site.btaProbes of Food Stores Begin Across Country as Second Boycott of Retail Chains Is Scheduled for Thursday

In connection with measures taken by the government to shorten supply chains and eliminate unfair practices in sales of food products, joint teams of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA), the National Revenue Agency (NRA) and the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) will begin to carry out inspections across the country from Thursday, BFSA said.

The inspectors will probe the entire agri-food chain (producers, processors, distributors, wholesalers and retailers, importers), and the information gathered on unfair practices will be reflected in a bill on regulating supply chain contracts, which Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov assigned to Agriculture Minister Georgi Tahov.

The increased control will cover all outlets where food products are sold - from small shops to large retail chains. Financial documents and supporting documents of origin will be checked to trace the entire supply chain. Packaging, labelling, storage, expiry dates, promotional campaigns and discounts, misleading advertising, inconsistencies between the price on the label and in the cash register will also be monitored.

Checks will be carried out daily in all districts of the country. They will continue until food prices return to normal and the country's food security is ensured.

A second boycott of retail chains has been announced for 20 February.