Updates on the regulation of the single industrial licence

On 16 July 2025, the Instructions approving the procedures by which the competent authorities issue the agreements required to obtain the single industrial licence were published, marking a step forward in the implementation of this system.

The Instructions detail how the competent authorities must develop and submit for approval the procedures for issuing the administrative agreements (licences, authorisations, approvals, etc.) required when carrying out the industrial activities regulated by Emergency Ordinance no. 140/2022 (the extractive industry, manufacturing industry, the production and supply of electricity and heat, gas, hot water and air conditioning).

The document details both the mandatory documentary requirements and the conditions that must be met by the applicant, whether a natural or legal person.

The new regulations aim to facilitate the sending of documentation through the Single Electronic Contact Point for Industrial Licensing (PCUEL) platform, reduce the volume of documents required by making use of electronic registers, identify situations in which the tacit approval mechanism can be applied and extend the validity of administrative agreements commensurate with the degree of risk associated with the activity.

The competent authorities will need to submit their procedures for approval within 30 days of the publication of the Instructions and also have the additional obligation to ensure interconnection with the PCUEL platform for the integrated management of the licensing system.

The Industrial Licensing Office will have a maximum of 30 days to assess the procedures submitted for approval, subsequently issuing either a favourable opinion, a favourable opinion with observations or a negative opinion, depending on the degree of compliance with the principles set out.

It should be noted that once this system is operational, it will be possible to submit all applications for industrial licences, renewals and modifications online via the PCUEL platform. Instead of requesting separate approvals from different institutions (the National Agency for Environmental Protection, Public Health Directorate, Emergency Situations Inspectorate, etc.), the applicant will apply for a single licence including all of the necessary approvals, depending on the type of industrial activity in question, with the authorities working together on the basis of the single application submitted via the PCUEL platform.

For low or medium-risk activities, and with the exception of cases where the law expressly states that the principle of tacit approval does not apply, if the competent authorities do not respond within the legal deadline, the approval shall be deemed to have been granted tacitly.

Source: Order no. 178/2025 approving the Instructions on the approval of the procedures by which the competent authorities issue the agreements required to obtain the single industrial licence; Emergency Ordinance no. 140/2022 on the single industrial license