site.btaBulgaria Represented at Trade Fair for Organic Personal Care in Nuremberg

Bulgarian essential oil suppliers and cosmetic product makers are presented in a single exhibition booth at Vivaness, an international trade fair for natural and organic personal care in Nuremberg, Germany between February 13 and 16. The group participation has been organized by the Bulgarian National Association of Essential Oils, Perfumery and Cosmetics (EOPC) with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and State Fund Agriculture, the EOPC said on Thursday.

Vivaness is coupled with another trade fair in Nuremberg, called Biofach, which highlights organic food. A total of 2,550 exhibitors from 94 countries have joined the two shows.

Top-class essential oils, extracts, absolutes, rose water, pine water and other floral waters, aromatherapy products, tinctures and other derivatives can be seen in the Bulgarian booth. This year the companies present waterless (solid) varieties in line with a major global trend for more sustainable products made in a more efficient and eco-friendly way. Professional visitors and members of the general public show appreciation for the quality of Bulgarian soaps, exfoliants, solid oils for face care and hydrating lotions.

EOPC Executive Director Gergana Andreeva said that companies seek to diversify the uses of their products as European market consumption shrinks due to decreasing consumer incomes. In addition to aromatherapy and food additives, they are looking to expand into pharmaceuticals.

Andreeva said: "We expect rose oil to be included in the European Pharmacopoeia. This will allow us, in addition to using it in cosmetics and perfumery, to prove and make available in the international markets the power of rose oil in treating a number of health problems and illnesses such as gastrointestinal conditions and liver diseases, and its antioxidant properties. It is well known that rose oil can reduce cancer cells and can have a positive effect on neurological conditions, hormonal imbalances and cardiovascular and skin diseases. Remember that it also benefits the digestive system; rose water is the perfect diuretic."

The European Pharmacopoeia is a reference tool for controlling the quality of medicines in the countries which have signed the convention on its elaboration. It currently lists the oils from lavender, basil, Scots pine and juniper berry, which are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, the EOPC said.

The motto of the Bulgarian participation in Vivaness is "High, Far, and Fast". "It is remarkable how high we have raised the standards of our first-class products and how far Bulgarian manufacturers have gone in developing markets and brands. We are now pushing to get ahead of the trends and adjust to the changes in the preferences and expectations of consumers as we try to guess their new requirements and tastes," Andreeva commented.

She added: "We all know that organic products are the future, but this kind of consumers are very demanding and hard to convince until they become loyal followers. I believe Bulgarian producers are on the right track, and our participation in Vivaness 2024 is the way to lure leading international traders, business chains and distributors to open their markets to our products."