Oil prices: Decree 153 of 2026 not converted, effects already produced preserved

Decree-Law no. 153 of August 26, 2026, containing urgent provisions regarding petroleum prices, has not been converted into law. This was communicated by the Ministry of Justice via a notice published in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic, General Series no. 249 of October 26, 2026, on page 36, with the official reference 26A05630. The decree lapses, but what has already been produced retains legal validity.

The measure, titled “Urgent provisions regarding petroleum prices connected to the continuation of the new international market crisis,” had been published in the Official Gazette, General Series no. 197 of August 26, 2026. The notice clarifies that it was repealed by Art. 1, paragraph 2, of Law no. 166 of September 25, 2026, the conversion law of Decree-Law no. 133 of July 27, 2026, which merged the urgent provisions on petroleum prices related to the further crisis of international markets and those regarding ILVA S.p.A. under extraordinary administration.

What remains valid after the lapse

The notice from the Ministry of Justice reports the saving clause contained in the same Law no. 166 of September 25, 2026, which operates on three levels:

• acts and measures adopted based on the decree remain valid;
• effects that have already occurred are preserved;
• legal relationships arising on the basis of Decree-Law no. 153 of 2026 are preserved.

The lapse, therefore, does not retroactively overturn what the decree had already regulated: measures not yet implemented cease to exist, not those already executed.

The August precedent: same outcome for Decree 139

This incident is not isolated. Decree-Law no. 139 of August 5, 2026, of identical subject matter, published in General Series no. 180 of August 5, 2026, was similarly repealed by Art. 1, paragraph 2, of Law no. 166 of September 25, 2026, with a communication published in General Series no. 231 of October 5, 2026 (26A05269) and the same saving formula for the effects produced.

To provide a measure of what the lapse has overturned, the text of the previous decree provided for:

• the redetermination of the excise duty rate on gas oil used as fuel to 532.90 euros per thousand liters, from August 7 to 24, 2026;
• the same measure for synthetic paraffinic diesels or hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO) and for biodiesel released for consumption as such as fuels;
• costs estimated at 190.2 million euros for 2026 and 2 million euros for 2028;
• the extension of the road transport contribution from “March to July” to “March to August,” with an increase in the relative amount from 322 million to 364.1 million euros and costs of 42.1 million euros for 2026.

The effect on the energy market and for consumers

With the failure of conversion, no new fuel price measures linked to Decree-Law No. 153 of 2026 enter into force, while the excise duty reductions and contributions already applied during the period of validity remain effective. The regulatory framework for the sector thus returns to that of Law No. 166 of September 25, 2026, and the regulations referenced by the converted decrees, without automatic extensions for the expired measures.

Official source: Official Gazette of the Italian Republic, General Series No. 249 of October 26, 2026, page 36 — “Failure of conversion of Decree-Law No. 153 of August 26, 2026” (26A05630); Law No. 166 of September 25, 2026.