PM: Government Considers Special Taxes Unless Retailers Lower Shelf Prices After VAT Cut
The government can’t freeze shelf prices following a VAT cut to 9% on food items but could introduce special measures, such as high taxes, unless retailers adjust their prices to the VAT cut, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Wednesday.
Ponta called on the consumer protection authority and the Competition Council to keep a vigilant eye on store prices following media reports that large retail chains raised prices by as much as 30% ahead of the VAT cut that takes effect in June.
Ponta said last week authorities will check whether the VAT cut on food items is reflected in shelf prices after June 1 and will take all available measures in case of irregularities. (Puterea)
European Commission Takes Romania To Court Over Failure To Amend Packaging Waste Legislation
The European Commission announced Wednesday it would refer Romania to the EU Court of Justice over its failure to enact revised EU legislation on packaging waste into domestic law.
According to the EC, Member States had to bring into force the laws necessary to comply with this Directive by 30 September 2013. After it missed the original deadline, Romania was sent a letter of formal notice on 29 November 2013, followed by a reasoned opinion on 11 July 2014. More than one year and a half after the deadline, the Directive is still not enacted into domestic legislation, thus the Commission decided to call Romania before the EU Court of Justice. (Puterea)
Chairman Of CE Hunedoara Board of Directors Resigns
The chairman of the Board of Directors of energy holding CE Hunedoara, Alexandru Blaj, resigned Wednesday, discontent that the Finance and Justice Ministries refused to approve a rescue aid for the company.
“While the Energy Ministry is promoting the interests of the company which I represented as chairman of the Board of Directors, and for which, me and the executive management took all steps to get a rescue aid (…), approved by the European Commission on April 12, 2015, we faced an opposition beyond comprehension from the Finance Ministry and the Justice Ministry, which refuse to approve the granting of the aid.
Las week, the European Commission approved a rescue aid worth approximately EUR38 million for energy holding CE Hunedoara. (Adevarul)
Deputy Tudor Ciuhodaru Joins National Union For The Progress Of Romania
Deputy Tudor Ciuhodaru joined the National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR) and will develop his activity within the PSD group in the Chamber of Deputies, according to a UNPR press release.
In 2012, Tudor Ciuhodaru was elected as PPDD deputy, after having previously been a PSD deputy. Over the years, Ciuhodaru joined UNPR, then became a member of the Conservative Party, then returned to UNPR. (Romania Libera)
New US Study Shows That Breastfeeding Cuts Breast Cancer Risk By 25%
Breastfeeding reduces a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer by more than a quarter, and also cuts the likelihood of the disease coming back by 30%, according to a new study of US scientists published by Daily Mail.
The protective effect is caused by a reduction in the levels of the hormone estrogen, which is known to trigger cancer. US researchers studied over 1,000 women with breast cancer who filled in a questionnaire which included whether they had breastfed in the past. According to the responses, the longer the women breastfed, the stronger the preventative effect became. (Romania Libera)