Import and trade of food supplements in Bulgaria

Import and trade of food supplements in Bulgaria

With the latest amendments to the Food Act, new and additional requirements have been introduced for the purposes of import and trade of food supplements in Bulgaria. The new, stricter regime was introduced to prevent market abuse and, in the meantime, to clarify the supplements facts listed at the label.

In order to import and trade in food supplements in Bulgaria it is necessary:

1. To have a registered company (learn more here);
2. To register a wholesale warehouse in the Regional Directorate for Food Safety (RDFS) at the location of the site;
3. To submit a customs declaration for import of food and food additives, enclosing the Certificate of registration for a wholesale warehouse. The customs, in turn, notify the inspectors from the Border Control Department of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) when the food or additives are under a special import regime.
4. When importing food supplements, it is necessary to submit an application according to the BFSA model for placing a food supplement on the market to the RDFS at the location.

The following shall be attached to the application:

1. a label with which the food supplement or the food intended for use during intensive muscular loading will be placed on the market on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
2. original label, when the product is not Bulgarian production;
3. declaration for conformity of the composition of the food supplement or the food, intended for use at intensive muscular loading, with the information on the label;
4. Description of the purpose of the food supplement.

It is important to be noted that the date of placing on the market on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria of the food supplement or food intended for use in intensive muscular load may not be earlier than 14 days from the submission of the application. 

What is the deadline for reviewing the application?

The notification shall be considered within 10 days from its submission.

The competent authority may require the submission of scientific research or data to establish the compliance of the food supplement or food intended for use with intense muscular exertion with the requirements for its composition, characteristics, and purpose, as well as other necessary information. Where research or data are contained in a scientific publication, information on it shall be provided.

When examining the application, the competent authority may request the Ministry of Health, the Center for Risk Assessment in the Food Chain, the National Center for Public Health and Analysis, the Anti-Doping Center, the Executive Agency for Medicines, or other institutions and organizations to provide an opinion on compliance. with the normative requirements of the composition, the quantity and the type of the ingredients used in the food supplement or in the food intended for use during intensive muscular loading.

Upon approval, the competent authority shall enter the food supplement or the food intended for use in case of intensive muscular loading in the special register under Art. 24 of the Food Act.

If you need more information or assistance in submitting an application for placing food supplements on the market, please contact our team.

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