Romania's PM sends control body to forest administration company

The Prime Minister’s Control Body began an inspection at the National Forest Administration Romsilva. The control will focus on the institution’s activity in the last two years. Bogdan Chiritoiu, head of the Competition Council, said that a preliminary analysis of the local wood industry showed that Romsilva carried out several transactions involving wood through direct negotiation with a company, reports local Ziarul Financiar. The National Forest Administration doesn’t organize enough public auctions whereas the timber industry lacks competition, Chiritoiu added. The head of the Competition Council also advised Romsilva to start auctions from the minimum price, not from the medium price, accusing the institution of “excessive” interpretation of the law. Over 3,500 representatives of the timber industry protested on Tuesday in Bucharest in front of the Government arguing that the Romsilva had increased the starting price at timber auctions more than four-fold. editor@romania-insider.com