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Romania: an SGR mark since 2023, not a national sorting panel
Romania requires covered non-refillable beverage packaging to carry the national SGR symbol and a compliant barcode. The deposit-return system has operated since 30 November 2023. The legacy-stock transition ended on 31 December 2024. No universal national sorting panel applies to all packaging. Harmonised Union labels apply later under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
The question this report answers
Romania operates a mandatory national deposit-return system, known as SGR, for specified beverages in primary non-refillable glass, plastic or metal packaging with volumes from 0.1 to three litres inclusive. The system began on 30 November 2023 and charges a guarantee of RON 0.50 per eligible container. Covered packages are recognisable through the national “Ambalaj cu garantie” symbol and an approved barcode. Article 24 of the republished Government Decision No. 1074/2021 requires producers to mark SGR packaging with the representative national symbol and an EAN barcode conforming to the administrator’s specifications. The symbol may be placed directly on the package, on the product label or, where permitted, on a supplementary label. It must be visible, legible, durable and free from overlap with other artwork.
The SGR logo is a protected, nationally uniform identifier. It communicates that the deposit was charged and that the package may be returned through the Romanian system. It is not a general recyclability certification and must not be applied to an unregistered export or non-SGR product. The legacy-stock transition has ended: products that were already in stock at the system launch could be sold only through 31 December 2024. Current products should therefore not rely on unmarked packaging.
Legal status at a glance
| Requirement | Status | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| SGR symbol | mandatory | Covered packaging carries the nationally uniform “Ambalaj cu garantie” mark, visibly, legibly and durably. |
| SGR barcode | mandatory | A compliant EAN/GTIN identifies system membership and supports return-machine recognition and accounting. |
| Deposit | mandatory system information | A RON 0.50 guarantee is charged for eligible glass, plastic and metal beverage packaging from 0.1 to 3 litres. |
| Universal Romanian sorting panel | none | The SGR mark does not extend to packaging outside the return system. |
| PPWR harmonised material label | adopted; not yet applied | The later Union material label remains distinct from Romania’s operational deposit identifier. |
What the Decision and RetuRO actually require
The system covers the beverage categories and package formats enumerated in the Decision, including beer and beer mixes, cider and other fermented drinks, juices and nectars, soft drinks, water, wines and spirits in qualifying non-refillable glass, plastic or metal containers. Unusual liquids and multipacks should be checked against the latest definitions and exclusions. Producers and importers register both the business and each package type before placing the product on the market. RetuRO’s current producer guidance requires an SGR-specific GTIN and one compliant barcode on the label. The code connects the physical package with material, weight, volume and producer records and must meet the system’s technical contrast, dimensions and quiet-zone requirements.
A supplementary sticker can be used only within the legal and technical conditions; it must not obscure required information and must survive normal handling. Barcode performance on the finished, filled package is the operational test, because curvature, seams, condensation and label distortion can impair recognition. The producer-side obligation falls on economic operators that manufacture or import covered beverages and place them on Romania’s market. Retailers must register where they sell covered products, charge the guarantee and operate or participate in return arrangements. RetuRO administers product records, deposits and collections under the statutory concession. The Ministry of Environment and competent environmental and consumer authorities supervise the framework. Government Decision No. 1074/2021 provides contraventions and sanctions for failures such as placing unregistered or incorrectly marked products on the market, while scheme contracts can create additional operational consequences.
Two identifiers that have not merged
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 now applies generally, while its harmonised material label begins later under Article 12. From 12 February 2027, Article 12(9) confines identification of EPR participation to a digital carrier. That rule is about EPR identification. It is not a repeal of the SGR mark. The SGR mark remains a separate national deposit identifier. Non-Romanian and Romanian deposit artwork are distinct files.
Primary sources and verification
Romania. Government Decision No. 1074/2021, republished, establishing the deposit-return system. Official legal portal
RetuRO. Producer documents, including current barcode and SGR-logo requirements. System operator
RetuRO. Producer questions and answers, including registration and legacy-stock dates. Official guidance
European Union. Regulation (EU) 2025/40. EUR-Lex
Romanian legislation and the current RetuRO technical manual control. Last verified: 21 August 2026.