The law provides for capping markups, the possibility of reducing the excise tax on diesel, and the establishment of a solidarity contribution for certain operators in the oil industry. The law officially declares a state of crisis in the crude oil and petroleum products market through October 31, 2026, with the possibility for the government to extend this period depending on market developments.
During the crisis, all measures provided for in the new legislation will apply, including those regarding fuel prices and taxation. One of the most important provisions concerns the capping of markups charged by operators that import, produce, distribute, or sell gasoline and diesel. Price reductions may be implemented at any time According to the law, the markup may not exceed, on average, the level applied by each company in 2025, adjusted once by the inflation rate reported by the National Institute of Statistics.
At the same time, gas stations will be able to raise prices only once a day, by 12:00 p. m. , while price reductions may be implemented at any time.
The law also introduces a mechanism whereby the excise tax on standard diesel can be temporarily reduced by percentages ranging from 5% to 25%, depending on trends in international oil prices and prices at the pump. The reduction rate will not be fixed. The Ministry of Finance will analyze market indicators twice a month and publish the applicable reduction rate for the following two-week period.
The first excise tax reduction will not take effect immediately, but only after the completion of the first analysis required by law. The legislation also introduces a contribution on the exceptional revenues earned by certain operators in the petroleum sector when the price of Brent crude oil or international diesel prices exceed the thresholds established by law. In addition, during the crisis, exports and intra-EU shipments of diesel and crude oil may only be carried out with the prior approval of the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Energy.
The new law also establishes a system of penalties for companies that fail to comply with the imposed obligations. Depending on the violation, fines may reach up to 2% of annual revenue or, in some cases, between 100,000 and 1,000,000 lei. However, the provisions regarding administrative offenses do not take effect immediately.
They will take effect five days after the law is published in the Official Gazette, in accordance with the provisions of the legislation.