Through Order no. 1,019 of May 18, 2026, published in Official Gazette no. 452 of May 28, 2026, a new set of rules is introduced governing how the National Environmental Guard (GNM) plans and executes controls at company premises.
What does it stipulate?
The main change is the complete replacement of the previous procedural framework. The Order entirely repeals the old technical norms, which dated back to 2009 (Order no. 464/2009). This means that any internal procedure or company practice based on the old legislation is now obsolete. The new normative act establishes a unitary and updated framework for all inspection and control actions carried out by the Environmental Guard commissioners on the territory of Romania.
The new technical norms regulate the entire conduct of an environmental control. They cover the stages of inspection planning, the method of legitimizing commissioners, the rights and obligations of the controlled company, as well as the obligations of the inspectors. Furthermore, the norms detail the procedure for sample collection, the documents that may be requested from the economic operator, and the method of drawing up control acts (finding reports, contravention minutes).
The implementation of these norms is the exclusive responsibility of the National Environmental Guard. The goal is to standardize control activity at the national level, ensuring a consistent and predictable approach to inspections, regardless of the county commissariat performing them. Companies can expect a uniform application of procedures, from the notification of the control (where applicable) until its completion.
To whom does it apply?
The norms apply to any economic operator, public or private, whose activity has or may have an impact on the environment and who, therefore, may be subject to control by the National Environmental Guard. Directly targeted categories include, but are not limited to:
- Companies in the industrial sector (production, energy, chemistry, metallurgy) holding environmental permits.
- Economic operators in the field of waste management (collectors, transporters, recyclers, disposers).
- Real estate developers and construction companies, for compliance with environmental obligations on site.
- Large agricultural and livestock farms.
- Any legal entity carrying out activities for which environmental legislation imposes specific obligations.
What should you do?
- Analyze the new Technical Norms to understand in detail the inspection procedure, deadlines, requested documents, and the company’s rights during the control.
- Review the company’s internal procedures regarding the management of an environmental control to align them with the new legislative framework.
- Instruct key personnel (environmental manager, production director, management) on the new rules and the correct way to interact with GNM control teams.
Source: Official Gazette, Part I, no. 452 of May 28, 2026.
Note: This material is strictly for informational purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or business advice. As the interpretation and application of legal provisions may vary significantly depending on the specific circumstances of each entity, we recommend seeking specialized legal assistance before adopting any operational decisions based on these changes.