The activity of import-export in Romania can be performed in most cases without any measure of control or supervision. This is a particular aspect of the international commercial liberty principle in Romania.

The importing-exporting of certain goods is however subject of some measures of control, if regarded as a general interest of the national economy. These are exceptions to the general rule, and as a result, if a certain operation is not explicitly categorized as being under supervision, then it is regarded being able to perform freely.

In the cases where measures of control and supervision are imposed, there are 2 types of approvals which can be granted: licenses and other authorizations.

Issuance of licenses
Licenses are granted only to commercial entities headquartered in Romania activating internationally. The request for licenses are to be made for each separate country, foreign partner and tariff position of the merchandise. The Romanian Ministry of Economy and Finance has the attribution to receive requests and grant the licenses.

Other Authorizations
In some cases, internal regulations impose the issuance from public

 

institutions of other authorizations (different from licenses) for cross-border transit of certain categories of merchandise.

The Romanian legislation requires, in certain special situations, import-export authorizations for commerce with the following type of products: animal and related products; plants and related products; drugs; alimentary and agricultural products; elements of the human body, medical and pharmaceutical products; guns, ammunition, toxic and explosive materials and nuclear products and technologies; waste admitted for import-export, products dangerous for the population and environment; goods part of the national cultural patrimony; tobacco and alcohol; genetically modified organisms; chemical products; precious metals and gems etc.

Granting of the authorization will be refused in the following situations: the entity does fulfil the legal conditions necessary for international commerce, as a sanction to the importer/exporter, the merchandise is subject to control and supervision from the Romanian authorities (or the authorities of the country of destination) and the conditions for the authorization are not fulfilled, the merchandise is forbidden to be imported or exported etc.