site.btaIndustry Organizations Say Draft Agri-Food Chain Law Is Inapplicable

Strong concerns over the draft law on the supply chain of agricultural products and food were expressed by fourteen industry organizations on Wednesday, in an opinion submitted to Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Agriculture and Food Minister Georgi Tahov, Economy and Industry Minister Peter Dilov and Commission on Protection of Competition Chair Rosen Karadimov, BTA learned.

The signatories say that the proposed legislation does not comply with EU law and could lead to serious legal and economic consequences for Bulgaria. They argue that the draft is not a workable or applicable solution for improving the food supply chain.

"First and foremost, we are surprised that none of our concerns, which were raised during the expert-level consultations, have been taken into account. Our serious reservations remain unanswered. For this reason, we are reiterating all of our arguments and hope they will be heard this time, as the proposed bill carries significant risks," the organizations wrote in the opinion.

The organizations support the goal of strengthening the market position of agricultural producers, but they insist this should be achieved through incentives for cooperation and improved protection against unfair trading practices, by amending existing legislation rather than introducing emergency measures that could jeopardize the functioning of supply chains and food security.

Instead of adopting a new law, the organizations propose a thorough analysis to identify necessary changes in the Protection of Competition Act and recommend improving the supply chain through amendments to current legislation.

"Any proposed measures should first be discussed within the National Food Council and through constructive dialogue with farmers and other stakeholders in the supply chain. This is the only way to achieve real impact without endangering market mechanisms and food supply security," they wrote.

The opinion was signed by Association of Meat Processors in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Soft Drinks Association, Association of Fish Products Producers “BG Fish”, National Vine and Wine Chamber, National Branch Union of Bakers and Confectioners, Oilseed Oil Producers Association in Bulgaria, Food Drink Bulgaria Association, Union of Brewers in Bulgaria, Union of Fruit and Vegetable Processors, Union of Sugar and Sugar Products Producers, Union of Poultry Breeders in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Association for Industrial Pig Breeding, Association of Pig Breeders in Bulgaria, Union of Bulgarian Millers.