Traceability

The Agriculture and Forestry Ministry has seized 20 tons of banned substances imported from China, originally declared for use in paint additives and cosmetics but repackaged as plant protection products free for sale.

From today - 20 May, a European Union regulation which establishes a traceability system for each box of cigarettes enters into force.

Each box of cigarettes manufactured or imported in Bulgaria must have a unique code which will allow its tracing to follow from the production to the customer.

The Bioproducts Association sent an open letter to the Prime Minister urging him to intervene in the conflict between the companies and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The implementation of the new system for digital certification, improving  the control over organic products' import will begin as of today in Bulgaria and across the entire EU, BNR reported.

Thus latter affirms its leading position worldwide, regarding the traceability and collection of reliable data on the trade of these products, the Bulgarian office of the EC reports.

Fast food chain Aladin Foods OOD has accused the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) of extortion, while the Agency has insisted that the company fails to meet safety and hygiene standards.

The founder of the company, Aladin Harfan, claimed that the Agency had requested a monthly bribe of EUR 10 000 to leave the company alone.

The European Parliament voted Tuesday to make "Made-in" labelling mandatory for non-food products sold on the single market.

The EP voted on plans to tighten up product safety requirements and market surveillance rules so as to strengthen consumer protection in the EU.

Seven managers of Bulgaria's Food Safety Agency have been dismissed due to ineffective control and other violations.

The news was announced by the Executive Director of the Agency Plamen Mollov Tuesday at a press conference, Bulgarian News Agency reports.