Bulgaria watchdog flags unjustified food price rises

Bulgaria’s Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) has identified a trend of rising food prices that it says are not justified at this stage, its chair Alexander Kolyachev said after a meeting with President Iliana Yotova.

He added that although fuel prices have increased, their impact on retail prices typically takes time to feed through and does not yet explain the current rise in food prices.

Milena Krastanova, head of the National Revenue Agency (NRA), also attended the meeting, BTA reported.

Krastanova said she and Kolyachev had briefed the president on the results of inspections by the NRA and CCP under the law introducing the euro, including identified violations, issued notices and penalty decrees, and fines imposed so far by the revenue agency totalling more than 930,000 euros.

They also outlined planned follow-up actions related to rising fuel prices. Fuel prices are increasing by about one euro cent per day, with the sharpest rise in diesel, she added.

Kolyachev said authorities would act if violations were identified, imposing fines of up to 50,000 euros for a first offence and up to 100,000 euros for subsequent breaches.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova

Edited and posted in English by E. Radkova