French retail group Carrefour will set up an agricultural cooperative in the village of Varasti, Giurgiu county, where it wants to reunite 80 families of producers, who own 60 hectares of agricultural land and produce 5,000 tons of vegetables each year.

"The project initiated by Carrefour brings closer experienced farmers and consumers who appreciate Romanian products of quality," according to a company press release.

Carrefour came up with this initiative in a moment when local authorities are re-discussing the "Made in Romania" law. In its initial form, the law obliged retailers to have 51% Romanian products in their offer. However, the law saw several amendments, following a notice of the European Commission.

According to a few proposals agreed by the Chamber of Deputies’ Committee for Agriculture, the large retailers will no longer be obliged to sell 51% Romanian products and will not be obliged anymore to acquire local goods on the short chain, but through direct partnership.

editor@romania-insider.com