site.btaProtest In Support of Bulgarian Agricultural Production Will Be Held in Sofia

Six agricultural organizations are staging a protest om Friday in Sofia under the motto "In Defence and Support of Bulgarian Production!" Participating are the Bulgarian Farmers' Cooperative, the National Association of Dairy Processors, the Association of Agricultural Producers in Bulgaria, National Union of Cattle Breeders in Bulgaria, the United Bulgarian Livestock Breeders Association, and the United Agricultural Producers Association.

The protest will take place at 1.30 pm in front of the European Commission Representation Office in Sofia.

According to a statement from the organizers, the goal is to demand transparency, fair and functional regulations, the removal of discriminatory support mechanisms, and guarantees for a free market and food security.

The industry organizations strongly oppose any government measures that could restrict or limit free trade and the export of milk, meat, and processed products from small ruminants. They are also calling for greater transparency in the sector by abolishing the modulated rate system and restoring proof-of-sale requirements for coupled support.

In their declaration, the six protesting agricultural organizations are calling for a re-categorization of all livestock farms to bring them into alignment with European and national regulations concerning biosecurity, animal welfare, food safety, and product quality.

They also insist that in implementing the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Bulgaria, the government should follow the principle of encouragement rather than punishment of agricultural producers. The aim, they state, is to achieve the maximum possible support for all farmers and livestock breeders.

The six organizations have declared their full support for Minister of Agriculture and Food, Georgi Tahov.

However, they warn that if their demands are not met and immediate steps are not taken to address them, they will proceed with further escalation, including mass public demonstrations and legal action.

On Thursday the National Association of Grain Producers announced preparations for national protests in defence of Bulgarian grain producers.

Also, the National Sheep and Goat Breeders Association has withdrawn its trust in the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF) and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

In a strongly worded declaration, the association says that after months of inaction, delays, and contradictory messages to farmers regarding the management of the sheep and goat pox epidemic, the state, represented by Minister Georgi Tahov and BFSA Executive Director Svetlozar Patarinski, is misleading the government, Members of Parliament, the public, and, most of all, the farmers.