Stricter price controls to be introduced from 8 August

Parliament has approved the introduction of enhanced price controls for a period of one year, starting on 8 August 2025. The measure was adopted at the second reading of the Law on the Adoption of the Euro in Bulgaria, BNR reporter Daniel Inkov reported. A grace period has been granted to businesses until 8 October, during which they must implement dual price labelling and issue receipts displaying amounts in both leva and euros.

The adopted provisions authorise the Council of Ministers to introduce temporary measures to counteract significant price increases for essential goods and services. These measures will apply to items such as bread, milk, eggs, flour, cooking oil, drinking water, household electricity and heating, prescription medicines not reimbursed by the National Health Insurance Fund, and basic personal hygiene products.

MPs also decided that businesses found to be setting prices in bad faith during the period of dual pricing in leva and euros will face financial penalties ranging from €2,556 to €511,292. Another provision requires large retail chains to publish the final sale prices of goods and services from the core consumer basket daily on their websites.