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Bulgaria is a small but growing market for U.S. food and agricultural products. In 2021, total Bulgarian food and agricultural imports were valued at $6.13 billion, up 18 percent from 2020, of which 1.3 percent, or $80.13 million, were sourced from the United States. During the first eight months of 2022, total food and agricultural imports increased by 45.3 percent compared to the same period in 2021.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bulgaria was a growing market for food and beverages, with rising consumer confidence, declining unemployment, increasing incomes, and a stable number of foreign tourists driving expansion.

The tree nut market in Bulgaria had a slow, but stable recovery in marketing year (MY) 2021/22 due to reopening of the food service industry and an improved tourist and travel season. However, economic challenges, food inflation, and high energy prices have negatively affected the demand for higher-end nuts.

Bulgaria acceded to the European Union (EU) in 2007 and follows EU directives and regulations pertaining to food safety, quality, and standards. This report outlines legislation regarding U.S. food-product exports to Bulgaria, particularly those rules which differ from EU legislation.

As a European Union (EU) Member State, Bulgaria applies EU regulatory requirements for all animal- and plant-origin food and agricultural imports. Bulgarian regulatory authorities may be consulted, on a case-by-case basis, regarding import requirements for some categories of non-harmonized products.

In 2021 and 2022 to date, the Bulgarian livestock industry has successfully recovered following the 2019 African Swine Fever (ASF) crisis. The major challenges in 2021/2022 were related to sharply increasing feed grain and energy prices, skyrocketing inflation, and fluctuations in consumer demand related to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

On October 20, 2022, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) notified draft amendment standards (number 1) to SLS 1725-1:2021 for Processed Grain-based Food Products, Part 1: Multi/Mixed Grain to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

On October 20, 2022, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) notified draft amendment standards (Number 1) to SLS 1725-2:2021 for Processed Grain-based Food Products, Part 2: Cornflakes to the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO members are invited to submit comments on notification G/TBT/N/LKA/51

On October 20, 2022, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) notified its draft amendment standards (Number 1) to SLS 894:2003 for bottled (packaged) drinking water to the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO members are invited to submit comments on notification G/TBT/N/LKA/51. The comment period closes on December 20, 2022.

On October 20, 2022, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) notified draft amendment standards (Number 1) to SLS 1725-3:2021 for Processed Grain-Based Food Products, Part 3: Rolled Oats to the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO members are invited to submit comments on notification G/TBT/N/LKA/51.

On October 20, 2022, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) notified draft amendment standards (Number 1) to SLS 1036:2020 for processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children to the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO members are invited to submit comments on notification G/TBT/N/LKA/51.

On October 20, 2022, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) notified draft amendment standards (Number 1) to SLS 1725-4:2021 for Processed Grain-Based Food Products, Part 4: Rice Flakes to the World Trade Organization (WTO).