Rules by country / Europe / Romania sugar tax
Romania sugar tax: what it costs each drink, and what to do
Soft drinks with added sugar pay RON 0.40 or 0.60 a litre by sugar content, plus standard VAT of 21% instead of the 11% food rate. We work out the cost for every product and how to price for it.
At the rates in force since January 2024. VAT at 21% is added on top.
A sugar tax review for Romania
What the excise and VAT cost each product, and the most profitable response, with a price plan for each retailer.
- The excise and VAT on every product
- Pass on, absorb or cut sugar: the most profitable choice for each product, and how sure we are
- The most a recipe change can cost and still pay
- A price plan for each retailer, and an Excel model
How your results look
| Product | Sugar per 100ml | Excise | Our advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cola, 330ml can | 10.6g | RON 0.20 a can | Pass on in full |
| Lemonade, 2 litres | 6g | RON 0.80 a bottle | Cut sugar below 5g |
| Iced tea, 500ml | 4.6g | No tax | Hold the price |
Fictional products. Every real result comes with the expected sales and profit, and a likely range.
Your options
Every option has a fixed price, agreed before we start.
Sugar tax review
- The tax and best choice for each product
- Price plan for each retailer
- Scenario model and a walk-through
Pricing review with the tax
- Everything in the tax review
- Prices and promotions for the whole range
- How your products take sales from each other
Portfolio review
- Everything in the pricing review
- More retailers and data sources
- A plan for each channel
After the project: a refresh before each pricing round, from £2,000 (about RON 13,000). Prices are fixed in pounds sterling; amounts in lei are a guide at October 2026 exchange rates. We're based in the UK and work remotely, in English, under NDA.
How it works
From the first call to your plan in about three weeks.
A free 15-minute call
Tell us about your range. We say whether a review would pay for itself, and quote a fixed price.
Your data
Sales by product and retailer, recipes and costs. We sign an NDA before anything moves.
Your plan
The tax on every product, the best choice and a price plan, walked through with your team.
Romania sugar tax: the detail
Open only what you need.
- Excise
- RON 40 per hectolitre from 5g to 8g of sugar per 100ml, and RON 60 above 8g, on soft drinks with added sugar, since January 2024
- VAT
- 21% standard rate (raised from 19% on 1 August 2025) instead of the reduced 11% rate, on drinks with added sugar, energy drinks, sweetened juices and foods with at least 10g of sugar per 100g
Pass it on
Raise the price by the tax or more. Works for products whose sales hold up when the price rises.
Absorb it
Keep the price and take the cost. Works when a rise would push a product past a key price point and lose more profit than the tax.
Cut sugar
Under 5g a drink pays no excise. Works when the tax saved beats the recipe cost.
Does Romania have a sugar tax?
Yes, since January 2024: RON 40 per hectolitre on soft drinks with 5g to 8g of sugar per 100ml, and RON 60 above 8g.
What VAT do sugary drinks pay in Romania?
21%, the standard rate since 1 August 2025, instead of the reduced 11% rate for food.
How much is the deposit on drinks in Romania?
RON 0.50 per container under the RetuRO scheme, running since 30 November 2023.
How much does a sugar tax review cost?
A review of up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 (about RON 48,000) and takes about three weeks. For 11 to 50 products, a full pricing review costs around £17,500 (about RON 110,000). It starts with a free 15-minute call.
Do you work with brands in Romania?
Yes. We're based in the UK and work remotely and in English, under NDA. Prices are fixed in pounds sterling before we start, and the first step is a free 15-minute call.
- Global Food Research Program (UNC), sugary drink tax maps, March 2026
- vatcalc, Romania 1 August 2% VAT hike to 21%
- Sensoneo, deposit return schemes in Europe (updated August 2026)
Checked on 20 October 2026. Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.
Also changing prices in Romania
Ask about these on the same call.