CECAEN Rev 3
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Group 981

Activities of private households producing goods for own consumption

This division covers the activities of private households that produce goods strictly for their own consumption, without selling them. It essentially involves agricultural self-consumption, household manufacturing, or the collection of natural resources to meet family needs. Activities carried out for profit or those generating income are not included.

Included Activities & Applicability

  • ✅ Production of agricultural products
  • ✅ such as crops and livestock
  • ✅ exclusively for own consumption Harvesting fruits
  • ✅ vegetables
  • ✅ and other plant products from gardens and orchards for self-consumption Subsistence fishing and hunting for household food Collecting firewood
  • ✅ mushrooms
  • ✅ berries
  • ✅ and other non-commercial natural resources Producing simple manufactured goods
  • ✅ such as textiles
  • ✅ clothing
  • ✅ or household items
  • ✅ for own use Construction and maintenance of one's own dwelling or household outbuildings without commercial purpose

Excluded Activities & Restrictions

  • ❌ Production of goods intended for sale on the market (classified under other CAEN divisions
  • ❌ such as commercial agriculture or manufacturing) Paid service activities
  • ❌ including cleaning
  • ❌ care
  • ❌ or repairs for third parties Performing paid employment within other entities Activities carried out within organized forms (associations
  • ❌ cooperatives) that go beyond the scope of the private household Production of goods in large quantities or using industrial technologies

Subordinate Structure

9810 Activities of private households producing goods for own consumption
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Detailed Analysis & Commercial Insights

Understanding CAEN Division 981: Private Households Producing Goods for Own Consumption

Division 981 of the National Classification of Economic Activities (CAEN) represents a unique niche, often overlooked in standard economic analyses, yet profoundly relevant for understanding the informal economy and rural lifestyle in Romania. It includes the activities of private households that produce goods strictly for their own consumption, without placing them on the market. From growing vegetables in the garden, raising a few poultry for eggs and meat, to sewing clothes or making simple tools, all these are found here.

Macroeconomically, this division reflects a significant segment of self-consumption, which, although not accounted for in the official GDP, contributes to the real well-being of the population, especially in rural areas. In Romania, the tradition of subsistence farming has deep roots, and after 1990, with the restructuring of state agriculture, many families returned to own production as a survival strategy.

The challenges for entrepreneurs operating in this sphere are unique: although they do not aim for profit, they must efficiently manage limited resources, cope with climate risks, and preserve traditional knowledge in an increasingly technological world. In the absence of fiscal incentives or institutional support, these households often remain statistically invisible, but are essential for local food security and for preserving intangible cultural heritage. It is an activity that, although marginalized in official economic discourse, deserves attention from the perspective of sustainability and the resilience it offers communities.