ONV LAW presents a recent legal update in Romania, crucial for streamlining industrial licensing into a single, transparent process, boosting efficiency, compliance, and the country’s attractiveness to investors.

Romanian authorities have introduced a major change: the unified process for obtaining industrial licenses. Instead of dealing with a fragmented system involving multiple agencies and long waiting periods, businesses will soon be able to secure all necessary authorizations from one centralized office, following the Order approving the instructions on procedures for obtaining the Unified Industrial License issued by the Industrial Licensing Office.

Here is all you need to know in an introduction written by ONV LAW Senior Associate Cătălin Săpașu.

The Office’s main objective is to simplify and digitalize the specific procedures required for granting the one-stop industrial license. These licenses apply to a wide range of industries, including energy, oil &gas, mining, chemicals, metallurgy, defense, waste management, construction materials, and other sectors where specific industrial permits are required. They cover a broad spectrum of activities such as exploration, extraction, production, storage, transportation, processing, distribution, trade, and waste management.

The simplification process is carried out by providing methodological guidance to competent authorities during the review and update of their specific legislation.

What has changed?

The recently published Order of July 16th, which approves the new procedural guidelines, centralizes the approval process for obtaining the Unified Industrial License. What are the novelties brought by the new Order?

– designates one office to coordinate with all relevant public institutions

– sets clear deadlines and documentation standards for authorizations

– reduces duplication, inconsistencies, and bureaucratic delays

Before this change, companies had to submit applications separately to various institutions, sometimes in different cities, which caused confusion, mistakes, and wasted time.

Why is it important?

This legislative update solves a major problem for entrepreneurs:

– one interaction, one process, one timeline

– allows for better planning and faster go-to-market

– ensures legal compliance without navigating a maze of agencies

– encourages foreign investment and domestic growth through administrative simplification

 In practice, companies will no longer need to chase approvals for environmental, safety, labor, or zoning requirements from separate offices; a designated lead authority will now coordinate them.

Action steps for entrepreneurs

 If you’re starting or expanding an industrial activity, you should take into consideration 3 steps:

– consult the centralized licensing office for your sector

– prepare your documentation according to the new standard checklist

– respect the deadlines set in the instructions; it’s faster, but still requires diligence

This reform reflects Romania’s commitment to becoming a more competitive and business-friendly environment, giving you, the entrepreneur, more freedom to focus on what truly matters: building and growing your business. 

Key highlights of the new order

• one-stop shop for all approvals: companies applying for industrial licenses will now work with a single point of contact, the Office for Industrial Licenses, making the entire process simpler and more efficient.
• clear roles and responsibilities: this office will handle the coordination with all other relevant authorities (environment, safety, urban planning, etc.), so applicants no longer need to manage this themselves.
• standard procedures and timelines: the Order sets out clear rules on how to apply, what documents are needed, and how long each step should take, with tools to help track progress.
• digital, transparent process: approvals will be managed through a shared digital platform, offering transparency and real-time updates on the status of each application.

What does this mean for businesses

• less bureaucracy, more clarity: instead of navigating multiple institutions, companies will now submit their applications through a single office, with a clear overview of the entire process
• faster, more predictable procedures: with set deadlines and standardized documentation, businesses will have a better understanding of what’s required and how long things should take
• easier communication: applicants will no longer need to chase multiple approvals, the Office for Industrial Licenses will take care of communication with all the relevant authorities
• transparency through technology: the digital platform will allow businesses to track the status of their application in real time, making the process more transparent and less stressful

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