Business #32 Legislative focus

ANPC Order no. 505/2026, published on September 4 and effective from October 4, updates the consumer-protection information that businesses must display. Operators must show the Consumer Helpline number 0219551, the details of the competent county or Bucharest-sector consumer protection office, and the current ANPC website address. Commercial websites used for sales, online orders, advertising, tourism services, travel packages or airline tickets must place a visible link to www.anpc.ro on their homepage. The order removes the former requirement that the link carry the exact label „CONSUMER PROTECTION – A.N.P.C.” Updated contact lists and plaque models replace the existing annexes. Physical notices must remain in the consumer’s field of vision, in a visible place next to the cash register or business hours. 

The changes apply broadly to businesses selling goods or services to consumers, including online retailers, ordering platforms, travel operators and airlines. Companies should audit physical notices, territorial-office details and homepage links, then complete all replacements by October 4, 2026.

Government Decision no. 681/2026, published and partly effective on August 31, establishes mandatory use of the Single Electronic Contact Point for Industrial Licences (PCUEL), implementing NRRP Milestone 246 under Component 9. Industrial operators must use one account and submit a separate electronically signed file for each workplace and authorised NACE code, together with proof of fee payment. Authorities must state within 10 calendar days whether a file is valid or needs clarification; unless another deadline is set, applicants have 15 days to provide the requested documents, otherwise the application is treated as withdrawn. PCUEL also centralises official communications, appeals, expiry alerts and measures affecting licence validity. Abusive simulator access may be fined RON 3,000-10,000 and repeated unjustified sessions RON 5,000-15,000, with the limits doubled for legal entities. Chapters III and IV and Articles 13-15 will apply at a later date. 

 Industrial companies need qualified electronic signatures, accurate Trade Registry and NACE information, and internal controls for monitoring notices and calendar-day deadlines. Separate sessions for each site and activity may increase the initial administrative workload, while missed requests can terminate an application and abusive platform use can expose legal entities to doubled fines.

A legislative proposal registered with the Senate on September 2 would establish a temporary mechanism for cancelling 100% of interest, penalties and late-payment increases attached to principal budget liabilities overdue as of August 31, 2026. The measure would cover individuals, companies, public institutions and entities without legal personality. Relief would require full payment of eligible principal debt, payment of current liabilities, submission of all tax returns and filing of the cancellation request within 120 days after the law enters into force. Eligible amounts would include liabilities established through assessment decisions or amended returns and sums recorded in enforceable titles. Local authorities could opt into the mechanism by adopting a decision within 30 days. Debtors in preventive restructuring or insolvency proceedings could also qualify subject to the applicable payment hierarchy. 

Companies with budget arrears could eliminate the full cost of ancillary liabilities and improve their balance-sheet position, but only by mobilising sufficient liquidity to extinguish the principal and remain current on ongoing payments and filings. Filing a notification and obtaining a deferral decision would suspend enforcement only for the ancillary amounts, not for the principal debt.