Consumer watchdog fines fuel stations that raise prices after noon

Romania’s consumer protection authority has started penalizing fuel stations that raise prices after noon, with fines beginning at 100,000 lei. The inspections follow fuel price increases recorded in recent weeks.

The National Authority for Consumer Protection, known as ANPC, is checking stations across the country. Inspectors are examining both when pump prices change and the commercial markups applied by operators. ANPC President Csaba Lajos Békési said inspectors had already found numerous irregularities and sanctioned several companies.

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There have been very many irregularities found.

Under Law 162/2026, adopted as part of measures for a crisis in the oil and fuel market, operators may increase a fuel price no more than once a day, and the increase must take place by noon. They may reduce prices several times on the same day. Békési told Digi24 that inspectors had found “very many irregularities,” including price increases made after the legal deadline.

The special rules do not allow authorities to issue a warning or let operators pay half of the minimum fine. ANPC is also reviewing commercial markups over a three-month period and comparing them with each company’s average markup in 2025. Békési said stations and distributors must not exceed that average. Violations involving markups can result in fines equal to 1% to 2% of turnover, which could amount to several million lei for major fuel distributors.

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We are checking the commercial markup applied by these fuel stations and fuel distributors so that it is not higher than the average markup used during 2025.