Bucharest, April 28, 2026 — Romania’s Ministry of Agriculture is preparing a legislative framework aimed at ensuring that fresh pork produced in Romania reaches larger volumes in major retail chains and is prioritized by domestic processors, as the pig farming sector remains caught between import pressure, restrictions caused by African Swine Fever (ASF), and high production costs.

Deputy Prime Minister and interim Minister of Agriculture Tánczos Barna convened a working meeting today with representatives of the Romanian Pork Producers Association (APCPR), represented by Adrian Balaban.

The discussions were also attended by Emil Dumitru, State Secretary within the Ministry of Agriculture, Alexandru Bociu, President of ANSVSA, and Senator George Scarlat.

The stakes are significant:

Romania produced 365,575 tonnes of pork in 2025, up from 328,590 tonnes in 2024, yet the domestic market remains highly dependent on imports, while local producers’ access to retail shelves and processing continues to represent a structural vulnerability.

“We have an obligation to create regulations that allow high-quality fresh pork produced in Romania to reach store shelves in much larger quantities for consumers. Since exports are blocked by the current epidemiological situation, we must ensure that the domestic market prioritizes Romanian products,” said Tánczos Barna.

Pressure is also coming from the ASF situation.

In February, ANSVSA announced that no commercial farms were affected at that time, but Romania still had 24 active outbreaks in households and wild boar populations, while the history of the disease continues to limit trade and exports.

Producers warn that the problem is no longer only sanitary and veterinary-related — it has become an economic issue as well.

Earlier this year, APCPR stated that the average price of live pigs had fallen to RON 4.95/kg, while the actual production cost exceeded RON 6.5/kg, placing direct pressure on commercial farms.

At the same time, Romania’s Competition Council is analyzing barriers that limit farmers’ access to processing and retail channels amid rising imports and declining exports.

In the coming period, the Ministry of Agriculture will continue consultations with processors and retailers, with the stated goal of transforming Romanian pork from a product that is difficult to find on store shelves into one that is visible, accessible, and widely available to consumers.

(Photo: Facebook MADR)