July 27, 2010

At an extraordinary meeting on July 27, 2010, the National Assembly adopted a plan for the creation of a Bulgarian Agency for Food Safety and a Center for Risk Assessment. The decision is based on a document submitted by the Council of Ministers, showing that the current four institutions which exercise control over the food safety, have overlapping functions.The creation of the new agency will result in the closure of the National Plant Protection Service and the National Veterinary Service. The National Grain and Fodder Service will become part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

It will be up to Municipal Councils to decide the change of agricultural land and pastures use. According to the amendments passed in the Ownership and Use of Agricultural Lands Act the decision will be taken by the vote of two thirds of the total number of municipal councilors. The amendments provide that leasing of municipal land with the exception of pastures, should be done by tender or competition, following procedures established by the municipal council. The term of the lease could not be more than 10 years. Municipal lands could be rented out without tender or competition, when the latter were not cultivated for 2 or more years or where engaged with long term plants.

The National Assembly adopted at second reading amendments to the Protection from Harmful Impact of Chemical Substances and Preparations Act. They regulate that any advertising of a dangerous mixture must indicate the category of danger. The amendments mandate the Council of Ministers to adopt regulations establishing the procedures and manner of storage of hazardous chemical substances and mixtures as well as the manner and procedures for limiting the manufacture, use or marketing of certain dangerous chemical substances, mixtures and products.

The Parliament ratified several international agreements to which Bulgaria is party. Among them the amendments to the Grant Agreement for the period 2008-2012 on "Improving TB control in Bulgaria” between the Government of Bulgaria and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. For the period 2008-2012 Bulgaria will receive from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Euro 14.2 million. The ratification continues the programs for prevention and control of tuberculosis in our country.