Ragweed Season: 2 Million Romanians Affected by Allergies, Fines of Up to 20,000 RON for Uncleared Land

This is the most challenging time of year for over two million Romanians who are allergic to ragweed. The plant is currently in bloom, and the wind is spreading its pollen across wide areas. Doctors warn that, if not treated properly, ragweed allergy can become a chronic condition and may worsen from one year to the next.

Paul Hac has been living with this allergy for many years. At first, he paid little attention to his symptoms, but over time they began to seriously affect his daily life. "The hardest part is not being able to breathe at night — you can't rest properly, you wake up tired and dizzy, you get headaches, and your productivity drops," he explains.

His repeated experience year after year led Paul Hac to take action and raise awareness about the risks. "I started in my home village — I put up posters on electricity pylons, posted announcements on social media, and spoke to people directly," he says.

The families of those affected also feel the burden of this period. The wife of a patient diagnosed with ragweed allergy said: "This is the time of year when we'd gladly move to another country. It's very hard — he sneezes constantly, cries non-stop, and struggles to breathe. He's tried everything: sinus punctures, medication, syrups."

What doctors say

Cătălin Hreniuc, Medical Director of Arad County Hospital, stresses the importance of early diagnosis: "When left untreated, symptoms worsen from one year to the next. It is very important that people experiencing symptoms such as sneezing, watery nasal discharge, and excessive tearing seek specialist advice. Allergic disease is a chronic condition that deteriorates year on year when it is not properly recognised and treated."

Inspections and fines for ragweed-infested land

The law requires landowners to eradicate ragweed and prevent the plant from spreading. In Arad, local authorities have stepped up their inspections. According to Ralu Cotrău, spokesperson for Arad City Hall, "to date, 121 formal notices and 15 warnings have been issued. Landowners who have received these warnings have 15 days to rectify the situation."

Fines for land left uncleared can reach 5,000 RON for individuals and 20,000 RON for companies.

According to cited statistics, 5% of Romania's population currently suffers from ragweed allergy, with a further 6 million people at risk of developing the condition.