Romania’s latest food & waste rules you actually need to care about

• Food waste law tightened (Law 49/2024): mandatory prevention hierarchy, contracted donation channel, doggy-bag duty for HoReCa, ban on labeling safe unsold food as “unfit,” and a national reporting platform due by 30 June 2025; annual filing by 31 March.

• Donation windows clarified: “use by” foods (DLC) can be donated only before the date; “best before” (DDM) can be donated after the date with safety checks.

• EU targets locked in: by 2030 each Member State must cut food waste 10% in processing/manufacturing and 30% per capita in retail/food service/households (vs. 2021–2023 average). Romania must transpose and deliver.

• Deposit-return (SGR): selling non-SGR stock ended 30 June 2025; the deposit stays 0.50 RON per container.

• Waste regime enforcement: new Law 56/2025 clarifies when environmental impact “is not negligible,” explicitly covering air, water, soil, subsoil—raising criminal exposure for bad waste practices.

• Bio-waste: local authorities must run separate bio-waste collection (deadline passed: 31 Dec 2023), which affects municipal contracts and HoReCa back-of-house sorting.

Romania’s 2024–2025 food & waste reforms: what changed and what to do now

Romania has moved from guidance to enforcement on food waste and packaging. If you operate in food production, retail, HoReCa, or manage municipal services, here’s the practical read.

1) Food waste law: stricter obligations, clearer tools

Parliament overhauled the 2016 framework with Law 49/2024. Five things matter most:

1. Mandatory hierarchy: prevent → markdown sales near expiry → donate via contracted “receiving operators” → animal feed/other uses (not “bin it by default”).

2. HoReCa doggy-bag rule: you must let guests take leftovers home at no extra charge and state this clearly on the menu.

3. No gaming the system: you cannot call still-safe, unsold products “unfit” just to discard them.

4. National data platform: the Ministry of Agriculture (MADR) must put it live by 30 June 2025.

5. Annual reporting: by 31 March every year you’ll upload your plan and results (quantities reduced/donated). Expect audits on data quality, not PDFs.

Donation windows that won’t get you fined

• “Use by” (DLC) products: donate before the date—never after.

• “Best before” (DDM) products: may be donated after the date if safety/quality are verified and tracked. Train staff to tell DLC from DDM and record checks.

2) EU 2030 targets are now binding

The EU’s revision of the Waste Framework Directive sets national targets due 31 Dec 2030: –10% (processing/manufacturing) and –30% per capita (retail, restaurants, food services, households) vs. the 2021–2023 average. Romania must transpose and meet them—so align your KPIs with these cuts, not self-picked numbers.

3) Deposit-return (SGR): transition is over

Government HG 1709/2024 extended the sell-through for non-SGR stock only until 30 June 2025—after that, those packs are illegal to sell. The deposit remains 0.50 RON and must be shown separately at shelf and on receipts; consumers can redeem it in cash, voucher or transfer.

Heads-up: the Environment Ministry has signalled it is analyzing an SGR extension to glass jars and milk cartons; monitor CAPEX and space planning, but note this is not in force yet.

4) Waste regime: tougher line on environmental harm

Law 56/2025 updates the waste framework so that even small-scale degradation of air, water, soil, subsoil can meet the threshold of “non-negligible impact.” Translation: open dumping, burning, or sloppy handling that used to “get a fine” can now cross into criminal territory faster. Review SOPs and contractor clauses.

5) Bio-waste: separate collection is mandatory

Authorities had to organize separate collection/at-source recycling of bio-waste by 31 Dec 2023. If you run/contract municipal services or large kitchens, expect enforcement on brown-bin capture, quality, and communications.

What to do this quarter

• Map your hierarchy (per Law 49/2024): prevention levers → smart markdowns → donation flow → by-products/feed. Bake it into SOPs and incentives.

• Lock donation contracts with compliant receiving operators; set DLC/DDM checklists and traceability (keep records).

• Instrument your data now so you can file by 31 March (quantities generated, reduced, donated), using the MADR platform once live.

• SGR hygiene: purge any non-SGR SKUs, keep the 0.50 RON deposit visible and refundable as required, and audit store return points.

• Risk review on waste handling and transport: update contracts and training to reflect the new criminal threshold.

Bio-waste compliance with your municipality/ADI: verify separate collection, contamination rates, and communication plans.