Only 10 percent of the fruits and vegetables sold in the markets in Romania are taxed, and most of those selling them in the market are not agricultural producers, according to the existing Agriculture Minister Stelian Fuia.

Those who sell in the market have permits from their city halls saying they are producers, even if they are not. City Halls should check whether the so-called producers have agricultural land and actually produce, according to Fuia.

But for most farmers, the system makes it easier to sell out of their 'car trunks' without paying the VAT. Even for imported fruits and vegetables, the level of evasion reaches 80 percent. “All the controls are made at the EU entry and those who control are Bulgarian border officers. After this, the goods circulate freely in the EU,” said Fuia.

Even so, the price of food products almost doubles from producer to the supermarket shelves. Local producers don't have any protection when the sell season products, while the same products are also imported.

Local producers have to understand that the key is to create associations, so that they get better access to supermarket chains, the Agriculture Minister explained.

editor@romania-insider.com