On May 23, 2025, Law No. 86/2025 was published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, No. 483. This law brings significant amendments and additions to Law No. 129/2019 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorist financing. The new provisions strengthen the national legal framework in line with European and international standards.
Strengthening the Role of the National Office for the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering
According to the amendments to Article 1, the Office becomes the central authority for national risk assessments, coordinating cooperation mechanisms among public authorities, institutions, and self-regulatory bodies. Key changes include:
- Ensuring data protection and professional secrecy;
- Publishing a summary of the national risk assessment on the Office’s website;
- Informing the European Commission, the European Banking Authority, and EU Member States;
- Publishing annual consolidated statistics electronically.
Clarifications on Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)
Under the new Article 3(6), a person will no longer be considered politically exposed after one year from leaving a prominent public function, unless they still pose a risk due to the influence of their former role. In such cases, the period is extended by one more year.
Ban on Anonymous Financial Products
The amendment to Article 10(1) enforces the prohibition of providing anonymous financial products: accounts, savings books, safety deposit boxes, or prepaid cards without client identification.
Additional Measures for Real Estate and Gambling Sectors
At Article 11, new obligations are introduced:
- Real estate agents must apply customer due diligence (CDD) for both the seller and the buyer;
- Casino operators must identify all transactions and link them to the customer profile established during CDD.
Thresholds for Customer Due Diligence
Under Article 13, the following thresholds are defined:
- Currency exchange offices must apply standard CDD for transactions equal to or above €2,000 (or RON equivalent), regardless of whether conducted in a single or multiple linked operations;
- Crypto service providers must apply CDD for transactions equal to or above €1,000.