State measures against illegal imports of fruits and vegetables should have been introduced much earlier and should become a permanent practice, according to Tsvetan Tsekov, chairman of the Branch Chamber “Fruit and Vegetables.”
Speaking on NOVA NEWS, Tsekov said Bulgaria, as an external border of the European Union, should have long had stricter controls on agricultural imports. He argued that inspections should not be limited to border crossings but should also be carried out inside the country.
“Whatever checks are carried out at the external border, they must be ubiquitous everywhere, so that those batches that enter with trucks under 3.5 tons from both the northern and southern borders and are not controlled can be caught,” Tsekov said.
The government has started mass inspections of fruit and vegetable imports, particularly at borders with Turkey and North Macedonia. Tsekov said, however, that the move came too late and should have been part of regular state policy.
Economist Prof. Kosyo Stoychev also described the measures as delayed and reactive. According to him, authorities could have anticipated that rising inflation would encourage more small traders to import cheaper agricultural products from neighboring countries in search of higher profits.
“It could have been predicted that we are entering an active tourist season, therefore demand and consumption are increasing,” Stoychev said. He warned that reducing imports without proper market regulation could potentially lead to additional price increases at a time when domestic fruit and vegetable production is active.
According to the economist, even the announcement of tighter controls on foreign suppliers could create conditions for higher prices if the market is not managed carefully.
Tsekov said the sector currently faces a serious imbalance, with strong domestic production existing alongside difficulties for Bulgarian farmers to sell their goods. At the same time, he pointed to high levels of imports as another factor affecting the market.
“We need to think about where the market distortion is occurring. As long as there is no regulated trade markup, we will see extreme distortion and speculation,” Tsekov said.
He added that average trade markups for fast-moving goods such as fruits and vegetables are usually between 20% and 25% in Europe, while in Bulgaria they can reach between 100% and 150%.
Stoychev said Bulgarian producers also face difficulties because they do not have direct and quick access to consumers. According to him, there is usually an intermediary controlling access to the market, which further affects prices and the relationship between producers and buyers.