.31
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 on the common organisation of agricultural marketsRegulation (EU) No 1308/2013Adopted 17 Dec 2013, OJ L 347 of 20 Dec 2013, applies from 1 Jan 2014
The EU rules on public intervention, private storage, marketing standards, producer organisations, wine planting authorisations (2016–2030) and trade in agricultural products, which apply directly in Romania. Market support under this regulation is outside the CAP Strategic Plan financial annex.5619
EU temporary trade liberalisation for UkraineRegulation (EU) 2022/870Adopted 30 May 2022, OJ L 152 of 3 Jun 2022, applied until 5 Jun 2023
Suspended EU tariff-rate quotas and duties on imports from Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Together with the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, in which Romania took part, it opened routes for Ukrainian grain through neighbouring Member States.5717
Preventive measures on Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seedCommission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/903Adopted 2 May 2023, OJ L 114 I of 2 May 2023, in force on publication, applied until 5 Jun 2023
The Commission found that imports from Ukraine were saturating storage and logistics in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed from Ukraine could be released for free circulation only in other Member States, while transit through the five countries remained allowed.17
Ratification of the Paris AgreementLaw No. 57/2017Signed 22 Apr 2016, ratification law dated 10 Apr 2017, MO No. 276 of 20 Apr 2017, ratification recorded by the UN Treaty Collection on 1 Jun 2017
Legea nr. 57/2017 pentru ratificarea Acordului de la Paris
Romania signed the Paris Agreement in New York on 22 April 2016 and ratified it by a single-article law. The UN Treaty Collection records ratification on 1 June 2017.5859
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