Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

22 tonnes of food per day rejected at Kapitan Andreevo border crossing over high pesticides content

Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint
Photo: BGNES

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency has approached the Prosecutor's Office and Organized Crime Police because of established drastic violations in the controlling procedures at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint on the border with Turkey, which has been carried out in the last 10 years by a private company.

This was announced by the director of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency Hristo Daskalov and the deputy minister of agriculture Ivan Hristanov.
In 2021, on average, 6 tonnes of food were rejected per day, and at the moment, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency rejects 22 tonnes of food per day due to an increased content of pesticides, Ivan Hristanov announced at a press conference in BTA, who presented up-to-date information on the results of inspections of the phytosanitary, health and veterinary control at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint.

The scandal with Kapitan Andreevo erupted after a recording of an offered bribe to the director of the agency, Hristo Daskalov, was released. 

As of May 20, the state has fully taken over the phytosanitary controls at the border checkpoint.

The checkpoint at Bulgaria's Kapitan Andreevo and Kapikule on the Turkish side is the busiest road border crossing in Europe, as it is also the entry point for the largest amount of Turkish goods entering the EU. 

"With every remaining hour of our rule, we are taking back control of the European border at Kapitan Andreevo. We are working hard to restore the rule of law, economic prosperity and economic stability in Bulgaria, control over the quality of food and restore the health of Bulgarian citizens", commented outgoing Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on Facebook.


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgaria and the US confirm their strategic partnership in nuclear energy

Bulgarian Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov has held a working meeting with US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. The two discussed strategic projects in the sphere of nuclear energy as a key guarantor of the region's long-term energy security...

published on 4/29/25 6:21 PM
Rumen Radev

President Radev: No concessions for Skopje on EU accession

Bulgaria will not make any concessions to the Republic of North Macedonia in order for Skopje to start negotiations on the country's membership in the European Union. This was reiterated by President Rumen Radev in Warsaw , where he took part in the..

published on 4/29/25 4:05 PM

Authorities announce intermittent traffic closures on Danube bridge near Ruse due to road works

On Wednesday 30 April, between 8am and 5pm, traffic on the Danube bridge near Ruse will be stopped periodically at short intervals, the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) announced. The temporary restriction is due to asphalt paving work on a closed 413..

published on 4/29/25 2:58 PM