site.btaThird Argentine Sunflower Seeds Shipment Arrives March 16, Sampling Underway

The third shipment of Argentine sunflower seeds is arriving on March 16, with orders for sampling to be conducted by a team from Sofia, Varna, and representatives of industry organizations, Bulgarian Food Safety Agency Executive Director (BFSA) Angel Mavrovski said at a news conference. “Our goal is to make all state control processes transparent, clear, and consistent for everyone,” he added.

Mavrovski also said that, starting Monday, frozen and thawed food products must have labels indicating both the freezing and thawing dates. Full food control measures are being reinstated, with a particular focus on chicken of Polish origin due to suspected health risks and possible Salmonella contamination.

The measures come in the wake of uncovered cases of illegal animal imports from Romania, an illegal slaughterhouse near Ihtiman, and sites used for disposing of animal carcasses. Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov emphasized that the state will take coordinated action alongside BFSA and the Interior Ministry and highlighted that a “weak state will not be allowed to compromise domestic livestock farming and public health”. 

“We are restoring full control at the borders in coordination with other law enforcement agencies,” Mavrovski said. He emphasized on a serious issue with animal transport. A truck seized in Ruse revealed a trafficking channel that has been operating for at least three years, he said. This is corroborated by the large piles of bones discovered at the illegal Ihtiman slaughterhouse, where many Romanian ear tags were also found, indicating a possible route through which diseases entered the country. The damage is substantial: over 20,000 small ruminants were destroyed in 2025, he added.

Mavrovski reported that animals intercepted at the Romanian border were sent back after being tested for all diseases. He said mass inspections will begin, with results to be announced once available, and no details will be disclosed in advance.