Bulgaria has applied the common agricultural policy since it joined the EU on 1 January 2007. Its CAP Strategic Plan for 2023–2027, approved on 7 December 2022 and amended four times up to February 2026, had planned EU and national funding of EUR 7.73 billion after the last amendment. The national framework acts include the Agricultural Producers Support Act of 1998, under which State Fund Agriculture works as the paying agency, and the 1991 Ownership and Use of Agricultural Land Act with its rules on land-use blocks, both last amended in September 2026. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 at BGN 1.95583 per euro.
Each entry links to the official text. Bulgarian acts link to the State Gazette (Държавен вестник) at dv.parliament.bg, which prints the issue number and date, the National Assembly's adoption date and the entry-into-force clause. The online full-text archive starts in 2003. For acts first published earlier, the issue number and year come from the promulgation history printed at the head of the latest amending act, and the adoption date is not given. The latest amendment was found by a full-text search of the National Assembly section of the State Gazette up to 20 October 2026. EU acts link to EUR-Lex and were read through the copies of the Publications Office of the EU. Amounts up to 2025 are in BGN (lev) and amounts for 2026 in EUR, converted at the fixed rate of BGN 1.95583 per euro where a source gives both.
Milestones in agricultural and agri-finance policy
Fourth amendment of the CAP Strategic Plan approved23Strategy
Sep 2026
Unclaimed land-use deposits and public funds earmarked for the Mutual Fund1Finance
8.1
The CAP Strategic Plan and its money
The plan. The European Commission approved Bulgaria's CAP Strategic Plan for 2023–2027 on 7 December 2022 by Implementing Decision C(2022) 8749, on a first proposal of 25 February 202217. Amendments followed on 31 May 2024, 11 December 2024, 29 August 2025 and 27 February 202623. After the fourth amendment the plan's planned funding was EUR 7,725.7 million, about US$8.96 billion at the ECB reference rate of 31 August 2026 (own calculation)2425. Of this amount, EUR 5,639.9 million came from the EU budget and EUR 2,085.8 million from national funds. Direct payments had EUR 4,119.0 million of EU money and rural development EUR 3,481.9 million, of which EUR 2,070.3 million national24. The plan reserved EUR 1,026.6 million for eco-schemes and EUR 470.8 million for complementary redistributive support on the first 30 ha, and capped basic income support at EUR 100,000 per farmer24. The Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 was still being paid out at the end of 2024, when it had paid EUR 2,986.8 million, 79% of its public budget10.
Direct payments. In calendar year 2024 State Fund Agriculture authorised BGN 1,845.8 million of direct payments for campaigns 2023 and 2024, about US$1.02 billion at the IMF 2024 average rate (own calculation)1026. For campaign 2024 it had authorised BGN 1,688.8 million by 30 June 2025. Basic income support took BGN 750.7 million at BGN 199.30 per ha on 52,197 valid applications, and the eight eco-schemes took BGN 382.3 million (own aggregation)10. Valid applications were 57,791 for the single area payment in campaign 2020, 48,306 for basic income support in campaign 2023, when basic income support replaced the single area payment, and 52,197 for basic income support in campaign 2024272810. EU payments to Bulgaria from the EAGF and the EAFRD were EUR 1,245.9 million in 2025, about US$1.40 billion (own calculation)2926.
National state aid. State aid to agriculture, including tax measures, was BGN 976.6 million in 2024, about US$540 million at the IMF 2024 average rate (own calculation)1026. Liquidity aid against the economic impact of Russia's aggression against Ukraine accounted for BGN 653.1 million of this amount, paid to 52,044 beneficiaries. The excise rebate on gas oil used in primary production paid BGN 100.0 million to 14,640 farmers, the corporate tax relief for farm investment BGN 30.7 million and de minimis schemes BGN 14.2 million10. State aid had been BGN 349.5 million in 2020 and BGN 981.1 million in 20222730. For 2026 the ministry put the funds needed for the sector at BGN 4,233.8 million (EUR 2,164.7 million), including EUR 383.5 million for state aid. These are stated needs, not budget appropriations10.
CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027 financing by type of support
EU budget and national co-financing, EUR million, plan as amended to February 2026
Type of support
EU budget (EUR m)
National co-financing (EUR m)
Direct payments
4,119
–
Sectoral support
109.3
15.5
Rural development
1,411.6
2,070.3
Source: European Commission — Financial annex of the European Commission factsheet (updated version February 2026, after the fourth amendment approved on 27 February 2026). Total EUR 7,725.7 million, of which EU budget EUR 5,639.9 million and national funding EUR 2,085.8 million. Direct payments have no national co-financing (n/a) and include cotton. National funding excludes additional national financing under Article 146 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, and national sectoral funding covers apiculture. Rural development includes technical assistance and possible transfers between pillars. Payments for support under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 are not included in the plan. The Commission publishes the plan's financial figures in EUR, Bulgaria's currency from 1 January 2026.
EU agricultural fund expenditure in Bulgaria
EAGF and EAFRD payments to Bulgaria from the EU budget, EUR million, 2014–2025
Year
EAGF (direct payments and market measures) (EUR m)
EAFRD (MFF) (EUR m)
EAFRD (NextGenerationEU) (EUR m)
2014
602.5
393.8
–
2015
674.7
415.4
–
2016
743.3
257.9
–
2017
812.2
194.5
–
2018
817
205.7
–
2019
807.2
308.6
–
2020
803
303
–
2021
867.1
354.7
0
2022
828
224.9
5.6
2023
839.7
269.9
21.6
2024
837.5
332
28.3
2025
852.7
356.3
36.9
Source: European Commission — European Commission, EU spending and revenue 2000–2025, column BG. Budget years (EU financial years), payments made from the EU budget, not commitments or allocations. Headings changed with the 2021–2027 financial framework (2.0.1/2.0.2 in 2014–2020, 3.1.11/3.2.12 from 2021). The NextGenerationEU EAFRD line is reported separately from 2021 and did not exist before. The 2025 total of EUR 1,245.9 million is about US$1.40 billion at the IMF 2025 average of EUR 0.8871 per US$ (own calculation)26.
Direct payments and transitional national aid for campaign 2024
Payments authorised by group of interventions, BGN million, data at 30 June 2025
Group of interventions
Authorised payments (BGN m)
Basic income support for sustainability
750.7
Eco-schemes (8 schemes)
382.3
Complementary redistributive income support
163.5
Coupled support for livestock
122
Transitional national aid
119.5
Coupled support for crops
113.2
Complementary income support for young farmers
20.4
Payment for small farmers
14.2
Crop-specific payment for cotton
3.1
Source: Agrarian Report 2025 — Agrarian Report 2025, Table IV.3, data of State Fund Agriculture (paying agency) at 30 June 2025. Groups are own aggregations of the 36 interventions in the table. Coupled livestock support covers dairy cows, beef cows, endangered breeds, cattle in mountain areas, buffaloes, sheep and goats (10 interventions). Coupled crop support covers fruit, vegetables, seed potatoes, greenhouse production and protein crops (10 interventions). Transitional national aid covers cattle (decoupled), ewes and she-goats (coupled) and tobacco (decoupled) and is paid from the national budget, all other lines from the EAGF. The total of BGN 1,688.8 million matches the table. Amounts in BGN (lev) as published, before the euro changeover.
Direct payments and transitional national aid authorised by campaign
BGN million, data at 30 June of the following year, campaigns 2020–2024
Campaign
Authorised payments (BGN m)
2020
1,755.5
2021
1,628.2
2022
1,671
2023
1,661.7
2024
1,688.8
Source: Agrarian Report 2021 · Agrarian Report 2022 · Agrarian Report 2023 · Agrarian Report 2024 · Agrarian Report 2025 — Table IV.3 of each Agrarian Report (editions 2021–2025), data at 30 June of the year after the campaign. The 2023 figure is the sum of the interventions listed in the 2024 edition, which gives no total (own calculation). Campaigns 2020–2022 were paid under the 2014–2020 direct payment schemes (single area payment, greening and others), campaigns 2023 and 2024 under the CAP Strategic Plan, so the series breaks in 2023. Valid applications were 57,791 in 2020, 56,425 in 2021 and 54,465 in 2022 for the single area payment scheme, and 48,306 in 2023 and 52,197 in 2024 for basic income support for sustainability. Amounts in BGN (lev).
National state aid to agriculture
Aid paid or granted by type, BGN million, 2020–2024
Year
Crisis liquidity aid (COVID-19 and Russia's aggression against Ukraine) (BGN m)
Excise rebate on gas oil (BGN m)
Corporate tax relief for farm investment (BGN m)
De minimis aid (BGN m)
Other State Fund Agriculture schemes (BGN m)
2020
52.6
84
26.7
66.3
120
2021
72.7
100
55.4
22.8
132.4
2022
568.8
100
129.2
32
151
2023
425.8
100
11.3
46.6
160.8
2024
653.1
100
30.7
14.2
178.6
Source: Agrarian Report 2021 · Agrarian Report 2022 · Agrarian Report 2023 · Agrarian Report 2024 · Agrarian Report 2025 — State aid tables of the Agrarian Reports 2021–2025 (Table IV.6 or IV.8 or IV.14). Totals including tax measures BGN 349.5 million (2020), 383.3 million (2021), 981.1 million (2022), 744.5 million (2023) and 976.6 million (2024). Other State Fund Agriculture schemes is the SFA-administered total minus crisis liquidity aid and de minimis aid (own calculation) and includes animal disease programmes, animal welfare, pedigree books, insurance premium aid and weather damage compensation. Corporate tax relief figures for 2020, 2021 and 2023 were marked preliminary. Crisis liquidity aid in 2024 includes residual payments of the aid applied in 2023. The costs of the gas oil rebate are reported by the Ministry of Finance, and the corporate tax relief is administered by the National Revenue Agency. Amounts in BGN (lev).
CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027 financial plan and ring-fenced EU funding, EUR
Item
EU budget
National funding
Total
Direct payments
4,118,959,730
n/a
4,118,959,730
Sectoral support (apiculture for national funding)
109,346,634
15,479,135
124,825,769
Rural development
1,411,630,220
2,070,297,853
3,481,928,073
Total
5,639,936,584
2,085,776,988
7,725,713,572
Ring-fenced, eco-schemes under direct payments (25% of direct payment allocations)
1,026,590,384
–
–
Ring-fenced, environmental and climate objectives under rural development (40%)
558,195,007
–
–
Ring-fenced, complementary redistributive income support (11%)
470,796,241
–
–
Ring-fenced, young farmers (generational renewal)
125,093,295
–
–
Ring-fenced, LEADER (8%)
113,865,060
–
–
Source: European Commission — European Commission factsheet, updated version February 2026 (plan after the fourth amendment of 27 February 2026). Shares as given by the Commission, compared with the direct payment allocations of Annex IX and the rural development allocations of Annex XI of Regulation (EU) 2021/211532. The minimum for young farmers is set as an absolute amount in Annex XII. National funding excludes additional national financing under Article 146 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115. The plan total is about US$8.96 billion at the ECB reference rate of 31 August 2026, US$1.1596 per euro (own calculation)25.
State aid in agriculture in 2024, BGN
No.
Aid measure
Resource used (BGN)
Beneficiaries
1
Costs of measures under the State prophylactic programme and animal disease surveillance and eradication programmes
22,488,452
27,805
2
Pedigree books and determination of animal productivity and genetic quality
9,837,742
5,253
3
Material damage from dead farm animals and destroyed beehives and bee colonies
239,010
11
4
Voluntary commitments on pig welfare
41,915,068
62
5
Voluntary commitments on poultry welfare
39,244,685
252
6
Removal and destruction of dead animals (2 incinerators as service providers)
26,000,000
2
7–9
Crop damage from adverse climatic events comparable to natural disasters (events of 2022, August–October 2023 and up to 31 July 2024)
8,384,966
599
10–12, 15
National pest control programmes (permanent crops in winter, tomato leaf miner, wireworms in potatoes, vine pests)
11,424,156
4,164
13
Co-financing of insurance premiums for agricultural production
3,033,449
678
14
Quality scheme for seeds and planting material (service provider IASAS)
1,199,988
1
16
GLOBALG.A.P. certification of fruit and vegetable farms
77,378
56
17
Participation in fairs (branch organisations as service providers)
3,724,000
39
18
Liquidity support against the economic impact of Russia's aggression against Ukraine (incl. residual 2023 payments)
653,101,595
52,044
19
Costs of irrigation water (incl. residual 2023 payments)
10,752,201
1,162
20
Payments from previous years under investment schemes
248,620
5
21
De minimis aid (Regulations (EU) 2023/2831 and 1408/2013)
14,226,957
2,224
Total administered by State Fund Agriculture
845,898,265
62,366
22
Excise rebate on gas oil used in primary agricultural production (costs reported by the Ministry of Finance)
99,995,630
14,640
23
Corporate tax relief for investment in farms, tax year 2024
30,741,373
1,456
Total state aid including tax measures
976,635,268
78,462
Source: Agrarian Report 2025 — Agrarian Report 2025, Table IV.14 (sources named there are State Fund Agriculture, the National Revenue Agency, the Customs Agency and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency). Rows 7–9 and rows 10–12 and 15 are summed here (own calculation). Beneficiary totals are as published. The 2024 total is about US$540 million at the IMF 2024 average of BGN 1.8078 per US$ (own calculation)26. By July 2025 State Fund Agriculture had approved BGN 160.0 million for state aid and de minimis schemes in 2025, of which BGN 113.7 million had been used.
Funding the Ministry of Agriculture and Food expects to need for the agricultural sector in 2026
Line
BGN million
EUR million
Direct payments (financial year)
1,645.9
841.5
Payments for CAP Strategic Plan interventions financed by the EAFRD
1,379.7
705.4
State aid, incl. tax relief schemes
750.0
383.5
Market measures (financial year)
170.7
87.3
Activities under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (incl. VAT)
137.3
70.2
Transitional national aid (financial year)
96.4
49.3
Fisheries and aquaculture measures
53.8
27.5
Total
4,233.8
2,164.7
Source: Agrarian Report 2025 — Agrarian Report 2025, Section B (agricultural policy in 2026). These are the funds the ministry stated would be needed, not appropriations or payments. The report gives each amount in both BGN and EUR, and the EUR figures equal the BGN amounts divided by the fixed conversion rate of BGN 1.95583 per euro (own check)22. The total is about US$2.51 billion at the ECB reference rate of 31 August 2026, US$1.1596 per euro (own calculation)25.
8.2
Land, farm support and markets
Agricultural Producers Support ActState Gazette No. 58 of 1998Promulgated in State Gazette No. 58 of 1998, last amended by State Gazette No. 88 of 25 Sep 2026 (adopted 17 Sep 2026, in force on publication)
Закон за подпомагане на земеделските производители
The framework act for state support to farmers. Article 11 sets out the functions of State Fund Agriculture, and a 2006 amendment provided for a single accredited paying agency (Article 2b) and gave State Fund Agriculture the functions of paying agency from the date of its accreditation (Article 11(2)(4))5. State Fund Agriculture also administers national state aid and its own credit schemes10. A 2026 amendment added support for adverse events through the Mutual Fund and earmarked public funding and land-use deposits unclaimed for 10 years for the risk management instrument of Article 76(3)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2021/21151. Under Article 57(2), the amounts cut from basic income support above the EUR 100,000 ceiling are added to the budget for complementary redistributive income support10.
Recent changes: Amended many times since 1998. Recent amendments were published in State Gazette Nos. 39, 41, 70 and 85 of 2024, No. 43 of 2025 and Nos. 24 and 55 of 2026, and the latest by the amending act in No. 88 of 25 September 2026, adopted by the 52nd National Assembly on 17 September 20261.
Ownership and Use of Agricultural Land ActState Gazette No. 17 of 1991 (corrected No. 20 of 1991)Promulgated in State Gazette No. 17 of 1991, last amended by State Gazette No. 88 of 25 Sep 2026
Закон за собствеността и ползването на земеделските земи
Article 37c (чл. 37в) governs the voluntary agreements and land-use blocks (масиви за ползване) through which users of fragmented plots in a village area consolidate use without changing ownership. Since an amendment of April 2024, an agreement takes effect when it is signed by at least two thirds of the participating users and covers at least two thirds of the area designated for the blocks20. Of the amounts deposited under Article 37c(7), sums not claimed by the right-holders for 10 years are transferred to State Fund Agriculture for the Mutual Fund from September 20261. Article 24a sets the rules for leasing land from the state land fund by auction20.
Recent changes: State Gazette No. 33 of 12 April 2024 (adopted 28 March 2024, mostly in force from 1 January 2025) revised the land-use block rules. The Euro Introduction Act (No. 70 of 2024) amended Article 35(9). The latest amendment is § 24 of the act amending the Agricultural Producers Support Act, State Gazette No. 88 of 25 September 202620191.
Agricultural Land Lease ActState Gazette No. 82 of 1996Promulgated in State Gazette No. 82 of 1996, last amended by State Gazette No. 102 of 8 Dec 2023
Закон за арендата в земеделието
Governs lease (arenda) contracts for agricultural land. Since the 2018 amendment of Article 3, lease contracts and agreements changing or ending them must be in writing with the content and signatures notarised at the same time, the notary checks compliance with Article 3(4), and sketches of the plots are attached34.
Recent changes: Amended in 1999, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 (Nos. 42 and 55) and 2022. Last amended by the act amending the Plant Protection Act, State Gazette No. 102 of 8 December 2023 (adopted 23 November 2023), which renamed the ministry2.
Agricultural Land Protection ActState Gazette No. 35 of 1996Promulgated in State Gazette No. 35 of 1996, last amended by State Gazette No. 55 of 16 Jun 2026
Закон за опазване на земеделските земи
Protects agricultural land and regulates the change of its designated use for non-agricultural purposes. A 2025 amendment added rules in Article 17a on the change of designated use for investment projects35.
Recent changes: Amended in 2024 (Nos. 16, 33 and 41) and 2025 (Nos. 43 and 95), and partly affected by Constitutional Court Decision No. 3 of 2025 (State Gazette No. 37 of 2025). Last amended by the act amending the Investment Promotion Act, State Gazette No. 55 of 16 June 2026 (adopted 4 June 2026)3.
Cooperatives ActState Gazette No. 113 of 1999Promulgated in State Gazette No. 113 of 1999, last amended by State Gazette No. 42 of 22 May 2018
Закон за кооперациите
Defines the cooperative as an association of natural persons with variable capital and a variable number of members who carry out commercial activity through mutual assistance and cooperation to meet their economic, social and cultural interests. A cooperative is a legal person36. Cooperatives may bid in the auctions for state land fund land alongside natural persons, sole traders and other legal persons20.
Recent changes: Amended in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2017 and 2018. The last amendment found is in the act amending the Ownership and Use of Agricultural Land Act, State Gazette No. 42 of 22 May 2018 (adopted 9 May 2018)34.
Act on the Implementation of the Common Market Organisation of Agricultural Products of the European UnionState Gazette No. 96 of 2006Adopted 15 Nov 2006, State Gazette No. 96 of 28 Nov 2006, in force 1 Jan 2007
Закон за прилагане на Общата организация на пазарите на земеделски продукти на Европейския съюз
Sets the national rules for the EU market measures under the common market organisation, the state aid measures that are part of the CAP and the competent bodies, insofar as EU law does not designate them7. The Agrarian Report covers market measures such as wine and apiculture interventions, producer organisations, school schemes and public intervention under the first pillar of the CAP10. Adopted with a plural title (Common Market Organisations), later changed to the singular73.
Recent changes: Amended in 2008–2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 (No. 41). Last amended by the act amending the Investment Promotion Act, State Gazette No. 55 of 16 June 20263.
Oil-Bearing Rose ActState Gazette No. 9 of 2020Adopted 16 Jan 2020, State Gazette No. 9 of 31 Jan 2020, in force on publication (Article 8(1) from 1 Jan 2022)
Закон за маслодайната роза
Creates a public national electronic register of rose growers, rose processors, facilities making products from rose blossom and oil-bearing rose plantations, and regulates the identification of plantations, the purchase of rose blossom and the production and labelling of rose products12.
Recent changes: Amended by State Gazette No. 102 of 2022 and, most recently, by the act amending the Plant Protection Act, State Gazette No. 102 of 8 December 20232.
Food safety, plant and animal health and fair trading
Food ActState Gazette No. 52 of 2020Adopted 27 May 2020, State Gazette No. 52 of 9 Jun 2020, in force on publication (Article 76(2)(2) from 22 Feb 2021)
Закон за храните
Sets the requirements for food safety, for food business operators and persons working in food establishments, for packaging, labelling, presentation and advertising of food, and for the production, processing and distribution of food14.
Recent changes: Amended in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 (Nos. 80, 100 and 102), 2024 (Nos. 41 and 85) and 2025 (No. 54). Last amended by the act amending the Investment Promotion Act, State Gazette No. 55 of 16 June 2026 (adopted 4 June 2026)3.
Agri-food Chain Management ActState Gazette No. 51 of 2020Adopted 21 May 2020, State Gazette No. 51 of 5 Jun 2020, in force 14 days after publication
Закон за управление на агрохранителната верига
Designates the authorities that carry out official controls and risk assessment along the agri-food chain, sets the general requirements for official controls and the rules for the Multiannual National Control Plan13.
Recent changes: Amended in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 (Nos. 23 and 41). Last amended by the act amending the Investment Promotion Act, State Gazette No. 55 of 16 June 20263.
Veterinary Activity ActState Gazette No. 87 of 2005Adopted 18 Oct 2005, State Gazette No. 87 of 1 Nov 2005, in force six months after publication (some provisions from 26 Oct 2005 to 1 Jan 2007)
Закон за ветеринарномедицинската дейност
Governs the performance, management and control of veterinary activity and introduces the principles of EU veterinary legislation and of the World Organisation for Animal Health38. State aid for the State prophylactic programme and animal disease programmes paid BGN 22.5 million to 27,805 beneficiaries in 202410.
Recent changes: Recent amendments were published in Nos. 21, 23 and 41 of 2024. Last amended by the act amending the Investment Promotion Act, State Gazette No. 55 of 16 June 20263.
Plant Protection ActState Gazette No. 61 of 2014Adopted 10 Jul 2014, State Gazette No. 61 of 25 Jul 2014, no general entry-into-force clause
Закон за защита на растенията
Covers phytosanitary measures under the International Plant Protection Convention, protection of plants and plant products from pests, monitoring and forecasting, integrated pest management and plant protection products39. The final provisions contain no general entry-into-force clause, and § 18 sets later dates for Article 9(3) (three months after publication), Article 6(1)(1)(c), Article 54 point 2 and Article 65 (1 January 2015), Article 101 point 6 (26 November 2015) and Article 49(6) (1 January 2016)39.
Recent changes: Amended in 2015–2020, 2022, 2023 (No. 102), 2024 (No. 21) and 2025 (No. 115 of 30 December 2025). Last amended by the act amending the Consumer Protection Act, State Gazette No. 13 of 3 February 2026 (adopted 21 January 2026)40.
Bulgarian Food Safety Agency ActState Gazette No. 8 of 2011Adopted 13 Jan 2011, State Gazette No. 8 of 25 Jan 2011, in force on publication
Закон за Българската агенция по безопасност на храните
Establishes the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency under the minister of agriculture as a budget-funded legal person and the competent state authority for official controls within the meaning of EU law41.
Recent changes: Amended in 2012–2017 and 2022. Last amended by the act amending the Plant Protection Act, State Gazette No. 102 of 8 December 20232.
Wine and Spirits ActState Gazette No. 45 of 2012Adopted 31 May 2012, State Gazette No. 45 of 15 Jun 2012, in force three months after publication (Article 146 from 1 Jan 2013)
Закон за виното и спиртните напитки
Governs the production, processing, labelling, trade and control of wine grapes, wines, fruit wines, ethyl alcohol and distillates of agricultural origin and spirit drinks, and the management of the wine-growing potential42. Wine sector interventions had a budget of BGN 51.5 million for financial year 202410.
Recent changes: Amended in 2013–2020, 2022, 2023 (No. 105) and 2024 (No. 41). Last amended by the act amending the Investment Promotion Act, State Gazette No. 55 of 16 June 20263.
Competition Protection Act (unfair trading practices in the agri-food supply chain)State Gazette No. 102 of 2008Adopted 14 Nov 2008, State Gazette No. 102 of 28 Nov 2008. Chapter Seven 'b' added by State Gazette No. 17 of 26 Feb 2021 (adopted 11 Feb 2021), in force 1 Nov 2021
Закон за защита на конкуренцията
The general competition act, enforced by the Commission for Protection of Competition43. The 2021 amendment transposed Directive (EU) 2019/633. It repealed Chapter Seven 'a' on abuse of a superior bargaining position and created Chapter Seven 'b' (Articles 37b–37f, чл. 37б–37е) on unfair trading practices between buyers and suppliers in the agricultural and food supply chain, such as late payment of suppliers1544.
Recent changes: Amended in 2023, 2025 (No. 95) and 2026 (Nos. 16 and 51). Last amended by State Gazette No. 58 of 26 June 2026 (adopted 11 June 2026)45.
Grain Storage and Trade Act (repealed)State Gazette No. 93 of 1998Promulgated in State Gazette No. 93 of 1998, repealed by State Gazette No. 57 of 28 Jul 2015
Закон за съхранение и търговия със зърно
Regulated public grain warehouses and their warehouse receipts. It was repealed by the Act on the Closure of the National Grain Service (adopted 15 July 2015). Warehouse receipts for grain deposits issued by public grain warehouses before that act fall under Chapter Thirty-Four of the Commerce Act, and the guarantee fund set up under the repealed Act is wound up11.
Recent changes: Amended between 2000 and 2015, then repealed in 201511.
Bulgarian Development Bank ActState Gazette No. 43 of 2008Adopted 23 Apr 2008, State Gazette No. 43 of 29 Apr 2008, no separate entry-into-force date in the final provisions
Закон за Българската банка за развитие
Sets up the Bulgarian Development Bank as a credit institution and joint-stock company in which the state holds at least 51% of the capital. Its first stated aim is to improve and stimulate the economic, export and technological potential of small and medium-sized enterprises by easing their access to finance9.
Recent changes: Amended in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2025 and 2026 (Nos. 30 and 55). Last amended by the act amending the Credit Institutions Act, State Gazette No. 67 of 24 July 2026 (adopted 9 July 2026)46.
Insurance CodeState Gazette No. 102 of 2015Adopted 15 Dec 2015, State Gazette No. 102 of 29 Dec 2015, in force 1 Jan 2016 (Article 574(8) from 1 Jul 2016)
Кодекс за застраховането
Governs insurance and reinsurance, insurance and reinsurance intermediation and the distribution of insurance products48. National state aid co-financed agricultural insurance premiums for 678 beneficiaries (BGN 3.03 million) in 202410.
Recent changes: Recent amendments include Nos. 49, 54, 63, 64 and 67 of 2025 and Nos. 16, 25, 51 and 67 of 2026. Last amended by the act amending the Consumer Protection Act, State Gazette No. 87 of 24 September 2026 (adopted 10 September 2026)49.
Credit Institutions ActState Gazette No. 59 of 2006Adopted 13 Jul 2006, State Gazette No. 59 of 21 Jul 2006, in force with the EU Accession Treaty (1 Jan 2007)
Закон за кредитните институции
The banking act. It entered into force on the day the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria to the EU entered into force, with listed exceptions86.
Recent changes: Recent amendments include Nos. 49, 50, 54, 63, 67 and 99 of 2025 and Nos. 16, 25, 51 and 67 of 2026. Last amended by the act amending the Collective Investment Schemes Act, State Gazette No. 71 of 7 August 2026 (adopted 30 July 2026)50.
Bulgarian National Bank Act (2024)State Gazette No. 13 of 2024Adopted 1 Feb 2024, State Gazette No. 13 of 13 Feb 2024, in force on the euro adoption date (1 Jan 2026) except § 6(1), § 9 and § 11
Закон за Българската народна банка
The central bank act prepared for euro area membership. It entered into force on the date set in the Council decision on Bulgaria's adoption of the euro, which is 1 January 2026, with three provisions in force on publication1821.
Recent changes: Amended by Nos. 26, 50 and 54 of 2025 and Nos. 16, 51 and 67 of 2026. Last amended by State Gazette No. 71 of 7 August 202650.
Act on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of BulgariaState Gazette No. 70 of 2024Adopted 7 Aug 2024, State Gazette No. 70 of 20 Aug 2024, euro adoption date 1 Jan 2026
Закон за въвеждане на еврото в Република България
Sets the national measures for the changeover. The adoption date is the one set in the Council decision under Article 140(2) TFEU19, which is 1 January 202621. Amounts in lev are converted by dividing by the official rate written with six digits and all five decimals, and lev banknotes and coins remained legal tender for one month after the adoption date19. The conversion rate is BGN 1.95583 per euro22. Final provisions changed lev amounts in other acts, including the Ownership and Use of Agricultural Land Act19.
Recent changes: Amended by Nos. 25, 49, 63, 65, 99, 100 and 115 of 2025 and Nos. 55 and 82 of 2026. Last amended by the act supplementing the Commercial Register Act, State Gazette No. 92 of 6 October 2026 (adopted 1 October 2026)51.
CAP Strategic Plan of Bulgaria 2023–2027Commission Implementing Decision C(2022) 8749, CCI 2023BG06AFSP001Approved 7 Dec 2022, amended 31 May 2024, 11 Dec 2024, 29 Aug 2025 and 27 Feb 2026
Стратегически план за развитие на земеделието и селските райони 2023–2027 г.
The single plan for CAP direct payments, sectoral support and rural development in 2023–202717. After the fourth amendment it has planned funding of EUR 7,725.7 million, of which EUR 5,639.9 million from the EU budget and EUR 2,085.8 million of national funding, and it redistributes 10% of direct payments to the first 30 ha and caps basic income support at EUR 100,00024. Bulgaria submitted the first proposal on 25 February 202223.
Recent changes: Amendments approved by Commission decisions C(2024)3537 of 31 May 2024, C(2024)8660 of 11 December 2024, C(2025)5882 of 29 August 2025 and C(2026)1272 of 27 February 202623.
Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 (closing)Commission Implementing Decision C(2015) 3480Approved 26 May 2015, 17th amendment in force at 31 Dec 2024, implementation ends in 2025
Програма за развитие на селските райони 2014–2020 г.
The EAFRD programme of the previous period. Its public budget under the 17th amendment was BGN 7,416.2 million (EUR 3,791.9 million), of which EAFRD BGN 6,119.8 million. By 31 December 2024 it had paid EUR 2,986.8 million (BGN 5,841.6 million), 79% of the budget, and the ministry stated that implementation ends in 202510.
National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Component 6 Sustainable agriculture)Council Implementing Decision of 4 May 2022, amended in 2023 (REPowerEU chapter)Approved by the Council 4 May 2022, amended in 2023 (REPowerEU chapter), further amendments proposed by the Commission in July 2025, November 2025, April 2026 and August 2026
Национален план за възстановяване и устойчивост
The plan is worth EUR 6,174 million in grants from the Recovery and Resilience Facility16. The Council approved it on 4 May 2022 and amended it in 2023 with a REPowerEU chapter54. The Commission proposed further amendments of the 2022 implementing decision in July 2025, November 2025, April 2026 and August 202654. Under investment C6.I1 the ministry ran a call (procedure BG-RRP-6.004) for technological and environmental modernisation of farms with a budget of BGN 381.7 million as given in the Agrarian Report 2025, and signed 1,520 contracts for BGN 315.6 million, and a call for fruit and vegetable storage centres with 23 contracts for BGN 13.6 million. Investment C6.I2 finances an electronic information system for agriculture (BGN 23.9 million)10. The ministry's application conditions of April 2026 give a total budget of BGN 391.7 million for investment C6.I155.
National Action Programme contributing to the Farm to Fork Strategy to 2030Council of Ministers Decision No. 857 of 2024Approved 13 Dec 2024
Национална програма за действие за принос към изпълнение на целите на Стратегията „От фермата до трапезата“ до 2030 г.
Prepared as the reform Update of the strategic framework of the agricultural sector in Component 6 of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. It updates the framework set by the National Development Programme Bulgaria 2030 with measures for climate, environment, biodiversity and natural resources to 203010.
Strategy for the Digitalisation of Agriculture and Rural AreasCouncil of Ministers Decision No. 247 of 2019Adopted 2 May 2019
Стратегия за цифровизация на земеделието и селските райони на Република България
Adopted by the Council of Ministers in 201956. The ministry reports that a single information system of electronic registers was built under the strategy and that measures are financed from the RDP 2014–2020, the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the CAP Strategic Plan10.
Accession to the European UnionTreaty of Accession of 2005EU member since 1 Jan 2007
Bulgaria has been an EU Member State since 1 January 2007, a Schengen member since 31 March 2024 and a euro area member since 1 January 20266. The Act on the Implementation of the CMO and the Credit Institutions Act took effect on accession78.
Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 on CAP Strategic PlansOJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 1Adopted 2 Dec 2021, in force 7 Dec 2021, plans cover 2023–2027
Sets the rules for the CAP Strategic Plans financed by the EAGF and the EAFRD for 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2027. Annex V allocates Bulgaria EUR 808.4 million for direct payments in 2023, rising to EUR 834.3 million in 2026 and 2027 (EUR 805.9 million and EUR 831.8 million without cotton, Annex IX), and Annex XI gives EUR 282.2 million a year for rural development32.
Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 on the financing, management and monitoring of the CAPOJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 187Adopted 2 Dec 2021, published OJ L 435 of 6 Dec 2021, in force 7 Dec 2021 (day following publication, Article 106), applies from 1 Jan 2023
The horizontal CAP regulation on paying agencies, financing and controls, which applies from 1 January 202357. In Bulgaria State Fund Agriculture is the paying agency10.
Directive (EU) 2019/633 on unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chainOJ L 111, 25.4.2019, p. 59Adopted 17 Apr 2019, published OJ L 111 of 25 Apr 2019, in force 30 Apr 2019 (fifth day following publication, Article 14), transposition by 1 May 2021, application by 1 Nov 2021
Requires Member States to ban listed unfair trading practices between buyers and suppliers of agricultural and food products44. Bulgaria transposed it through Chapter Seven 'b' of the Competition Protection Act, in force from 1 November 202115.
Council Decision (EU) 2025/1407 and Council Regulations (EU) 2025/1408 and 2025/1409 on Bulgaria's adoption of the euroOJ L series, 14.7.2025Adopted 8 Jul 2025, published OJ L of 14 Jul 2025, Regulations 2025/1408 and 2025/1409 in force 1 Jan 2026, euro adopted 1 Jan 2026
The decision found that Bulgaria fulfils the conditions for the euro and abrogated its derogation from 1 January 202621. Regulation 2025/1408 amends Regulation (EC) No 974/98 on the introduction of the euro58, and Regulation 2025/1409 fixes the conversion rate at 1.95583 lev per euro, the central rate of the lev in ERM II, from 1 January 202622. Bulgarian amounts up to 2025 are in lev and amounts from 2026 in euro.
Paris AgreementUN Treaty Series, Chapter XXVII-7-dSigned 22 Apr 2016, ratified 29 Nov 2016
Bulgaria signed the Paris Agreement on 22 April 2016 and ratified it on 29 November 201660. The CAP Strategic Plan reserves EUR 558.2 million of EU rural development funding for environmental and climate objectives24.
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