The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Plamen Abrovsky convened an extraordinary meeting of the National Food Council. The Minister of Health, Katya Ivkova, as well as representatives from various institutions, regulatory bodies, industry organizations, food producers, and processors attended the meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Minister Abrovsky thanked the Council members for their participation and pointed out that the focus of the meeting was to brief industry representatives on the planned changes and to gather their feedback on the draft bills submitted to the National Assembly aimed at amending and supplementing the Consumer Protection Act and the Protection of Competition Act. He emphasized that food production remains a top priority and assured business representatives that the Ministry's team would work toward creating a stable and predictable environment for the sector.
"My goal is to work alongside you, to make doing business easier, so that you have sufficient raw materials and can produce without disruption. These two bills must meet the expectations of both consumers and producers regarding food prices," the Agriculture Minister added. Plamen Abrovsky stated that the state must maintain a balance between the interests of businesses and citizens, noting that the legislative process allows all texts to be discussed in detail with the industry between the first and second readings. "Their proposals and positions will be taken into account within the working groups," he added.
Plamen Abrovsky highlighted that the proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection Act build upon the measures introduced by the Act on the Introduction of the Euro in Bulgaria, specifically regarding unjustified price hikes. "The changes include a ban on economically unjustified price increases for goods and services, as well as an obligation for major retail chains to publish daily pricing information for basic goods in the consumer basket. The bill also provides for increased penalties imposed by the Consumer Protection Commission," he stressed.
Minister Abrovsky also outlined the amendments to the draft bill modifying the Protection of Competition Act, which propose expanding the list and scope of prohibited unfair trading practices. He noted that the National Food Council would allow industry organizations and businesses to present their positions directly to the National Assembly.
The Agriculture Minister informed that the objective of the upcoming electronic central register for supply chain traceability is to reduce administrative burdens and assist businesses by consolidating and streamlining existing processes. According to him, the register will be developed after establishing a clear concept, technical specifications, and a regulatory framework.
During the discussion, Minister Abrovsky also emphasized the need to boost the competitiveness of Bulgarian agriculture. He noted that despite the significant public resources directed toward the sector, the country continues to import raw materials and food, which necessitates a change in approach. "Closer cooperation is needed between the state, producers, processors, and trade organizations. Funding is a tool, not an end in itself. When we call problems by their real names, we can seek market-driven measures to elevate and support the sector," he concluded decisively.
For her part, the Minister of Health, Katya Ivkova, stated that institutions must work together to support the sector, the business community, and the entire population.