In 2026, thematic controls in the food industry no longer function as occasional interventions by authorities, but as a continuous verification mechanism integrated into the day-to-day operations of operators. From an economic perspective, they become a structural operational cost, independent of production volume.

The mechanism is administrative and organizational. Thematic controls require constant preparation of documentation, updated traceability, compliant internal procedures, and staff dedicated to the relationship with authorities. These costs do not appear explicitly as fees, but are reflected in working time, operational bottlenecks, and consumed administrative resources.

European Commission data show that, within the Multiannual National Control Plans, the frequency of thematic controls increased steadily during the 2020–2024 period, a trend maintained for the 2025–2027 cycle. EFSA reports indicate an expansion of the areas checked simultaneously—food safety, traceability, labeling, contaminants, and hygiene—which increases the complexity of compliance. OECD analyses estimate that the administrative burden associated with compliance may represent between 2% and 4% of annual operating costs for food industry operators, with a disproportionate impact on small and medium-sized enterprises.

For Romania, the effect is amplified by the fragmentation of the industry and the shortage of specialized personnel. In 2026, compliance with thematic controls involves either the internalization of administrative competencies or their outsourcing to consultants, both options generating recurring costs. The competitive difference is not determined by the number of controls, but by the operator’s ability to absorb them without disrupting production.

The implication is structural: thematic controls can no longer be treated as exceptional administrative episodes. They become part of the normal operating cost of the food industry and a real criterion of economic selection in the market.

(Photo: Freepik)