site.btaUPDATED Large-Scale Inspection of Fuel Sales Points Underway

A specialized operation targeting fuel sales points has just started, conducted by several agencies and coordinated by the Interdepartmental Coordination Centre for Combating Smuggling, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said on Wednesday at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting. It will continue until March 19.

The massive checks on fuel sales points will focus on fiscal infrastructure, tax evasion prevention and fuel quality control, he said.

Zhelyazkov said the inspection involved the Interior Ministry, the National Revenue Agency, the Customs Agency and the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Surveillance. This will be neither the first nor the last inspection of its kind. 

Later in the day, the Prime Minister visited the Coordination Centre to check on its progress. It was reported to Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov that the controls in place are permanent and are being carried out on a monthly basis under a plan to tackle the informal economy, comply with legislation and raise revenue through effective prevention and countering of tax fraud, the Government Information Service said in a press release. 

In February, 20 outlets were inspected, six of which were found to have deviated from fuel quality standards or were found to have fuel of unknown origin that was stopped from distribution. Commercial practices were also detected which avoided the payment of VAT and excise duties.