Bulgarian rose growers face bankruptcy due to market malpractices

Rose growers and rose processors in the Sub-Balkan region in Bulgaria want a mechanism to track and certify the origin of the rose oil and a mechanism to control private laboratories. In a letter to the ministries of agriculture and finance, the Bulgarian Rose Valley Association sets out its arguments on how malpractices are being allowed to seriously jeopardise the quality of Bulgarian rose oil, leading to a market exodus.

Metodi Stefanov is the owner of a rose oil production factory in the village of Manolovo. It has been closed for two years. He had to close it because he suffered huge losses, which amounted to more than BGN 10 million.

"It was one of the places where a large part of the harvest went, we bought roses from most places. One of the factors was unfair competition that drove down prices with strategic contractors," Stefanov said.

Many of the country's processors are now bankrupt, and this is leading to destruction of the rose fields. According to the Bulgarian Rose Valley Association, the Bulgarian rose oil market is threatened because of the strong positions of other rose oil producing countries such as Turkey, Moldova and Morocco, where the state encourages the production of rose oil.

"Bulgarian rose oil seems to be disappearing as a brand on the world stage. Competing countries, which also produce rose products, have been allowed to pass through Bulgaria as a gateway to the European market, which firstly spoils the quality and secondly - they have no financial commitment to the Bulgarian state regarding VAT, taxes and customs duties," explained Vladimir Stoyanov - Chairman of the Bulgarian Rose Valley Association.

The producers of rose blossom and the distillery owners are demanding a quick reaction from the Bulgarian government, as next month there is a rose flower harvest campaign.

"There cannot be a satisfied rose grower without well-marketed rose processors," says Petko Todorov, a rose grower in Rozino.

"And all the laboratories that issue the certificate should work according to one standard, and that is the Bulgarian one, which we have in the Rose Institute in a state laboratory. And we should not allow products without what we are known for to flood the European market. This standard must be monitored by customs and the authorities," added Vladimir Stoyanov.

Despite the problems and difficulties in the industry, about 70% of rose producers are preparing for the rose harvest this year. At least about 20 rose distilleries are expected to open, which is half of the total number of distilleries in the country.

Чуйте последните новини, където и да сте!
Последвайте ни във Facebook и Instagram
Следете и канала на БНТ в YouTube
Вече може да ни гледате и в TikTok
Намерете ни в Google News