Business #33 Legislative focus

The Finance Ministry has proposed changes that would reduce the number of companies required to prepare mandatory sustainability reports. For financial years starting from 1 January 2027, the requirements would generally apply only to companies and groups that exceed both a net turnover of RON 2.25 billion and an average of 1,000 employees. This order is yet to be published in the Official Gazette.

Many companies that would otherwise have been subject to mandatory sustainability reporting will no longer have to report from 2027 if they remain below either threshold. Smaller suppliers with fewer than 1,000 employees may refuse requests for sustainability information that go beyond the applicable voluntary standards.

ANAF eliminated the special forms currently used for fiscal and VAT registration certificates, allowing them to be issued on ordinary paper or electronically. Taxpayers enrolled in SPV will receive certificates electronically, while paper certificates will mainly be used for taxpayers not enrolled in SPV, including newly established entities. Electronic certificates will be signed with the Ministry of Finance’s qualified electronic signature. The order entered into force on September 11.

The measure will simplify the registration process for businesses and reduce reliance on physical documents, particularly for companies using SPV. Newly established companies and other taxpayers not enrolled in SPV will continue to receive paper certificates.

Bucharest City Hall has published the consolidated draft rules for heavy vehicles, introducing an annual access permit costing the equivalent of 10 monthly fees and changing how the maximum authorized mass of vehicle combinations is calculated. Tax exemptions and sanctions have also been revised, including the removal of the six-month circulation ban after three sanctions in one year. The rules are expected to apply from 1 January 2027. The General Council shall soon adopt this decision.

The new rules will affect all businesses that use heavy vehicles/ for deliveries and supply in Bucharest, including companies that outsource transport to logistics providers. Companies will need to factor the new access fees into their transport costs and ensure that the required permits or approvals are obtained and valid for the vehicle, route, area and period of travel.

The Senate (first chamber) has rejected a USR bill that would have allowed consumers to bring collective court actions against companies for breaches of competition law. The bill would also have given the Ministry of Finance responsibility for taking legal action to recover damages suffered by the state as a result of anti-competitive practices. In the coming days, the bill will reach the Chamber of Deputies for a final debate.

The rejection means that companies do not yet face the additional litigation exposure. However, it is worth monitoring the developments of this bill during the last stage of debates in the Chamber of Deputies.