site.btaNearly 9 Tonnes of Meat of Unclear Origin Found at Processing Plant in Sofia

Nearly 9 tonnes of meat without documents of origin were found during a joint inspection by the Sofia City Prosecution Office, the Sofia Directorate of Interior, the National Revenue Agency, and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency. The operation took place at a meat processing plant and two warehouses in the capital, the prosecuting magistracy told reporters on Tuesday.

Deputy Sofia City Prosecutor Desislava Petrova said that 9 tonnes of meat without the necessary documents were found in the plant, and larger quantities were found in the warehouses - around 26 tons in one, with inspections in the other continuing. The documentation for these quantities is to be presented by the company, Prosecutor Petrova added.

According to Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, head of the Sofia Directorate of Interior, inspectors from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency found irregularities in the storage and processing of meat, which is why the facility has been sealed until they are rectified.

The Director of the National Revenue Agency's Fiscal Control Directorate, Filipina Todorova, announced that the company is expected to submit the requested documents within seven days, after which the materials gathered will be referred to the prosecution service for assessment of possible criminal activity.

No one has been arrested so far, and the owner of the company has not yet been identified, said Chief Commissioner Nikolov. According to preliminary information, some of the meat is chicken, but its type and suitability will be clarified after expert analysis by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency.

The investigation continues under the supervision of the Sofia City Prosecution Office.