Law No. 37 on the reorganization of plant protection and phytosanitary quarantine.

The Law, consisting of 8 articles, establishes the reorganization of plant protection and phytosanitary quarantine. It aims at protecting crops, forests, natural pastures and other forms of useful vegetation, as well as plant products against diseases, pests and harmful weeds is a matter of National interest. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the regulatory authority for plant protection and plant quarantine, which coordinates and controls the implementation of specific legislation by the National Phytosanitary Agency. In addition, it establishes composition, duties and responsibilities of the National Phytosanitary Agency, who is entitled to: organize plant protection and phytosanitary quarantine across the country and ensuring plant health; coordination, giving technical guidance and control plant health and plant protection products; establishing mandatory phytosanitary norms for all natural or legal persons holding crops and other useful vegetation and develop phytosanitary strategy on protection of plant health.
Furthermore, the Law outlines the financial and operational structure necessary to maintain the National Phytosanitary Agency's network across the territory, emphasizing its decentralized execution. It stipulates that the agency manages its national strategy through specialized county-level laboratories and phytosanitary units, which are responsible for real-time monitoring, applying local quarantine measures, and issuing phytosanitary passports for trade. The financing for these widespread public health operations is structured through a combination of state budget allocations and subventions, alongside legally established tariffs collected from specific phytosanitary services, laboratory testing, and technical certifications provided to agricultural producers.
Finally, the Law incorporates specific provisions to harmonize Romania’s border controls and agricultural standards with international treaties and European Union phytosanitary protocols. To ensure seamless integration with the EU internal market, the Law dictates rigorous inspection regimes at points of entry, authorizing the agency to seize, return, or destroy any plants, plant products, or potentially contaminated materials that do not meet the mandated health thresholds.