The bill establishes a common legislative framework regulating the competent authorities that conduct policy in this field, perform official control over the components of the agri-food chain and carry out risk assessment along the agri-food chain. The bill regulates the coordination and interaction of the official control bodies of the agri-food chain with other administrative bodies, as well as the implementation of administrative assistance and cooperation in the agri-food chain sector between the Republic of Bulgaria, Member States of the European Union (EU), the European Commission (EC) and other EU institutions, including the use on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria of the information and data management systems of the EC related to official controls.

Agri-food Chain Management Act

The bill on agri-food chain management provides for the creation of a common framework to regulate the specific competent bodies conducting policy in this field, the bodies carrying out official controls on components of the agri-food chain, and the authority carrying out risk assessment along the agri-food chain.

It regulates the functions of the bodies related to the exchange of information on the agri-food chain risk and the general requirements for performing official control and other official activities along the agri-food chain on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

It sets out the procedures for drafting and implementation of the multi-annual national plan for the control and designation of national reference laboratories, laboratories for official control and sampling purposes in the agri-food chain.

The bill regulates the coordination and interaction of the official control bodies of the agri-food chain with other administrative bodies, as well as the implementation of administrative assistance and cooperation in the agri-food chain sector between the competent bodies of the Republic of Bulgaria, those of other Member States, the European Commission (EC) and other EU institutions, including the use on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria of the information and data management systems of the EC related to official controls.

Crisis response measures and contingency arrangements along the agri-food chain and the financing of activities related to official controls in the agri-food chain are included.

The bill lays down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.