site.btaUPDATED Regulation on Industrial Odours under Preparation

Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov Sunday pledged to seek a solution to the decades-old air pollution problem of the city of Ruse. Talking to protesters, he said the government was drafting the first ever ordinance in Bulgaria on pollution which is not directly sanctionable, including industrial odours.

"A smell may not originate from something dangerous or in high concentrations. Part of the problem is that there are no regulations that can be used in such cases," said Denkov, who is a professor of physical chemistry

He committed to work with the local authorities, adding that there is no easy solution.

On Sunday, one of the protesters, Vladislava Garvalova, complained the Environment Ministry was not doing anything about the problem. "It is unacceptable for our children to breathe such air in a country governed by the rule of law. Stop the genocide against Ruse!" she said.

Later in the day, the Environment Ministry announced that Minister Julian Popov would visit Ruse on January 9, 2024. In November, Popov received a report from the Regional Environmental Inspectorate on odours emitted by certain industries. He will meet with local people who have staged numerous protests against foul odours.