ANPC issues 3.5 million lei in fines during Romanian market inspections

ANPC consumer protection shrinkflation market inspections food safety

The National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC) conducted nationwide inspections in Romania between August 24 and 28, targeting the food and non-food sectors, public catering, and gas stations. The enforcement actions resulted in 792 fines totaling over 3.5 million lei and 566 warnings. Authorities temporarily suspended services for 23 economic operators and permanently removed products worth over 110,000 lei from the market.

Common violations identified included discrepancies between shelf prices and receipt totals, expired food items, moldy products, and meat with blood accumulation in packaging. Inspectors also noted poor hygiene in food preparation areas, including grease deposits and rusted utensils, as well as improper storage temperatures and damaged packaging.

Additionally, the ANPC issued a warning regarding ‘shrinkflation’—the practice where manufacturers reduce product quantities while maintaining or slightly adjusting prices. While reducing quantity is not illegal, the ANPC noted that it becomes a violation if consumers are not transparently informed, leading to misleading perceptions of the amount purchased. The authority advises consumers to check net quantities and unit prices (per kg or liter) to avoid being misled by packaging size or visual appearance.

Entities

Autoritatea Națională pentru Protecția Consumatorilor · National Authority for Consumer Protection · Romania

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Consumers should compare prices per unit of measure, such as price per kilogram or liter. newsbucuresti.ro · www.szatmar.ro
[● 2 SOURCES] Reducing product quantity is not a violation of the law in itself. newsbucuresti.ro · www.szatmar.ro
[● 2 SOURCES] Consumers should keep their fiscal receipts and contact the ANPC if they believe they have been misled. newsbucuresti.ro · www.szatmar.ro
[● 2 SOURCES] Consumers are advised to check the net quantity listed on the packaging before purchase. newsbucuresti.ro · www.szatmar.ro
[● 2 SOURCES] The ANPC is warning consumers about shrinkflation, where product quantities are reduced while prices remain the same or decrease disproportionately. newsbucuresti.ro · www.szatmar.ro
[● 2 SOURCES] Non-compliance occurs if consumers are not transparently informed about the change or if the product presentation is misleading regarding the quantity. newsbucuresti.ro · www.szatmar.ro