The Romanian government has extended its mandatory licensing requirement for Ukrainian agricultural products until December 31, 2025, aiming to safeguard the interests of domestic farmers.
Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu encouraged Romanian processors to prioritize sourcing raw materials from local farmers to strengthen national agricultural production, Euroactive reports.
The regulation, enforced by the Agriculture Ministry, applies to all participants in the agri-food supply chain—including producers, processors, and traders. It is designed to support vulnerable social groups in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights.
This licensing system was introduced in October 2023 following the European Commission’s decision not to renew the ban on Ukrainian grain imports for five neighboring EU countries: Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary. Romania’s measure covers cereals and oilseeds imported from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
Since its implementation, the licensing requirement has been extended and expanded to include additional products, reflecting Romania’s ongoing efforts to balance trade openness with protecting its agricultural sector.
