Minister of Agriculture: Tax evasion in the meat industry represents 40 percent of the market

Newsroom 12/03/2014 | 11:15

Tax evasion for meat and meat products represents 30-40 percent of the market, which is a lot but still down from 50 percent two years previous, according to the minister of Agriculture, Daniel Constantin, quoted by MEDIAFAX.

‘Tax evasion in the meat industry, in imports, dropped in recent times. We used to record a 50 percent share of the market in 2012, but now we’re down to 30-40 percent which is still very high. It is a positive sign though that the instutions are doing their job”, the minister said.

The Government official added that when dealing with tax evasion on produce that enters the country or reaches storage units without paperwork, it is much easier to avoid veterinary controls. Among the solutions for prevention of altered goods to enter stores, the minister suggested increasing inspections and reducing tax evasion.

Investigators are conducting searches Wednesday at over 100 establishments in Bucharest and several counties (Ialomita, Dambovita, Ilfov, Giurgiu, Cluj, Bihor, Arad, Neamt, Satu Mare, Brasov and Constanta) in a case that deals with deliveries of spoiled meat. The group under investigation for tax evasion, money laundering and circulation of al;tered goods cause the state damages worth EUR 15 million.

“The fact that we saw an entire network being rooted out today is another example that the authorities are doing their jobs”, according to Constantin.