RO e-Transport – end of transition period
At the end of 2024, the Romanian government introduced significant changes to the operation of the RO e-Transport transport monitoring system. On April 1, 2025, the transition period for some requirements ends. This is important information for carriers carrying out international transport to Romania.
What is RO e-Transport?
RO e-Transport is the national IT system in Romania, developed and managed by the National Agency for Revenue Administration (ANAF) in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance. Its main task is to monitor in real time the transport of goods by road with high tax risk, as well as – from 2024 – goods transported in the territory of Romania as part of international transport.
This system was formally introduced by Government Regulation No. 41/2022, and its functioning was supplemented and specified by subsequent legal acts, including Emergency Regulation No. 129/2024 (EEA 129). The obligation to declare applies to goods with a gross mass of over 500 kg or a value of over RON 10,000.
RO e-Transport aims to reduce tax evasion and abuse in the trade of goods (e.g. VAT fraud), increase the transparency of freight transport in the territory of Romania and ensure better fiscal control and more effective monitoring of transports.
UIT Code – What is it for?
Before starting the transport, it is necessary to report in the Romanian RO e-Transport system detailed information on the transported goods, the route and the data of the consignor and recipient. This obligation lies with the recipient or consignor of the goods (in the case of import or export), the beneficiary or supplier in Romania (in the case of intra-Community acquisition of goods), or the customs warehouse operator (in the case of goods in transit).
For each reported transport, the system assigns a unique UIT (Unic Identifier Transport) identification code, which must accompany the shipment throughout the duration of the transport. The code is valid for 5 days from the specified transport date if it concerns domestic transport, and 15 days when international transport is reported. The reporting entity must pass on the obtained UIT code to the driver.
Requirement to have a GPS system
From the perspective of carriers, a very important obligation is to equip vehicles with GPS devices that send location data to the system, allowing precise tracking of the transport route. Location data can also be transferred using a dedicated phone application (e-Transport).
Amendment of regulations
Emergency Regulation No. 129/2024 (GEO 129) introduced some significant changes to the provisions governing the operation of the RO e-Transport system, thus responding to the demands of the industry. This amendment introduced, among others, gradation of sanctions for violations and the possibility of modifying data after the expiry of the UIT code (but no later than the 25th day of the month following the month in which the transport of goods was completed).
Another key element was the extension of the transitional period regarding the obligation to transmit location data of vehicles equipped with a GPS system. According to the new regulations, sanctions for failure to comply with this obligation will come into effect from April 1, 2025.
Sanctions for failure to comply with regulations
Failure to fulfil the obligations related to the RO e-Transport system may result in the imposition of financial penalties and confiscation of the value of the transported goods.
According to the information published by the Romanian Ministry of Finance, the RO e-Transport system provides for a gradation of penalties for violations related to the failure to comply with the obligations regarding the monitoring of the transport of goods. These sanctions are imposed depending on the number of violations committed within a certain period of time:
- First violation:
Individuals: fine from 10,000 to 50,000 RON.
Legal entities: fine from 20,000 to 100,000 RON.
Additionally: no confiscation of the value of undeclared goods.
- Second violation (committed within 12 months of the first):
Fine: as for the first violation.
Additionally: confiscation of 15% of the value of undeclared goods.
- Third violation:
Fine: as for the first violation.
Additionally: confiscation of 50% of the value of undeclared goods.
- Fourth and subsequent violations:
Fine: as for the first violation.
Additionally: confiscation of 100% of the value of undeclared goods.
These penalties relate to violations such as failure to report the carriage of goods in the RO e-Transport system, providing incorrect data regarding the transported goods or using the UIT code outside its validity period.
In order to obtain the most up-to-date information and detailed guidelines regarding the RO e-Transport system, it is recommended to regularly check the announcements published on the official websites of the Romanian Ministry of Finance and the National Agency for Revenue Administration (ANAF).