NNDKP Environment Flash No.9/2025
1. EU DEVELOPMENTS SELECTION
1.1. New EU regulations addressing textile and food waste
On 9 September 2025, the European Parliament adopted new measures for the prevention and reduction of food and textile waste within the EU.
In this context, Member States are required to achieve new binding targets for the reduction of food waste by 2030: 10% in production and processing, and 30% per capita in retail, restaurants, and households; as well as to facilitate the donation of safe unsold food.
In parallel, textile producers will be required to cover the costs of collection, sorting, and recycling through national extended producer responsibility (“EPR”) schemes, to be implemented within 30 months from the entry into force of the normative act.
The rules will apply to all producers, whether established within or outside the EU, as well as to those selling online. Micro-enterprises will benefit from an additional transition period.
The normative act was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 26 September 2025 and will enter into force on 16 October 2025, introducing amendments to Directive 2008/98/EC on waste.
1.2. The European Parliament adopted the new requirements on eco-design, reuse and recycling in the automotive sector
On 9 September 2025, Members of the European Parliament adopted the proposals for new rules on vehicle circularity, with the aim of reducing environmental impact and strengthening a more sustainable automotive industry.
These measures include the obligation for producers to implement EPR within three years of the new rules entering into force and a ban on the export of end-of-life vehicles, in order to prevent illegal disposal under the pretext of resale.
The new measures will apply to all vehicles, with limited exceptions (e.g., military or emergency vehicles).
More information on these rules can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 6/2025, available here.
1.3. The European Parliament and the Council approved the simplification of the CBAM
On 10 September 2025, the European Parliament approved the simplification of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (“CBAM”), as part of the Omnibus I legislative package, and on 29 September 2025, the simplification was also approved by the Council.
The Regulation on the simplification of the CBAM will be published in the Official Journal of the EU in the coming days.
More information on the CBAM simplification, in the proposal stage, can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 5/2025, available here and NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 6/2025, available here.
1.4. The Council adopted the Regulation on preventing the loss of plastic pellets into the environment
On 22 September 2025, the Council adopted the Regulation on the prevention of plastic pellet losses into the environment, in order to reduce microplastic pollution.
The European Parliament’s final vote is expected to take place in October 2025, with the new rules entering into force 20 days after publication.
More information on the draft proposal of the regulation can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 4/2025, available here.
1.5. Provisional agreement on updating the lists of water pollutants
On 23 September 2025, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement regarding the European Commission’s proposal to revise the lists of water pollutants.
The lists of pollutants in surface and groundwater will be expanded to include several new substances, including 25 PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and a range of pesticides and pesticide degradation products.
Concurrently, the limit values for existing pollutants will be updated, and six substances will be moved from the EU lists, becoming pollutants of national concern.
The European Parliament and the Council are set to formally adopt a new directive based on this agreement, which will enter into force 20 days after its publication.
1.6. The “stop-the-clock” mechanism for chemicals has been approved by the Council
On 24 September 2025, the Council adopted the proposal on the “stop-the-clock” mechanism for chemicals, as part of the Omnibus VI package.
The proposal postpones the application date of Regulation No. 2024/2865 amending Regulation No. 1272/2008 on the classification, labelling, and packaging of chemicals (the “revised CLP Regulation”), until 1 January 2028.
In addition, the proposal also amends the timelines for relabelling, mandatory formatting requirements, advertisements, distance selling, and labelling of fuel pumps.
Negotiations with the European Parliament are expected in the coming period to reach a final agreement on the mechanism.
More information on the revised CLP Regulation can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 1/2025, available here and in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 10/2024, available here.
1.7. The Council adopted the soil monitoring directive
On 29 September 2025, the Council adopted the Directive on soil monitoring.
The final vote in the European Parliament is expected to take place in the coming weeks, and Member States will have three years from the date of entry into force to transpose the Directive.
More information on the Directive can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 4/2025, available here.
2. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS SELECTION
2.1. Amendment to the Forest Code
On 5 September 2025, GEO No. 44/2025 amending Article 32(2) of Law No. 331/2024 on the Forestry Code and establishing certain fiscal-budgetary measures was published in the Official Gazette No. 822.
The amendment provides that the measures for the organization, functioning and reorganization of Romsilva shall be approved by Government decision, upon the proposal of the central public authority for forestry.
2.2. Senate Decision on the European Commission’s 2025-2030 work Plan on eco-design and energy labelling of products
On 9 September 2025, Senate Decision No. 86/2025 concerning the Commission Communication – Work Plan for the period 2025–2030 on the Ecodesign of Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling – COM(2025) 187 final was published in the Official Gazette No. 832.
The Romanian Senate considers, among others, that the European Commission’s proposal is necessary for the green transition, having a positive impact on the environment and climate.
More information on the work Plan can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 4/2025, available here.
2.3. The Procedure for requesting and transmitting the tax certificate, for the purpose of processing applications for the status of authorised declarant under the CBAM, has entered into force
On 11 September 2025, Order No. 1485 approving the Procedure for Requesting and Transmitting the Tax Certificate for the purpose of processing applications for the status of Authorized Declarant under the CBAM was published in Official Gazette No. 838.
The Procedure sets out the rules and steps to be followed for requesting and electronically transmitting the tax certificate to the department within the Ministry of Finance responsible for implementing the CBAM Regulation.
2.4. Photos and audio-video recordings taken during inspections by the National Environmental Guard may be used as evidence in court
On 19 September 2025, GEO No. 46/2025 regarding the amendment and completion of GEO No. 17/2005 for establishing organizational measures at the level of the central public administration, as well as for amending certain normative acts, was published in the Official Gazette No. 863.
The normative act provides, among others, that commissioners and personnel of the National Environmental Guard (“GNM”) have the possibility to use the photo-audio-video equipment at their disposal to document acts and facts that may affect the environment, including in private spaces, without requiring the consent of the persons involved.
Photos and audio-video recordings made by the GNM may be recognized as evidence and used in court.
Both EU and national developments are listed chronologically.
The Romanian version of this newsletter is available here.
