Romanian regulators fine illegal food sellers and delivery firms millions

The National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC) conducted inspections of shops selling food products and identified numerous non‑conformities, including expired items, improper storage temperatures, spoiled fish, missing labeling, ice accumulation, mold, and unfit equipment. As a result, the agency issued 990 contravention fines totaling over 4.4 million lei, gave 749 warnings, ordered the permanent withdrawal of non‑conforming products worth more than 230 000 lei, temporarily halted sales of products worth over 1.2 million lei, and suspended services for 21 operators until deficiencies were corrected.

The National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) uncovered a fraud scheme involving 50 food‑delivery companies based in Bucharest and Timișoara. The network used a five‑tier corporate structure, phantom firms and cash withdrawals to conceal real beneficiaries, evading roughly 23 million lei in profit tax, VAT and social contributions. The scheme also involved hundreds of workers employed informally, further increasing the fiscal loss to the state.