14 branch organizations presented another joint statement on the draft Law on the Supply Chain of Agricultural Products and Food, uploaded for public discussion on July 29, 2025.
The opinion is addressed to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Agriculture and Food, and the Minister of Economy and Industry.
The document has three main points of criticism:
Contradiction with European law and the principles of the free market
It is pointed out that the draft comes into direct conflict with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013 and Regulation (EU) No. 1215/2012.
It is emphasized that in other EU countries there is no such restrictive state intervention in pricing, and the only similar examples (Hungary and Romania) are already subject to criminal procedures and have high inflation.
Risks to the economic and market environment
Limiting competition, market distortion, price increases and risk to food security.
Legal uncertainty due to unclear scope and possibility of unilateral change of scope by the Council of Ministers.
Disproportionate restrictions on freedom of negotiation and price setting.
Negative consequences for specific participants in the chain
Farmers – risk of losses due to unsalable production, administrative difficulties in calculating the cost price, inability to be flexible in the event of market changes.
Wholesalers and retailers – imposed unrealistically low mark-ups that do not cover the costs of logistics, storage and marketing. Risk of refusal to trade certain products, interruption of supply chains.
Processors – increased input prices, inability to work with Bulgarian raw materials, loss of competitiveness, limitation of new products and innovations.
Consumers – reduction of assortment, increase in prices, strengthening of the shadow economy.
The opinion was signed by: Association of Meat Processors in Bulgaria, Association of Soft Drinks Producers in Bulgaria, Association of the fish products producers- BG FISH, National Wine and Vine Chamber, National Branch Union of Bakers and Confectioners, Association of vegetable oil producers and processors of oily crops in Bulgaria, Food Drink Bulgaria Association, Union of Brewers in Bulgaria, Union of the Processors of Fruit and Vegetables, Union of Sugar and Sugar Products Producers, Union of Poultry Breeders in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Association for Industrial Pig Breeding, Association of Pig Breeders in Bulgaria, Union of Bulgarian Millers.
For more information on how to become a member of The Food Drink Bulgaria Association, please contact office@fooddrink.bg
