The Council of Ministers approved a Decree requiring businesses operating in the service and retail sector to accept card payments as a means of payment in an effort to fight tax evasion, boost consumer protection and help customer service.

Neither the Decree nor the Law make card payment mandatory by consumers. Consumers (customers or clients) still have other means of payment at their disposal such as cash. What is mandatory is the obligation of the designated payment beneficiaries (businesses) to accept cards as a means of payment along with other available means and/or offer an alternative to consumers.

The Decree defines the categories of payment beneficiaries that are obliged to comply within three (3) months from the day the Decree is published (i.e. until 18/09/2021). The obligated beneficiaries of payment who will start their activities thirty (30) days before 18/09/2021, must comply within four (4) months of the publication of the Decree (i.e. until 18/10/2021), while those businesses which start their activities (or change their activity) after 18/09/2021, must comply within one (1) month from the said start or change.

As concerning the obligation to inform the customers/clients, the beneficiaries of payment must inform their customers/clients about their acceptance of cards in a clear manner that cannot be misinterpreted and this information must be clearly displayed at the entrance of the store and/or at the cash desk.