Romania's black cigarette market stood at 8.3 percent of the total consumption this September, in line with the previous months, but higher compared to the 2022 average of 7.1 percent, shows a survey by Novel Research."In September 2023, the black market remains steady in almost all the regions of the country. Among the new elements worth mentioning for September's survey is the inclusion of Bulgaria among the main sources of smuggled tobacco products. With a share of 16.8 percent and an upward trend in the last year, Bulgaria is third in place as regards smuggled tobacco products, after duty-free outlets and cheap whites. Also, the survey carried out in the last months no longer identified cigarettes smuggled from Ukraine. There is a downward trend in the share of products from Moldova (7.6 percent), while Serbia is constant," said Novel Research managing partner Marian Marcu in a press release on Wednesday.Citing data on the platform StopContrabanda.ro, BAT Legal and External Affairs Director for South-East Europe Ileana Dumitru said that year-to-date, the Romanian authorities have captured about 105 million contraband cigarettes, more than double the amount in the same period last year.Head of the Romanian Customs Authority Ion Cupa said that 10 million illegal cigarettes were discovered in a recent raid carried out in the counties of Suceava and Teleorman, during which customs inspectors provided specialist assistance alongside representatives of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism, the Organized Crime Directorate, the Directorate for the Investigation of Economic Crimes, and the Border Police General Inspectorate.In 2022, tobacco companies funnelled about 20 billion RON to the state budget in excise duties, VAT and other taxes and contributions.
Contakt Express Logistik S.A., the Romanian market leader in accessories for phones and tablets, announces the approval of its Prospectus by the Financial Supervisory Authority and the launch of its initial public offering. Following the successful closing of the offering, the company will be listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, on the AeRO Market, under […]
The Romanian Environment Ministry has launched a public consultation on changes to national air quality regulations that would allow residents to see real-time pollution levels, replacing the current system based on 24-hour averages. The draft order updates Order 1818/2020, which defines how air quality indices are calculated and reported nationwide. Environment minister Diana Buzoianu said […]
The Bishop of Cluj-Gherla, Claudiu Lucian Pop, has been appointed as the new Major Archbishop of the Greek-Catholic Church, a position that became vacant following the passing of 94-year-old Cardinal Lucian Mureșan in September of this year. The new leader of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church, or the Romanian Church United with Rome, was elected […]
WWF Romania has launched a series of planting initiatives in Bucharest aimed at supporting declining pollinator species, joining forces with local environmental groups to transform urban green spaces into habitats for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. The first intervention took place on November 1 in the 400 sqm garden of the Museum of Maps, […]
Update: Liberty Steel Group reacted to the investigation on Friday, saying that it is cooperating with the authorities but denying any wrongdoing. A spokesperson said: “Liberty and its management have always acted in full compliance with Romanian laws and regulations, following local legal advice. The company is cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigation […]
Romanian prosecutors conducted searches on Friday, November 7, at the headquarters of the steel mill Liberty Galați and in several counties, in a case of embezzlement and tax evasion that includes Russian gas giant Gazprom, Economedia.ro reported. Specifically,...
