Over €1M in Fines: Authorities Crack Down on Unjustified Price Hikes in Bulgaria

The National Revenue Agency and the Consumer Protection Commission are set to present updated findings from ongoing nationwide inspections targeting suspected unjustified price hikes in Bulgaria. The checks are part of a broader effort to monitor market behavior, particularly in the context of the country’s transition to the euro.

According to preliminary information released by the revenue agency, around 150 retail outlets were inspected in just the first days of April. The results led to significant enforcement action, with authorities issuing approximately 1,100 violation reports and more than 400 penalty rulings. The accumulated fines have already exceeded 1 million euros.

These large-scale inspections are not new. They were launched back in October last year as part of oversight measures tied to the adoption of the euro. Since then, nearly 14,000 commercial sites have been checked across the country, with a strong focus on food retailers and establishments in the hospitality sector.

Officials stress that the process is far from over. Inspections aimed at ensuring compliance with the Law on the Introduction of the Euro will continue in the coming months. Authorities remain firm that they will act against any “unjustified price increases,” signaling that market surveillance will remain strict during the transition period.