The first certified organic products came into the Bulgarian market 11 years ago – children food HiPP. The first specialized stand for organic products was opened in 2004 in the Central market hall in Sofia.

Different supermarket chains got involved into distribution of organic products in 2005 and 2006.

During this time slowly and with difficulty have been established Bulgarian organic farms. The first Bulgarian certified organic products came into the market in 2001. Since then all Bulgarian ministers of agriculture declare in their media appearances that organic agriculture is a Government’s priority and that a big part of Bulgarian agricultural land is very suitable for organic agriculture.
But in reality despite all developed measures for subsidies to SAPARD programme, the National plan for organic agriculture and the National programme for agriculture and rural areas development in Bulgaria up to the present date none organic farmer has received compensatory payments for organic agriculture. The number of accredited certifying bodies sustainable grows and indicates a future increase of organic farms.

Small farmers play a main role in production of quality food for the Bulgarian market. The current legislation in Bulgaria does not allow them an access to markets and consumers.
At a special press-conference, held on Sunday, 15^th of February a Coalition “Pure food - fair living” started a discussion about the role of small farmers in providing quality food for the Bulgarian market and why they do not have a direct access to consumers and markets. The Coalition requires development of a National regulation, which will allow small farmers to process and sell their own production in strict hygiene standards. The new regulation will allow farmers to reach consumers in legal way and will allow consumers to choose quality and testy products, which have a statutory origin, do not pollute the environment and provide a well-deserved payment for farmer’s hard work.     
The Coalition urges to be created a working group, which will develop a regulation, allowing small farmers to realize their own production in strict hygiene standards. EU does not impose restrictions on small farmers. Regulation EU № 852/ 2004 (article 13) recommends institutions to be flexible about standards, related to equipment and control measures applied for small farmers without any compromises about hygienic standards. In the guide of EC for applying this regulation is recommended to adapt the National legislation in creating conditions to preserve traditional methods for production and to support producers in rural areas.  

“Smoking damages Your health! Give up cigarettes and half of your problems will solve without pills!” Very often such an advice is given by doctors to their patients, but in the same time they are nervously holding the next cigarette between their fingers, eager to light it up. Are they convincing? Some people become aware and give up smoking.



We have established the Feast and have been organizing it since 2001 by the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food started helping us in an organizational process since 2003, but only in 2007 got involve with part of the budget.