Bulgaria

Distributing a product

Market shares

Retailers' network has come up only recently. They can be easily recognised with the commercial services they offer, compared to other western countries. The retailers offer a particular advantage to the foreign companies to the extent that they do not have to create their own distributive network.

Organizations in the retail sector

Market access procedures

International Conventions

Non tariff barriers

The import system in Bulgaria has been liberalised a lot in the recent years. There is almost no import restriction, except when it concerns health or safety. Licensing procedures were set up for these products. Most licenses are automatically granted and serve in order to record the exchanges. Other licenses are required for the import of medicines or substances required for the manufacture of medicines, as well as for products containing some asbestos. These licenses are issued by the Ministry of Economy. Products for veterinarian use should also be authorised by the Ministry of Health or by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Besides that, Bulgaria also uses the UAD ( Unique Administrative Document) of the European Union for custom declaration.

 

Product	Licenses
Medicines	X
Pharmaceutical products	X
Products containing some asbestos	X

Customs classification

Bulgaria applies the Harmonised Customs system on the basis of the international 6 figures key. The custom duty is calculated Ad valorem on the CIF value. For certain products (especially farm products) the customs duty is calculated on the basis of a minimum price.
Bulgaria applies a structure of different duties according to the origin of the products:

• A General Rate (13.7 % on average, about 11 % for industrial goods and 24 % for farm products).
• A rate of Generalised System of Preference, based on the model set up by the European Union is valid for most of the developing countries.
• Preferential Agreements: CEFTA (Central European Free Trade association exchange - 80% of the products will not be subject anymore to customs duties by 2002); the European Union ( tapering of the duty to zero in 10 years from 1994 ); EFTA; Turkey; Macedonia.

Import procedures

Bulgaria applies the Harmonised Customs system on the basis of the international 6 figures key. The custom duty is calculated Ad valorem on the CIF value. For certain products (especially farm products) the customs duty is calculated on the basis of a minimum price.
Bulgaria applies a structure of different duties according to the origin of the products:

• A General Rate (13.7 % on average, about 11 % for industrial goods and 24 % for farm products).
• A rate of Generalised System of Preference, based on the model set up by the European Union is valid for most of the developing countries.
• Preferential Agreements: CEFTA (Central European Free Trade association exchange - 80% of the products will not be subject anymore to customs duties by 2002); the European Union ( tapering of the duty to zero in 10 years from 1994 ); EFTA; Turkey; Macedonia.

For further information

Organizing goods transport

Ports

The airport of Sofia
The site of Burgas's port
The site of the port of Varna
The site of the company ferroviare Bulgarian BDZ.

Airports

Sea transport organizations

Air transport organizations

Road transport organizations

Rail transport organizations