Lower food quality limits are considered to be implemented. That is what the Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Miroslav Naydenov and representatives of large retail chains agreed for during a meeting, held in the ministry. A working group, including the representatives of producers, processors, traders and experts from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency is to be formed in order to develop the parameters. The meeting was initiated by Minister Naydenov regarding concerns raised by producers and processors for the pressure brought on them by the retail chains. Ways to reach a consensus on setting minimum thresholds for food.quality were discussed.
Currently, the upper limit for food quality is set with the Bulgarian State Standard for dairy products and Stara Planina State Standard for meat products, but there is no lower limit of quality defined, shared representatives of retail chains. During he meeting, it was also commented that these may be low-cost products that are definitely safe and marketed in the stores, but are of a lower class. These products have a certain share on the Bulgarian market, indicated reperesentatives of the retail chains. Minister Naydenov added that their quality must be guaranteed.
"We want to reach a consensus on the minimum food quality limit throughout the whole chain producer - processor - trader," pointed out Minister Naydenov. “Bulgarian consumers have to eat more products of higher quality. Nobody has declared war on retail chains, we only want places where to find food with guaranteed quality”, underlined the Minister.
Minister Naydenov said that the Ministry can not fix prices or say whether there is a cartel, but the large retail chains play the role of a buffer on the market and prevent speculation that is why they are very important. The meeting was attended by representatives of the largest retail chains - "ARO", "Fantastico", "Lidl, Metro, Billa," DAR "," 345 "," Penny Market "," Hit”, 'Kaufland” and “Carrefour”.
Currently, the upper limit for food quality is set with the Bulgarian State Standard for dairy products and Stara Planina State Standard for meat products, but there is no lower limit of quality defined, shared representatives of retail chains. During he meeting, it was also commented that these may be low-cost products that are definitely safe and marketed in the stores, but are of a lower class. These products have a certain share on the Bulgarian market, indicated reperesentatives of the retail chains. Minister Naydenov added that their quality must be guaranteed.
"We want to reach a consensus on the minimum food quality limit throughout the whole chain producer - processor - trader," pointed out Minister Naydenov. “Bulgarian consumers have to eat more products of higher quality. Nobody has declared war on retail chains, we only want places where to find food with guaranteed quality”, underlined the Minister.
Minister Naydenov said that the Ministry can not fix prices or say whether there is a cartel, but the large retail chains play the role of a buffer on the market and prevent speculation that is why they are very important. The meeting was attended by representatives of the largest retail chains - "ARO", "Fantastico", "Lidl, Metro, Billa," DAR "," 345 "," Penny Market "," Hit”, 'Kaufland” and “Carrefour”.