site.btaConsumer Protection and Tax Authorities Impose Sanctions for Unjustified Price Hikes

Meeting with outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov on Monday, the leaders of the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) and the National Revenue Agency (NRA) said the institutions act swiftly in cases of unjustified price hikes, imposing sanctions while ensuring strict compliance with the Act on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria, said the government information service.

NRA Executive Director Hristo Markov said nearly 700 inspections had been carried out nationwide by the agency to date. From the start of 2026, the agency will further strengthen its capacity across all regional directorates to ensure timely responses to citizen reports. The checks cover large chain stores, local retailers and small food outlets alike. Sanctions have been imposed for any violations identified.

CCP President Alexander Kolyachev said several thousand inspections of retail outlets, mainly grocery stores, revealed that 80% of violations relate to food, 10% to medicines and 10% to household goods. More checks are planned across various sectors, including services.

The CCP and the NRA are intensifying oversight of pricing, including dual price display, with a focus on unjustified price increases. From the start of 2026, warnings will be replaced by direct sanctions for non-compliant traders.

On December 22, Vladimir Ivanov, Chair of the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Wholesale Markets, said the consumer basket is unchanged at BGN 101 from the week before, with minimal price variations due to normal market fluctuations between supply and demand.