Retail chains with 10 or more shops in the country obliged to sell local produce

Retail chains with 10 or more shops in the country will be obliged to sell Bulgarian products and other foods produced in their regions.

On April 28, the Government adopted an amendment to Council of Ministers Decree No. 70 of 2020 on the provision of basic food groups produced on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria in retail shops that are part of large supermarket chains.

The amendment concerns the bringing into line of the adopted Decree No. 70 with the text of the Law on Measures and Actions during the State of Emergency, introduced by the decision of the Parliament of March 13, 2020 - the definition of retail chains, as well as the control over the implementation of the provisions of the decree.

The control over the implementation of the decree will be carried out by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency. For non-compliance with the requirements of the decree, sanctions are imposed according to Art.16a, para.2 of the Emergency Measures and Actions Act. In case of violation, the sanction will be from 15 000 to 25 000 BGN, in case of repeated violation - from 30 000 BGN to 50 000 BGN.

The decree also requires that sufficient space should be allocated at the premises of the retailers and the products should be displayed in a manner that clearly indicates that the products were made locally.

The foods included in the decree are milk and dairy products, fresh meat and eggs, fish, seasonal fruit and vegetables and honey.

The amendments adopted do not require a change in the current order of supply at the sites, the sole purpose is to enable the supply of local (regional) production.

Regional producers are producers or groups/organizations of producers having their place of business in the territory of the administrative district in which the relevant commercial establishment is located or in the territory of a neighbouring administrative district adjacent thereto. The administrative districts of Sofia-city and Sofia-district are adjacent to the districts bordering Sofia-district, as well as the district of Plovdiv. Producers must be registered under the Farmers Support Act or have an establishment registered under the Food Act.

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