Romania to impose 0.80 lei-per-litre tax on sugary soft drinks from September 2026

Levy starts at a 5-gram sugar threshold

Romania will introduce a new excise duty on sugary soft drinks from September 1, 2026, according to Sibiu 100. The levy will apply to beverages containing at least 5 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres and will be set at 0.80 lei per litre. Juices and other sweetened drinks with sugar content at or above the statutory threshold may fall within the measure.

The obligation will be imposed at producer or importer level. Its effect may subsequently reach consumers through higher shelf prices, although the final increase will depend on decisions by manufacturers, distributors and retailers. For a qualifying 2-litre bottle, the excise duty alone represents an additional cost of 1.60 lei before any further commercial or tax effects on the retail price.

The authorities present the measure as serving two objectives: raising public revenue and reducing sugar consumption by encouraging healthier purchasing choices. Estimates cited in connection with the policy suggest that additional budget receipts could reach approximately 320 million lei during its first four months.

Pricing and formulations come under review

For beverage companies, the threshold creates a direct incentive to examine recipes before the September deadline. Reducing sugar content below 5 grams per 100 millilitres could remove a product from the reported scope of the levy, while maintaining an existing recipe would leave producers and importers to absorb the cost or pass it through the supply chain.

Sibiu 100 reports that the soft-drinks industry has criticised the measure. Sector representatives say producers are already contending with inflation and rising costs, and warn that another tax could weaken sales and profitability. The industry also points to investments already made to reduce sugar in some recipes and argues that the proposed approach could still penalise companies that have reformulated products but remain at or above the threshold.

The immediate market effect is therefore unlikely to be uniform. Some suppliers may pass on the full 0.80 lei per litre, while others could absorb part of it, alter pack sizes or accelerate reformulation. Retail pricing will also reflect the policies of distributors and merchants. Households that regularly buy affected drinks could face a noticeable cumulative increase in monthly spending, while higher prices may reduce demand among some consumers.

Romania follows other European markets

Romania is not the first European country to tax sweetened beverages or products with high sugar content. The United Kingdom, France, Hungary and Belgium have introduced versions of such measures. In some markets, tax design has encouraged beverage companies to lower sugar levels to avoid higher tax bands, an outcome Romanian policymakers may seek to replicate.

Supporters regard the levy as a public-health tool as well as a revenue measure. Industry critics focus on its economic effect at a time of elevated operating costs. Actual results will depend on how many products remain above the threshold, the extent of recipe changes and how much of the duty companies transfer to shoppers.

Clearer labelling for products with high sugar content is also among the options reportedly under consideration. Such rules could help consumers identify heavily sweetened drinks but would add packaging and compliance costs for food and beverage manufacturers. Producers and importers now have until September 1, 2026 to prepare for the new fiscal treatment, review product portfolios and decide how to divide the cost between their margins and final prices.