site.btaEnvironment Ministry Denies Information of Huge Surge in Environmental Taxes

Insinuations about a "huge surge" in environmental taxes and in consequence are baseless, the Ministry of Environment and Water's press centre said on Friday. The statement came in response to information about an increase of "eco-tax" added to the price of electric appliances by the waste treatment facilities in the country.

The press release said that it is notable that there are statements about a prospective 900% percent surge in eco-taxes on electric appliances, but the symbolic rate of current prices is conveniently left out. There has not been change in legislation regarding environmental taxes since 2008, it adds. "Bulgarian eco-taxes are in reality license fees, paid to waste treatment facilities, which help reach the national goals in waste management of electric appliances. They have the lowest rate, compared to other European countries. They are up to 10 times lower than taxes in Germany, Austria and Romania," the Ministry said.

The recent Government proposal to lower the tax of the Environmental Management Enterprise for Protection Activities, an environment preservation facility with the Environment Ministry, was inappropriate, according to the Ministry. The press release also stated that it is inaccurate to say that an increase in those taxes will automatically count towards the final consumer price. This is an ecologically motivated addition to the product price, which aims to stimulate a more environmentally conscious production and imports with lower product weight. There is also the possibility that part of this additional cost will be at the expense of corporate profit.