Alcohol regulations in Romania

Licences needed

Tax Warehouse Production Authorization (Autorizație de antrepozit fiscal de producție), Food Safety Authorization from ANSVSA, Environmental Authorization (Autorizație de mediu), and Metrological Approval for measurement equipment.

Authority

Romanian Customs Authority (Autoritatea Vamală Română - AVR) and National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA)

Documents

Application form, company incorporation documents, proof of premises ownership/lease, technical process diagram, storage capacity plans, metrology calibration certificates for counters/meters, fiscal clearance certificate (cazier fiscal), financial guarantee, and security/surveillance plan.

Fees

No standard statutory authorization fee, but a mandatory financial guarantee (bank guarantee or cash deposit) is required to cover potential excise duty liabilities.

Time to obtain

Statutory limit of 60 days from submission of complete documentation (typically 2 to 4 months in practice).

Who can import

Any registered commercial entity established in the EU/Romania holding an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number and registered with customs.

Licences or registrations

EORI registration; for intra-EU movement under duty suspension: Registered Consignee (destinatar înregistrat) or Authorized Warehousekeeper (antrepozitar autorizat); for non-EU imports: Authorized Importer (importator autorizat) registration with AVR.

Authority

Romanian Customs Authority (Autoritatea Vamală Română - AVR) and ANAF

Documents

EORI certificate, commercial registration extract (ONRC), fiscal record certificate (cazier fiscal), proof of excise guarantee, and customs representative contract if applicable.

Fees

No specific registration fee; mandatory financial guarantee to secure customs and excise liabilities.

Time to obtain

1–3 working days for EORI registration; 30–60 days for excise operator authorizations.

Required

no

Process

Romania does not operate a pre-market brand or label registration system for spirits (no equivalent to US COLA). Products must comply with EU spirits regulations (Regulation (EU) 2019/787 and Regulation (EU) 1169/2011). Importers/distributors must register the establishment with ANSVSA and purchase Romanian excise banderoles prior to market release.

Authority

National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) and Romanian Customs Authority (AVR)

Documents and samples

No routine sample submission required; technical product sheets, certificates of analysis, and food safety compliance dossiers must be kept on file for inspection.

Fees

None for product registration; fees apply only to the purchase of excise stamps.

Renewal

None

Time to obtain

Immediate (no prior label approval timeline required before placing on market).

Imports from outside the EU require standard customs entry via Single Administrative Document (SAD), commercial invoices, packing lists, transport documents (CMR/BL), and certificates of origin. Spirits released for consumption in Romania must have physical excise stamps/banderoles ('banderole de marcare') affixed across the closure, printed exclusively by the National Printing House (CN 'Imprimeria Națională' S.A.). Intra-EU duty-suspended shipments must move via EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System) with an e-AD and are subject to Romania's RO e-Transport electronic tracking system.

0% for most spirits under HS 2208 (whisky, vodka, rum, gin, brandy) imported from WTO member states under the EU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC).

Excise duty on ethyl alcohol (as of 1 January 2026) is RON 5,848.49 per hectolitre of pure alcohol (RON 2,924.23 per hectolitre of pure alcohol for registered independent small distilleries producing up to 10 hl pure alcohol/year). Standard VAT rate is 21% (increased from 19% on 1 August 2025; spirits do not qualify for reduced rates).

Private retail distribution across licensed supermarkets, independent shops, liquor stores, and on-premise venues (bars, restaurants, clubs); no state monopoly. Retailers and hospitality venues must hold a municipal commercial authorization (autorizație de funcționare de la primărie) and ANSVSA food safety registration. Selling alcohol to persons under 18 or visibly intoxicated patrons is prohibited.

Allowed. E-commerce platforms and delivery couriers must verify that the purchaser and recipient are at least 18 years of age. ID verification is legally required before handing over age-restricted goods.

Must comply with EU Regulation 2019/787 and EU Regulation 1169/2011. Romanian language is mandatory for: sales denomination, nominal volume, actual alcoholic strength (% vol), allergen information, lot/batch number, and EU producer/importer details. Fiscal strip stamps (banderoles) must be securely affixed over the bottle closure so they tear upon opening.

Regulated under Advertising Law 148/2000, Audiovisual Law 504/2002, and CNA Decision 220/2011. Spirits advertising on television and radio is prohibited between 06:00 and 22:00. Commercials must feature mandatory health warnings ('Consumul excesiv de alcool dăunează grav sănătății'). Alcohol advertising is banned within 200 meters of educational and medical facilities, on public transportation, and in publications aimed at minors.

Governed by Regulation (EU) 2019/787: Whisky (min 40% ABV), Rum (min 37.5% ABV), Vodka (min 37.5% ABV), Gin (min 37.5% ABV), Brandy (min 36% ABV), Neutral alcohol (min 96% ABV). Romanian traditional fruit spirits with Geographical Indications (GI) follow protected specifications, including Țuică (min 24% ABV), Pălincă (min 40% ABV), and Vinars (min 37.5% ABV).

No territorial dry areas exist. Public consumption outside licensed premises (on streets, public parks, mass transit) is prohibited under Law 61/1991. Local authorities may issue temporary alcohol sales bans during elections (near polling stations) or high-risk public/sporting events.

• VAT Rate Increase: Romania raised the standard VAT rate from 19% to 21% effective 1 August 2025 (Law no. 141/2025), which applies to all distilled spirits.
• Phased Alcohol Excise Increases: Excise duty on ethyl alcohol rose by approximately 10% on 1 August 2025 and increased again on 1 January 2026 to RON 5,848.49 per hl of pure alcohol.
• Strengthened Enforcement on Sales to Minors: Implementation of strict identity checks and increased penalties under Law 174/2023 (amending Law 61/1991) and subsequent legislative measures mandating explicit age verification protocols for online sales and delivery couriers.
• RO e-Transport Rollout: Enhanced mandatory digital tracking and reporting via the RO e-Transport platform for high fiscal-risk products, including road transport of alcoholic beverages within Romania.

Romania represents an expanding market for premium and craft distilled spirits, especially single malt whisky, bourbon, and premium gin, supported by 0% EU tariff rates and growing consumer purchasing power in major urban centres.

• Autoritatea Vamală Română (AVR)
• Agenția Națională de Administrare Fiscală (ANAF)
• Ministerul Finanțelor
• Autoritatea Națională Sanitară Veterinară și pentru Siguranța Alimentelor (ANSVSA)
• Consiliul Național al Audiovizualului (CNA)

1. Romanian Fiscal Code (Codul Fiscal - Legea 227/2015 cu modificările ulterioare) - Ministerul Finanțelor
2. PwC Romania Tax Summaries - Value-added tax (VAT) and Excise Duties
3. EY Tax Alert: Romania enacts Law No. 141/2025 increasing standard VAT and excise duties
4. Autoritatea Vamală Română - Regim accize și marcarea produselor alcoolice
5. European Commission - Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks
6. Legea nr. 61/1991 pentru sancționarea faptelor de încălcare a unor norme de conviețuire socială (modificată prin Legea nr. 174/2023)