The Romanian government has extended its mandatory licensing system for agricultural imports from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova until 31 December 2025, citing the need to protect local farmers and ensure national food security.
Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu called on Romanian food processors “to source their raw materials from domestic farmers in order to support national agricultural production.”
According to the Agriculture Ministry, the licensing requirement applies to the entire agri-food supply chain—including producers, processors, and traders—and plays “a vital role in supporting vulnerable social groups, in line with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights.”
The policy was first introduced in October 2023, following the European Commission’s decision not to renew a temporary ban on Ukrainian grain imports into five neighbouring EU countries: Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary. In response, Bucharest implemented a national licensing regime for cereals and oilseeds originating from both Ukraine and Moldova.
Since then, the measure has been extended and broadened to include a wider range of agricultural products.
