site.btaAmendments to Euro Adoption Law Take Effect, Dual Pricing Becomes Mandatory

Amendments to the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria Act were published in Friday’s issue of the State Gazette. As of Friday, all prices in Bulgaria must be marked in both BGN and EUR. 

The changes were adopted by the National Assembly on July 30. Under the updated rules, traders have a two-month grace period, until October 8, during which they will not be fined for failing to display prices in both currencies. Previously, penalties were to be applied immediately after August 8.

Businesses that form prices in bad faith during the dual price marking period will face fines ranging from BGN 5,000 to BGN 1 million. Additionally, major retail chains will be required to publish the final retail prices of all items from the essential consumer basket daily on their websites. Fines for failure to do so will be enforced one month after the law enters into force.

The Council of Ministers is authorized to take temporary measures if there is a significant increase in the prices of essential goods and services.

The law specifies that during the period of dual pricing, traders must price goods and services fairly and transparently. Any price increase must be based on objective economic factors, and traders must provide evidence of such factors to regulatory authorities upon request.

Taxi drivers are required to comply with the dual pricing obligation from October 31.

Double pricing of books, textbooks, teaching aids, and other printed works, including educational books and teaching kits, children's books with illustrations, for drawing or coloring, printed or handwritten sheet music editions will begin on January 1, 2026.

The law, adopted in its initial version on August 7, 2024, was amended following the green light given to Bulgaria’s euro adoption by the European Commission and the European Central Bank on June 4, 2025, in their special convergence reports. Bulgaria’s entry to the euro area on January 1, 2026, was formally approved by the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council on July 8, 2025. The law sets different start dates for various provisions based on this approval.