Over 90% of Bulgarian Dairy Producers Meet Quality Standards, but Calls for Stricter Penalties Grow

Kamen Nikolov from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) reported that out of 80 dairy product samples tested by BFSA since the start of 2024, 17 showed some deviations, and only one contained non-dairy fats.

Vladislav Mihailov highlighted that NADPO has been conducting independent quality checks since 2014, using a different accredited lab from the one employed by BFSA, to ensure transparency and accountability.

Despite these assurances of quality, Vladislav Mihailov acknowledged the challenges faced by Bulgarian consumers, many of whom, as some of the poorest in the EU, struggle to afford higher-quality dairy products. He observed that consumers often choose quality over quantity when they can afford to.

To address industry issues, NADPO is advocating for legislative changes that would impose stricter penalties on non-compliant producers. They propose a tiered system of sanctions, starting with fines for first-time violations and escalating to the revocation of licenses for repeat offenders.

The association is also pushing for compensations similar to those provided to farmers, as producers face challenges from the import of cheaper raw materials from Ukraine and low-cost dairy products from Poland. These imports, Vladislav Mihailov explained, have negatively impacted local producers, further exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine.