Bulgaria's Economy Ministry Publishes Fair Food‑Price Methodology for Public Review

The Bulgarian Ministry of Economy, Investment and Industry has released a draft methodology to determine a fair value for basic food products and opened it for public consultation. The proposal seeks to create a transparent, reproducible mechanism that combines local production costs with European price parity, using wholesale prices, operating expenses, allowable losses, target margins and EU price benchmarks. It is presented as an indicative reference for consumers and does not constitute an administrative price‑setting tool, preserving free‑market principles.

The methodology applies to retail traders dealing in food, non‑food items, alcoholic and non‑alcoholic drinks, tobacco and medicines that meet turnover criteria, and is limited to goods defined by a ministerial order. Over ten retail chains have joined the national “Care Basket” programme, which aims to guarantee at least a 15 % discount on essential products for a minimum six‑month period. Prime Minister Rumen Radev highlighted the initiative as a key step in curbing food‑price inflation.