Romanian viper breeders, who sell the viper venom with 800 Euros per gram abroad, where it is mostly sought after by cosmetics manufacturers, have decided to take the next step: why not make cosmetics themselves!
About 70 Romanian companies operate in the venom business. Andrei Tinu, one of the certified viper breeders in Romania, told us an interview he granted us in the beginning of this year that the market will soon see products which include this expensive ingredient. This statement came true: Marius Buldur, the first viper breeder in Romania was also the first to succeed in beginning production of healthy cosmetics, in Timișoara, Romania. Mr. Buldur is the one who implemented the idea by inaugurating a production line, thus setting off a business that is both innovative and completely new to the local market.
* Interview with Marius Buldur, General Manager at FaviAmmodytes
Reporter: You are the first viper breeder in Romania. How has this business been going so far?
Marius Buldur: I am the first authorized breeder of vipers of the Vipera Ammodytes species (nose-horned viper), in Romania. We had bad days and good days. We mostly had to deal with bureaucratic hurdles, due to a rather muddy legislation.
Businesses selling viper venom work, but that depends on the persistence and seriousness of those who manage them. Some of those who succeeded are now my associates. Andrei Tinu is one of them.
Reporter: From breeding vipers and selling the venom earned in other countries you have now moved on to a different level - using the venom in producing cosmetics. How did the idea of this business begin and when did you start the project?
Marius Buldur: A few years ago I thought about how I could sell in Romania the venom I got from the vipers, because I already had information that you can sell anti-rheumatic ointments and
