The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organized a working meeting with representatives of the Association of Large Retail Networks in Romania (AMRCR), attended by Minister Florin Barbu, Executive Director George Bădescu, the President of ANSVSA, Alexandru Bociu, and the Secretary General of the Competition Council, Eugen-Corneliu Șușu. The discussions focused on integrating a larger number of Romanian producers into retail chains, in the context of increased consumption during the November–December period.

The dialogue focused on the functioning of the food chain and the coordination between producers, processors, and retailers, with an emphasis on the meat, eggs, and dairy sectors. Representatives of major retail networks highlighted the need for continuous dialogue with authorities to maintain a predictable commercial environment and to manage challenges in the agri-food market.

Minister Florin Barbu presented the situation of domestic pork production, emphasizing the investments made in the livestock sector over the past two years. According to the minister, farms in Romania can fully cover the demand for fresh pork during the winter months. At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture has accelerated the implementation of the Support Program for Pig Breeders, regulated by Law No. 195/2018. The total value of the scheme exceeds 1 billion lei, of which approximately 807 million have already been paid to beneficiaries. By November 2025, eight projects had been completed, generating over 10,000 new reproduction housing places, and the overall implementation status reached 71%. The program targets more than 46,000 new places upon completion of the 25 contracted investments.

The impact of these investments is associated with strengthening food security and reducing import dependence by increasing domestic reproduction and growth capacity. The projects are distributed across 18 counties and contribute to the development of the value chain by expanding the local production base.

Minister Barbu also announced the preparation of a set of regulations, in collaboration with ANSVSA, aimed at clarifying the traceability of Romanian pork, in order to facilitate consumer identification of domestic products. In the egg segment, Romania records a self-sufficiency level of 120%, and the poultry sector can maintain its deliveries to the domestic market without difficulty.

George Bădescu, AMRCR Executive Director, confirmed retailers’ willingness to increase the presence of Romanian products on shelves. According to him, a level of 70–75% Romanian pork in stores during the holiday season is a realistic objective, aligned with consumer preferences and the investments made by farmers.

The Ministry of Agriculture will continue the dialogue with farmers, processors, and retailers to support the competitiveness of domestic products and ensure consumers have access to safe foods that comply with market requirements.