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How to open a restaurant Romania


I wish to open a restaurant in Romania, but I would like more information regarding the authorizations that are necessary for me in order to do so. What can you tell me on this matter?
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Opening a business in the catering sector, such as a restaurant, fast food etc. is a complex and rigorous process, which alongside certain prior operations that outline the shape of your future company, involves obtaining certain authorizations.

Before submitting the arrangements for obtaining the permits specific to this area of activity, opening a restaurant in Romania involves determining the form that your comapny will take, as well as registering it in the Trade Register in order to become a legal entity under the provisions of Law no. 31/1990 on companies. You will also need to open a bank account in Romania in order to deposit the share capital.


Opening a restaurant in Romania firstly involves certain preliminary formalities, as follows:

  • request for verification and / or reservation of availability of the company name, it is preferable to choose three variants of the future restaurant name, in the order of your preference.
  • determine the scope of activity of the future company - in this case, the activity of your company will refer to activities in the catering sector and the establishment of this object of activity should be done by selecting the categories of activities framed by the following CAEN codes in this area :
            56 Restaurants and other food service activities
            561 Restaurants
            5610 Restaurants
            562 Food service (catering) activities for events and other food services
            5621 Food service (catering) for events
            563 Bars and other beverage serving activities
            5630 Bars and other beverage serving activities
  • drawing up the articles of association in order to determine the most basic matters regarding your future company in the catering sector, namely: identification of partners, name and registered office, the company's share capital, the duration of the company, the share of each shareholder of the company for losses and benefits, how the dissolution and liquidation of the company will take place etc.

After the development of these preliminary operations and the registration of your company in the Trade Register, you will need to obtain specific authorization for the functioning of you company in the catering sector, such as:
  • the sanitary - veterinary authorization from ANSVSA - The National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority, through DSVSA - Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate.

This authority oversees the legality of the activities in the public food system, namely restaurants, bistros, fast food, catering activities etc., as well as activities of companies deal with the sale of animal and non-animal food etc.

To obtain this authorization, you are requested to draw up a dossier which must contain, among other things, the company's unique registration code, the ascertaining certificate, the view of the restaurant, which presents the unit storage areas, toilets etc. and the application form for the sanitary and veterinary authorization.

Subsequently to the file submission, inspectors from the DSVSA will come to the scene to observe the fulfillment of the conditions necessary for the operation of the restaurant.
  • Public Health Department within the Ministry of Health - though in this field, DSP does not issue certificates, it is informed about the issued ascertaining certificates and visits the locations operating in this area to ensure the proper functioning of the site and that public health is not jeopardized;
  • environmental permit from NEPA - National Environmental Protection Agency;
  • notification from IES - Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, especially amid the recent legislative changes in the field of defense against fire;
  • classification certificate in tourism from the Tourism Ministry, seeing as the methodological norms on the procurement of this certification governs the existence of several types of food service structures, for example with classical profile, specialized profile, specific profile, with artistic programs etc .;
  • operating authorization from the Mayor within the district where your restaurant or working point is located;
  • license to broadcast ambient music;

Along with these authorizations, you will need to conclude certain contracts which are required for the specific activities in the field of catering, such as:
  • pest control, disinfection and disinfestation contract;
  • sanitation contract;
  • occupational health contracts for your employees;
  • license to broadcast ambient music;
  • diplomas of hygiene training for your employees
For further information, as well as specialized legal assistance regarding how to open a restaurant in Romania, obtaining the specific operating permits from the competent authorities and concluding the necessary contracts for the operation of the restaurant, do not hesitate to contact the team of lawyers within the law firm Darie, Manea & Associates.
by Cristian Darie

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