UIT code era

Since December 15, 2023, the world of road transport is at a significant turning point, with the entry into force of the new provisions of the Government's Emergency Ordinance no. 115/2023. This change brings with it an extension of the reporting obligation in the RO e-Transport system, now including all categories of transported goods, not only those with high fiscal risk. The ITU code thus becomes an essential key for the identification and monitoring of road transport, both on the national territory and in the case of international transport.

A major innovation consists in the introduction of contraventions and sanctions associated with the violation of the obligation to declare in the RO e-Transport system. Starting from fines from 10,000 lei to 50,000 lei for individuals and from 20,000 lei to 100,000 lei for legal entities, up to confiscation of the value of undeclared assets, the consequences are clear and severe. This change concerns both road transport operators and economic operators involved in the transport of goods.

The UIT code, a key element of this landscape, is a unique code generated by the RO e-Transport system and is becoming the main way that ANAF and the Romanian Customs Authority monitor goods shipments. Identification based on the UIT code involves the presentation of the code during transport, together with the document accompanying the goods. The validity period of the UIT code is five calendar days, with an extension to 15 calendar days in the case of intra-Community purchases of goods.

The new rules bring with them a series of strict obligations, from turning on and off the positioning devices on time, to presenting the documents requested by ANAF, the Romanian Customs Authority or police agencies. Violations of these obligations are punishable by considerable fines. Road transport operators must ensure the transfer of positioning data along the entire route, monitored through the RO e-Transport system, and use specific devices such as smart tachographs or telecommunications terminals.

In addition to the technical aspects, special emphasis is placed on the real-time movement of road transport on Romanian roads, using GPS technology. The initiators require these devices to be implemented by transporters, giving economic operators the opportunity to track the movement of goods in real time through the e-Transport application.

In the context of this major change, it is crucial that road transport operators are aware of the new obligations and adapt quickly to the new legislative requirements. Compliance with legal provisions thus becomes essential to avoid financial penalties and confiscation of assets, marking a new era in road transport monitoring and management. Anyone involved in this field must understand that compliance with the ITU Code is no longer optional - it is an imperative condition for successfully navigating the ever-changing world of road transport.

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