NNDKP Environment Flash No.10/2025
1. EU DEVELOPMENTS SELECTION[1]
1.1. Modernized rules for measuring instruments to facilitate the green transition
On 8 October 2025, the Council endorsed its position on the revision of the directive on harmonised requirements for measuring instruments.
The proposed changes cover modern devices essential for achieving the objectives of the Green Deal, such as charging stations for electric vehicles, compressed gas dispensers, and meters for electricity, gas and thermal energy.
In addition, the updated rules aim to align with the growing role of digitalisation in smart metering, and supporting the use of new types of gases, such as hydrogen, for the decarbonisation of industrial processes.
1.2. The EU’s new vision for a green and sustainable global transition
On 16 October 2025, the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented a new global vision on climate and energy.
Building on the Clean Industrial Deal, the vision expands its elements by promoting bilateral and multilateral partnerships aimed at increasing the EU’s capacity to produce clean technologies, with a target of 15% of the global technology market.
More information on the Clean Industrial Deal can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 2/2025, available here.
1.3. The Revised Waste Framework Directive entered into force
On 16 October 2025, the Revised Waste Framework Directive entered into force, introducing mainly new amendments and measures to prevent and reduce food and textile waste in the EU.
The amendments also include the exclusion of carbon dioxide that is captured and transported for the purpose of geological storage, and geologically stored, from the scope of the directive.
Member States have 20 months to transpose the new provisions into national law and 30 months to establish EPR schemes for textile and footwear products.
More information on these amendments can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 9/2025, available here.
1.4. The Regulation on the simplification of the CBAM was published in the Official Journal
On 17 October 2025, Regulation (EU) 2025/2083 amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards the simplification and strengthening the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (“CBAM”) was published in the Official Journal of the EU.
The Regulation on the simplification of CBAM entered into force on 20 October 2025.
More information on the CBAM simplification can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 5/2025, available here, NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 6/2025, available here and NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 9/2025, available here.
1.5. Simplified rules for the assessment of chemicals
On 21 October 2025, the European Parliament adopted the “one substance, one assessment” (“OSOA”) legislative package, with the aim of simplifying chemical safety assessments.
Next steps include the adoption of the legislative package by the Council and its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
More information on the OSOA legislative package can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 6/2025, available here.
1.6. Proposal for new measures to enforce the EU Deforestation Regulation
On 21 October 2025, the European Commission proposed a series of concrete measures aimed at supporting the effective implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation(“EUDR”), as well as simplifying reporting obligations.
The proposed measures envisage, among others, the introduction of new categories of operators, namely ‘downstream operators’ and ‘micro and small primary operators’, the removal of the obligation for downstream operators and traders to submit due diligence statements in the EUDR IT system, and the simplification of data reporting in this system for micro and small primary operators.
The European Commission has also proposed postponing the application of the EUDR for micro and small enterprises until 30 December 2026. No postponement has been provided for large and medium-sized enterprises, but a six-month grace period has been introduced for carrying out checks and ensuring compliance with the EUDR.
More information on the EUDR can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 1/2024, available here and NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 4/2025, available here.
1.7. European Parliament adopted the soil monitoring directive
On 23 October 2025, the European Parliament adopted the Directive on soil monitoring.
The Directive will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, and Member States will have three years to transpose its provisions.
More information on the Directive can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 4/2025, available here and NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 9/2025, available here.
2. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS SELECTION[2]
2.1. Initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests to supplement and amend forestry legislation
On 7 October 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests (“MEWF”) launched for public consultation a draft GEO on the amendment and supplementation of certain normative acts in the forestry field.
Among others, the draft aims to amend Law No. 331/2024 on the Forest Code, including in the area of criminal offences. An example in this regard is the introduction of a penalty for the repeated transport of timber without legal origin, when each transport is under 5.01 cubic meters but is carried out at least twice within a year, with a total volume exceeding this limit.
Another amendment provides that, during the activities of guarding the forest, hunting, and fishery resources, as well as protected natural areas, forestry personnel may record actions using photo, audio, or video devices without the consent of the individuals involved. These recordings will serve as evidence in specialized inspections.
2.2. Approval of the legislation on reducing the environmental impact of certain plastic products
On 13 October 2025, Law No. 150/2025 approving GO No. 6/2021 on reducing the environmental impact of certain plastic products was published in the Official Gazette No. 946.
The approving law introduces a series of amendments in the field of waste management, including the updating of certain definitions and obligations under the extended producer responsibility, such as the costs that they are required to bear.
2.3. Amendments to the institutional framework governing the auctioning of greenhouse gas emission allowances allocated to Romania at the EU level
On 17 October 2025, GEO No. 55/2025 for amending and supplementing GEO No. 115/2011 establishing the institutional framework and authorizing the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, to auction the greenhouse gas emission allowances allocated to Romania at the EU level was published in the Official Gazette No. 965, and, on the same date, the draft law approving GEO No. 55/2025 was registered at the Senate for debate.
GEO No. 55/2025 provides, among others, that the Ministry of Public Finance is the authority designated as permanent awarding authority for Romania.
2.4. Instructions on the classification of industrial activities into risk categories
On 21 October 2025, the Instructions on the classification of industrial activities into risk categories for the issuance of a single industrial license, were published in the Official Gazette No. 969.
The instructions provide, among others, that the classification of industrial activities into risk categories is based on a combination of factors, including the impact that the respective activity may have on the environment, assessed from the perspective of sustainability, biodiversity protection, and climate change.
More information on the single industrial license can be found in NNDKP’s Environment Flash No. 7/2025, available here.
2.5. Initiative of the MEWF to amend legislation on WEEE
On 21 October 2025, the MEWF launched for public consultation a draft law amending and supplementing GEO No. 5/2015 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (“WEEE”).
The draft law aims to transpose into national law the provisions of Directive 2024/884 amending the WEEE Directive.
The proposed amendments aim, among others, to clarify the obligation of producers to finance the management of WEEE differentiated for photovoltaic panels and for other categories of electrical and electronic equipment (“EEE”), depending on the date of their market placing, as well as to update the technical framework regarding EEE labeling for the separate collection of WEEE.
2.6. Draft law on the expansion of the DRS
On 27 October 2025, a draft law amending and supplementing Law No. 249/2015 on the management of packaging and packaging waste was registered with the Chamber of Deputies. Subsequently, on 29 October 2025, it was forwarded to the Senate.
The draft law aims, among others, to extend the application of the Deposit-Return System (“DRS”) to non-reusable primary beverage packaging made of glass, plastic, or metal, used for placing on the market products such as vinegar, distilled water, coffee-based drinks, and any other food products, starting from 1 January 2027.
Additionally, from the same date, it is proposed to extend the application of the DRS to reusable primary packaging used to make available on the national market beverages such as those already included in the DRS, with certain exceptions.
2.7. The new greenhouse gas emission trading scheme was published in the Official Gazette
On 28 October 2025, Government Decision No. 907/2026 on the establishment of the greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme was published in the Official Gazette No. 991.
The decision covers, among others, the establishment of new benchmarks for the free allocation of allowances in the aviation sector, the transitional free allocation for the modernization of the energy sector and for sectors exposed to the risk of carbon leakage, as well as allocations for new entrants.
Additionally, the new normative act provides for the extension of the emissions trading scheme to the maritime sector, as well as for the allocation of revenues from auctioned allowances towards national emission reduction measures, in line with EU policies for the 2026–2030 period.
[1] Both EU and national developments are listed chronologically.
[2] Both EU and national developments are listed chronologically.
The Romanian version of this newsletter is available here.
