Official controls

Draft law supplementing the Agri-Food Chain Management Act

The food trafficking flows from third countries to Bulgaria, other EU Member States and other third countriesis increasing annually, which entails requirements to improve the quality of phytosanitary, veterinary and healthcontrols carried out. In order to carry out qualitative, impartial and effective control of the consignments of liveanimals and foodstuffs, a clear distinction between the two parties in this process is necessary. On one sideare the food business operators and on the other side is the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA), as thecompetent authority performing official controls on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The draft law supplementing the Agri-Food Chain Management Act (AFCMA) aims at strengthening officialcontrols, including controls at border crossing points. Strengthening agri-food chain control activities is one ofthe priorities of the management program of the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Since the BFSA is the competent authority under Article 47 of the Regulation, official controls according to thistext should only be carried out by units within the BFSA. In this respect, it is foreseen that checks at bordercrossing points and laboratory tests on categories of animal and goods shall only be carried out byrepresentatives of the competent authority and in the laboratories of BFSA, and these activities cannot besubcontracted. It is unacceptable for this activity to be subcontracted out to subcontractors who perform thefunctions effectively.
It is envisaged that auxiliary loading, unloading and other activities shall only be carried out by BFSAemployees or persons in an employment relationship with the competent authority. These activities cannot besubcontracted. The draft law also provides for a reliability check.