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ORDINANCE FOR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LABELLING AND THE PRESENTING OF THE
FOODS
In force from July 29, 2001
Prom. SG. 62/28 Jul 2000, amend. SG. 40/19 Apr 2002, amend. SG. 19/28 Feb 2003, amend. SG.
100/14 Nov 2003, amend. SG. 98/5 Nov 2004, amend. SG. 82/14 Oct 2005, amend. SG. 20/7 Mar 2006, amend. SG. 75/18 Sep 2007, amend. SG. 48/23 May 2008
Section I. General provisions
Art. 1. (amend. SG 100/03) The ordinance shall determine the requirements for labelling and presenting, including advertising of the foods with objective protection of the consumers from untrue
and misleading information.
Art. 2. (amend. SG 98/04) (1) (prev. Art. 2 – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) The ordinance
shall be applied for:
1. the foods, offered as such to the end consumer;
2. (amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) the foods, designated for supply to restaurants, to hospitals, canteens and other similar public catering places.
(2) (new – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) The provisions of Art. 6, par. 1, item 12 and Art. 31 shall apply to all foods along the whole food chain.
Art. 3. (amend. SG 100/03, amend. SG 98/04) The ordinance shall not be applied for:
1. (revoked – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008)
2. the requirements for presenting of information for the energy content and nutrient substances;
3. products, designated for export.
Section II. General requirements at labelling and presenting of the foods
Art. 4. (amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) The labelling of the foods and the applied therefore methods must not:
1. put it across the consumer with regard to:
a) characteristics of the food, determined by its nature, origin, identity, properties, composition, quantity, durability, way of production and processing;
b) impacts and properties of the food, which it does not have;
c) suggestion that the food has a special characteristic, when all other similar foods have the same
characteristic;
2. to attribute properties to the food of protecting, treating or healing from diseases or to direct to
such properties, except for the cases of applicable Community requirements to natural mineral waters and foods of special purpose of use
Art. 5. (suppl. SG 100/03) At presenting, including advertising of the foods shall be observed the
requirements of art. 4 for the form, the external appearance, the packing or the material, used for packing, with regard to the way of arranging with respect to the other goods and the situation, in
which the foods are exhibited.
Art. 6. (1) (prev. art. 6 – SG 100/03; suppl. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) At the labelling of the foods the following data must be obligatorily announced, written in Bulgarian language:
1. (amend. SG 100/03; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) name, under which the product is sold;
2. list of the components of the food;
3. the quantity of defined ingredients or categories of ingredients in the cases of art. 23;
4. (amend. SG 98/04; revoked – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008);
5. (amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) the minimum durability or marking “BEST BEFORE”, followed by a particular date, where foods from microbiological point of view are subject to
fast perishing;
6. (suppl. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) special conditions for preservation and usage
conditions of the food;
7. (amend. and suppl. SG 19/03, amend. SG 100/03, in force from February 15, 2003, suppl. SG
98/04; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) net quantity – in case of preliminary packed foods;
8. (suppl. SG 98/04; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) name or trade name and the address of the manufacturer or of the person, who packs the food or of the seller, established within
the Community;
9. (amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) details of the place of origin or of the place, from
where the food comes, where such information may mislead the consumer with regard to the actual origin of the food or to the place, from where it comes;
10. for foods from import shall be pointed out the producer country and when in another country the
food has undergone processing, leading to its nature, on the label as country of origin shall be
announced the country, where the processing has been implemented;
11. instruction for use in case the consumer cannot use the food without it;
12. (amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) marking, allowing identification of the lot, to
which the food belongs;
13. (amend. SG 100/03; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) the actual volume alcohol
content for drinks, containing more than 1.2 volume percent of alcohol.
(2) (new – SG 100/03) The instruction for use of para 1, item 11, shall be pointed out in away,
allowing the correct use of the food.
(3) (new – SG 98/04) It shall be admitted the data of art. 6, para 1 apart of Bulgarian language to be
announced also in other languages.
Art. 6a. (new – SG 100/03, in force from February 15, 2003; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from
31.05.2008) (1) At the labelling shall be announced the alcohol content of the drinks of art. 6, para 1, item 13, different from those, classified under items No. 22.04 and 22.05 by the Common Customs
Tariff (Regulation (EEC) No. 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common
Customs Tariff (OJ, L 256 of 7.09.1987) last amended with the Regulation (EC) No. 275/2008 (OJ, L
85 of 27.03.2008) determined at 20 degrees C.
(2) The figure of alcohol content shall be presented with accuracy of up to not more than one digit
after the decimal point. It shall be followed by the symbol “% vol.” and may be prefixed by the word
“alcohol” or by the abbreviation “alc.”.
(3) The admissible deviation related to indication of the announced alcohol content expressed in absolute values, shall be:
1. for beers with alcohol content not bigger than 5.5 percent vol. And drinks, classified under item No. 22.7 B II of the Common Customs Tariff and made of grapes - ± 0.5 percent vol.;
2. for beers with alcohol content bigger than 5.5 percent vol. and for drinks, classified under item No. 22.07 B I of the Common Customs Tariff and made of grapes, for apple wines, pear wines, fruit wines
and others, made of fruit, different from grapes, regardless whether they are sparkling or foaming wine, as well as for drinks based on fermented honey - ± 1 percent vol.;
3. for drinks of para 1, containing soaked fruits or parts of plants - ± 0.5 percent vol.;
4. for drinks of para 1, different from these of items 1 - 3 - ± 0.3 percent vol.
(4) The deviations of para 3 shall apply regardless from the deviations, ensuing from the method of
analysis, used at determining the alcohol content.
Art. 7. (1) (amend. SG 100/03) The data of art. 6, para 1, must be written in a way clear and understandable for the consumer, located at a place easy to see, not to be deleted at manipulation,
use and preservation of the food. They must not be covered or separated by other text or picture.
(2) (amend. SG 100/03, amend. SG 98/04; amend., - SG 20/06 ) The data of art. 6, para 1, items 1,
5, 7 and 13 must be disposed on one visual field.
(3) The requirement of para 2 shall not be applied for glass bottles for second use, when some of the data are durably marked.
(4) (amend. SG 100/03) It shall be admitted glass bottles for second use, on which label is not put but are durably marked, as well as for packing with area less than 10 cm2 on the label to be announced
only the data of art. 6, para 1, items 1, 5 and 7.
(5) (amend. SG 40/02, amend. SG 100/03) Indication of art. 6, para 1, item 4, shall not be required
when:
1. the food or its ingredients do not contain protein or desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as product of the
genetic modification;
2. (amend. SG 98/04) in the food or in its ingredients as result of casual pollution have occurred
products, obtained from genetically modified organisms and which content in the food does not exceed 1 percent.
(6) (new – SG 98/04) The provision of para 2 can be applied also for the data of art. 10, para 1 and art. 11.
Art. 8. (1) (amend. SG 100/03) Each packed food, designated for sale to end user, shall be labelled by
putting the data of art. 6, para 1, directly on the packing or in the form of a label, ring or cap, put on it.
(2) The labels shall be put in a way not allowing their separation from the packing.
Art. 8a. (*) (new – SG 100/03) (1) It shall be admitted the data of art. 6, para 1, items 10 and 11 to
be noted only in the trade documents at labelling of the preliminary packed foods, which are designated for:
1. the end consumer, but are sold at a stage, preceding the sale to the end consumer as well as when this stage is not sale at places for public catering;
2. supply at places for public catering in order to be prepared, processed, separated or cut.
(2) The trade documents of para 1, containing all data of labelling, must accompany the foods, for which they refer, or be sent before the supply or simultaneous with it.
(3) In the cases of para 1 the data of art. 6, para 1, items 1, 5 and 8 shall be put on the external packing, in which the foods are presented for sale, the data about the term of minimum durability,
and for fast perishable foods – about the term of best use, shall be pointed out in compliance with art.
28, para 2 and 3 and art 29.
Art. 9. (*) (1) (amend. SG 100/03) The labelling of the foods shall not be obligatory when:
1. their quantity is measured in the presence of the consumer;
2. they are not preliminary packed in consumer packing;
3. they are designated for supply of the places for public catering.
(2) (amend. SG 100/03) In the cases of para 1:
1. in the documents, accompanying the food to the place if its sale, shall be pointed out the data of
art. 6, para 1;
2. on the transport packing shall be marked the data of art. 6, para 1, items 1, 5, 8 and 12;
3. at the place of offering of the food shall be announced the data of art. 6, para 1, items 1 and 8.
Art. 10. (1) (prev. art. 10, amend. – SG 100/03) At the labelling of the foods apart from the data of
art. 6, para 1 shall be announced also the data according to appendix No 1.
(2) (new – SG 100/03; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) Para 1 shall not be applied for drinks based on coffee, tea, coffee extract or tea extract when the name, under which they are being
sold contains the term "coffee" or "tea".
Art. 11. (1) (prev. art. 11, amend. – SG 100/03, amend. SG 98/04) At the labelling of the foods shall be admitted announcement of additional information by text, pictorial or graphic image, if it is not in
controversy with the data of art. 6, para 1, and art. 10.
(2) (new – SG 100/03) In addition to the requirements of art. 6, para 1, items 2 and 5 shall also be
admitted introduction of other obligatory indications in compliance with the ordinances of art. 4 of the law of the foods only if they do not lead to delusion of the consumer.
(3) (new – SG 100/03) At announcing of the actual volume alcohol content of the drinks of art. 6, para
1, item 13, the figure and the symbol can be preceded by the word "alcohol" or by the abbreviation
"alc.".
Section III.
Specific requirements at the labelling f the foods
Art. 12. (1) A name of a food, for which there is definition in a normative act, can be used at the
labelling if the food meets the requirements, pointed out in the normative act.
(2) The name of a food from import shall be the name, under which it is produced and sold in the
producer country.
(3) In case the name of the food does not give opportunity to the consumer to determine its kind and
to distinct it from other similar foods, it must be obligatory accompanied by a description of the food.
(4) (new – SG 100/03) The name, under which a food from import is distributed on the territory of the
country, can differ from the name in the producer country under the condition that there is Bulgarian food for which traditionally the same name is used and it differs fully as composition and way of
production.
Art. 13. (amend. SG 98/04) The name of the producer, the trade mark or other name, different from
the name of the food can accompany the name of the food on the label but not substitute it.
Art. 14. The name of the food shall contain or be supplemented by data about the physical state of the food or the particular processing it has been subject to, when the lack of such data would lead
delusion of the consumer.
Art. 15. (prev. text of Art. 15 – SG 75/07, in force from 18.09.2007) Each food, which has been
treated with ionising radiation, must have close to its name the indication "irradiated" or "treated with
ionising radiation".
(2) (new – SG 75/07, in force from 18.09.2007) In case some of the languages of the European
Community is being used at labelling, the indication as per para 1 must be in conformity with Appendix No 1a.
Art. 16. (1) The list of the ingredients of the food must start with the term "components" or another
synonymous term or expression.
(2) The components shall be enumerated in descending order according to their quantity, used by the moment of the production of the food.
(3) The components in condensed or dried form, used at the production of the food after bringing them to the initial status, shall be enlisted in sequence according to the relative share of their mass or
volume before condensing or drying.
(4) The ingredients of the concentrated and the dried foods, consumed after adding water, shall be
enlisted in sequence according to the relative share of the mass or the volume of the ingredients in the restored food. In this case the list of the components shall start with the expression "ingredients
of the restored product" or "ingredients of the product, ready for consumption".
(5) (amend. SG 100/03, amend. SG 98/04) When fruits, vegetables or mushrooms, without any of the
sub-kinds to prevail significantly with regard to its mass, are used in changeable proportions in a mixture which is ingredient of food, they can be mentioned in the list of the ingredients with the
denotations "fruits", "vegetables" or "mushrooms", followed by the words "in changeable ratio",
followed immediately by a list of the fruits, vegetables or mushrooms, included in the mixture. In such
cases the mixture shall be included in the list of the ingredients in compliance with art. 16, para 2 on the basis of the total mass of the contained fruits, vegetables or mushrooms.
(6) (new – SG 100/03) When an ingredient of a food contains several components, they shall be considered as ingredients of this food.
(7) (new – SG 98/04; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) The ingredients shall be announced in compliance with appendices No 1 – 4 subject to compliance with the exceptions,
determined therein.
(8) (new – SG 82/05, in force from 25.11.2005; revoked – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008)
(9) (new – SG 98/04, previous 8 - SG 82/05, in force from 25.11.2005) At labelling of beverages, different from these produced from grapes and containing more than 1.2% vol,, but not more than
15% vol. alcohol, shall be denoted the ingredients, defined in appendix No 4. The denotation shall be made by the word "contains", followed by the name(s) of the respective ingredient(s).
(10) (new – SG 98/04, previous 9 - SG 82/05, in force from 25.11.2005) Ingredients being less than 2 percent of the end product, may be announced after the other ingredients in arbitrary sequence.
(11). (new – SG 98/04, previous 10 - SG 82/05, in force from 25.11.2005) When similar or mutually exchangeable ingredients are used in the production or the preparation of food without changing its
composition, nature or value and are less than 2 percent of the end product, containing at least one of these two kinds of ingredients, they may be denoted in the list of the ingredients by the words
"contains … and/or …".
(12) (new – SG 98/04, previous 11 - SG 82/05, in force from 25.11.2005) The provisions of para 10
shall not be applied for additives in foods or ingredients, defined in appendix No 4.
Art. 17. No enlisting of the ingredients of the food is required for:
1. (suppl. SG 98/04) fresh fruits and vegetables (including potatoes), which are not peeled, cut or
processed in another way;
2. (amend. SG 100/03, in force from July 1, 2003) soda water, in which name it is pointed out, that it is soda;
3. vinegar, obtained on the basis of fermentation from one raw material without added additional ingredients;
4. cheese; yellow cheese; butter; yogurt and cream, obtained by lactic fermentation, when at the
production have been used only the ingredients: milk, enzyms, strains of micro-organisms and
cooking salt;
5. foods, containing only one ingredient, in case that:
a) the name, under which the food is sold, is identical with the name of the ingredient;
b) the name, under which the food is sold, gives opportunity for clear identification of the nature of
the ingredient.
Art. 18. Ingredients of the food shall not be:
1. the components of a given ingredient, which are temporary removed during the production and after this are again added to the food without exceeding their initial content;
2. the additives, which are not used with defined technological purpose at the production of the food, but are contained in it as component of one or more of its ingredients;
3. (amend. SG 100/03) the technological means, used as auxiliary substances at the production of the
food and do not participate in the end product;;
4. the substances, used only as solvents of additives and flavours.
5. (new – SG 98/04) substances, which are not additives in the food but are used in the same way and with the same purpose as the technological means, input as auxiliary substances at the
production of the food and which are present in the end product although in changed form.
Art. 19. (1) (amend. SG 19/03, amend. SG 100/03) The water and the volatile substances shall be included in the list of the ingredients when their quantity is over 5 percent of the weight of the food.
The quantity of the water shall be determined as difference between the total quantity of the food and the quantity of the remaining ingredients.
(2) The water shall not be included in the list of the ingredients of the food when it is used:
1. only for bringing of ingredients in concentrated or dried state to their initial state;
2. as liquid medium, which is not consumed.
Art. 20. (1) The ingredients of the food shall be announced with their names.
(2) The ingredients of the food, being in some of the categories of appendix No 2, shall be announced
only with name of the respective category.
(3) Ingredients of the food, being in some of the categories of appendix No 3, shall be announced in
the following sequence: name of the category, name of the ingredient or its E-number. If the
ingredient is in more than one category, it shall be with the name of the category corresponding to its
basic designation in the respective food.
(4) (new – SG 100/03; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) The Quinine and/or the
caffeine, used as spicing at the production or preparation of given food, shall be pointed out namely in the list of the ingredients of art. 6, para 1, item 2 immediately after the name "flavoring agent".
Art. 20a. (new – SG 98/04) (1) On the label shall be put the precise name of:
1. each ingredient, defined in appendix No 4, used at the production of given food, which is present as
such in the end product, even in changed form;
2. each ingredient, originating from ingredient, defined in appendix No 4.
(2) The requirement of para 1 shall not be obligatory when the name, under which is sold the
respective food, includes also the name of the ingredient, defined in appendix No 4.
(3) A substance, used in the production of food and originating from ingredients, defined in appendix No 4, and which is present in the end product, even in changed form, shall be considered as ingredient
and shall be denoted on the label with the name of the ingredient from which it originates.
Art. 21. (amend. SG 100/03; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) (1) The flavoring agents shall be announced in the list of the ingredients with the term "fragrance/fragrances", with the name
of the substance or with its description.
(2) (amend. SG 98/04) The term "natural" of other synonymous term may be added to the name of
an ingredient, which is natural fragrance compound and/or flavoring agents according to Ordinance No 15 of 2002 for the requirements for the use of flavors in foods (SG 70/02).
(3) (amend. SG 98/04) When the name of the flavoring agent contains reference to plant or animal
nature or origin of the used products the term "natural", as well as any other synonymous term can
be used if the fragrance part is isolated by appropriate physical, enzyme or microbiological processes as well as by the traditional methods for preparation of foods, entirely or almost entirely from the food
or from the source of the respective flavoring agent.
Art. 21a. (new – SG 82/05, in force from 25.11.2005; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) For labeling of foods and food ingredients with added phytosterols, phytosterol esters, phytostanols
and/or phytostanol esters the requirements of the Regulation (EC) No. 608/2004 concerning the labeling of foods and food ingredients with added phytosterols, phytosterol esters, phytostanols and/or
phytostanol esters (OJ, L 97 of 1.04.2004) shall be adhered to.
Art. 22. (amend. SG 98/04) (1) When an ingredient of a food contains several components, it may be included in the list of the ingredients with its specific name depending on its overall mass under the
condition that immediately after it follows a list of its components.
(2) Enlisting of the components of an ingredient of a food is not obligatory when:
1. its composition is defined in a normative act and its quantity in the food is less than 2 percent of
the end product;
2. it is a mixture of spices and/or herbs and its quantity in the food is less than 2 percent of the end
product;
3. it is a food for which list of the ingredients is not required.
(3) The provision of para 2, items 1 and 2 shall not refer to the additives of art. 18.
Art. 23. (amend. SG 100/03) (1) The quantity of the ingredients or the categories of the ingredients of
the food shall be obligatory announced on the label when:
1. the name of defined ingredient or category of ingredients is contained in the name of the food;
2. is stressed the existence of given ingredient or category of ingredients in the food by a text or pictorial or graphic image on the label;
3. the existence of given ingredient or category of ingredients is essential for characterising of the
food and its distinction from other foods, similar in name or appearance.
(2) The quantity of the ingredient or the category of ingredients shall be announced in percentage immediately next to the name. Their quantity shall be pointed out at the moment of production of the
food.
(3) The requirements of para 1 shall not be applied for ingredients or category of ingredients when
some of the following conditions is at hand:
1. the net quantity of the ingredient or the category of ingredients is announced in compliance with
art. 25, para 3;
2. the quantity of the ingredient or the category of ingredients is required to be announced on the
label according to ordinances of art. 4 of the Law of the foods;
3. the ingredient or the category of ingredients is used in small quantities for aromatising;
4. the ingredient or the category of ingredients, despite being in the trade name of the food, cannot
lead the choice of the consumer because the change in the quantity are not essential for the
characterising of the food or do not distinct it from similar foods;
5. in the cases of art. 17, item 5.
Art. 24. (amend. SG 98/04; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) For the labeling of new food and food ingredients the requirements of Art. 8 of the Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 of the
European Parliament and of the Council concerning new foods and new food ingredients (OJ, L 43 of 14.02.1997) shall be adhered to.
Art. 24a. (new – SG 98/04; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) For the labeling of foods or
food ingredients containing or composed by GMO or are produced or contain ingredients, produced from GMO, the requirements of Art. 12 and 13 of the Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003 of the European
Parliament and of the Council concerning genetically modified food and feed (OJ, L 268 of 18.10.2003)
shall also be adhered to.
Art. 24b. (new – SG 98/04; revoked – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008)
Art. 25. (amend. SG 19/03) (1) (amend. SG 100/03) The net quantity of the preliminary packed foods
shall be expressed in:
1. units for volume – litre, centilitre or milliltre – for liquids;
2. units for mass – kilogramme or gram – for the other foods.
(2) para 1, item 2 shall not be applied for foods, for which other requirements have been defined with
a normative act.
(3) When foods in solid state are offered in liquid medium on a label shall also be announced the
strained off net mass of the foods.
Art. 26. (1) (amend. SG 19/03, amend. SG 100/03) When several unit packs are put in group or
transport packs on the latter shall be announced the data of art. 6, para 1, items 1, 5, 6, 8 and 12 as well as the net quantity and the number of the unit packs.
(2) (amend. SG 19/03) The number of the unit packs and their net quantity can be not pointed out in
case the group packing permits these to be established from outside as well as in case the unit packs
are sold separately.
(3) (amend. SG 19/03, suppl. SG 98/04) At labelling of a group packing of unit packs, which are not
sold separately the net quantity of the group packing shall be announced as well as the total number of the unit packs.
(4) (new – SG 98/04) The provision of para 1 shall not be applied when from outside can:
1. be clearly seen and easily counted the total number of the unit packs;
2. be seen at least one marking of the net quantity contained in each separate packing.
Art. 27. (amend. SG 19/03) pointing out of the net quantity of the food shall not be required when:
1. its volume and mass can endure significant losses at its preservation;
2. (amend. SG 19/03, amend. SG 100/03) the food is sold per unit or is measured in the presence of the buyer;
3. (amend. SG 19/03, amend. SG 100/03) when its net quantity is below 5 g or 5 ml, except the
packed spices and herbs.
Art. 28. (1) (amend. SG 98/04) The term of minimum durability of the food shall be announced with the words "best till" or "best till the end of", followed by indication of the date or the place on the
packing where it is pointed out, and the conditions for preservation of the food.
(2) (suppl. SG 98/04) The term of the minimum durability must contain in chronological order:
1. the date and the month – for foods with durability not more than 3 months;
2. the month and the year – for foods with durability more than 3 months, but not more than 18 months;
3. the year – for foods with durability over 18 months.
(3) (amend. SG 100/03, amend. SG 98/04) The term of durability of fast perishing foods shall be
announced with the words "use before", followed by indication of the date or the place on the packing where it is pointed out. After the term of durability, which shall contain at least the day and the
month, pointed out in this sequence, shall be described the conditions for preservation of the food.
(4) (new – SG 75/07, in force from 18.09.2007) In case some of the languages of the European
Community is being used at labelling, the indication as per para 3 must be in conformity with Appendix No 6.
Art. 29. The term of minimum durability and term of durability shall be announced I not coded way.
Art. 30. (amend. SG 100/03, in force from July 1, 2003) (1) Announcement of the term of minimum
durability shall not be required for:
1. (suppl. SG 98/04) fresh fruits and vegetables (including potatoes), which are not peeled, cut or processed in another way;
2. soft drinks, drinks from fruits and the drinks of art. 6, para 1, item 13 in packing with volume bigger than 5 l, when on the packing is explicitly pointed out that they are designated for the places
for public catering;
3. drinks, containing over 10 percent vol. but not more than 15 percent vol. alcohol and not produced
from grapes;
4. pastry and confectioner’s products, which must be consumed up to 24 hours after their production;
5. vinegar;
6. cooking salt;
7. sugar;
8. sugar products, comprised basically by fragranced and/or coloured sugars;
9. chewing gums and similar chewing products;
10. individual portions of ice-cream.
(2) The requirement of para 1, item 1 shall not refer to sprouting seeds and similar products as beans germs.
Art. 31. (1) (suppl. SG 98/04; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) (1) The batch of a
particular food shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the producer or by the person, who packs this food or by the first purchaser, established in the Community. The marking under Art. 6,
par. 1, item 12 shall be determined and marked according to the obligation of one or another of these operators.
(2) The marking under Art. 6, par. 1, item 12 of the food shall be preceded by writing the Roman letter "L", except for the cases where it is clearly distinguished from the other indications on the label.
(3) For group packs, containing individual portions of ice-cream, the marking under Art. 6, par. 1,
item 12 shall be put on the group packing.
(4) When the food is preliminary packed the marking under Art. 6, par. 1, item 12 and where
applicable, the letter "L", shall be put on the preliminary packing or on a label attached to it.
(5) When the food is not preliminary packed the marking under Art. 6, par. 1, item 12 and, where
applicable, the letter "L" shall be put on the packing or the container or where this is not the case – in the respective trade documents.
(6) In the cases of para 4 and 5 the marking under Art. 6, par. 1, item 12 and the letter "L" must be entered in such a way that to be easily visible, clearly readable and undeletable.
(7) Marking of the lot of the food shall not be required:
1. for agricultural products, which after leaving the field:
a) are sold or supplied at the points for temporary storage, processing or packing;
b) are subject to transportation to enterprises for production of foods;
c) are subject to immediate processing in the enterprise of a producer;
2. where for selling to the end consumer foods are not packed or are packed at customer’s option, or
are packed in advance for immediate consumption;
3. on packing or containers, the largest side of which has an area of up to 10 cm2;
4. individual portions of ice cream.
(8) Where on the label the term of minimum durability or indication “BEST BEFORE”, followed by a
specific date is present, no marking under Art. 6, par. 1, item 12 shall be required, provided that the date contains at least non-coded indication of the date and the month in this order.
Art. 32. (new – SG 100/03) (1) At labelling, presentation and advertising of foods shall be prohibited::
1. the use of the words "dietetic" or "diet" separately or in combination with other words, defining
these foods;
2. all other indications or any presenting, creating impression that the food is with special designation.
(2) It shall be admitted foods, which composition and characteristics make them appropriate for foods
with special designation to be indicated as "dietetic".
(3) The indication of para 2 shall be implemented observing the requirements of the Ordinance for the
requirements to the foods for low energy diets for reduction of body weight, approved with Decree No 252 of the Council of Ministers of 2002 (SG 107/02) or of the Ordinance for the requirements to the
dietetic foods for special medical purposes, approved with Decree No 248 of the Council of Ministers of
2002 (SG 107/02).
Additional provisions
§ 1. In the context of this ordinance:
1. "Label" is printed, marked, template, stamped, stuck or attached in another way text, graphic or
pictorial image on the packing of the food.
1a. (new – SG 98/04; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) "Labeling" are all texts, data, marks of the producer and trade marks, images or signs, related to a particular food and attached on
packing, document, signature, label, ring or colar, accompanying or related to such food.
2. (amend. SG 100/03; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) "Preliminary packed food" is
any unit to be presented as such to the end consumer and at the places for public catering, which
contains food and packing, in which the food is entirely or partially wrapped before its offering for sale, but in any case in a way, excluding change of its content without opening or changes in the
packing.
3. "Packing" is material which is used for partial or full wrapping of the food as result of which it is in a
form for offering to the consumer as unit.
4. "Group packing" is packing comprising several unit packs or several units of not packed food, which
are sold separately or as groups to the consumer and to the establishments for public catering.
5. "Transport packing" is the packing, wrapping packed or not packed food for protecting it from polluting and damaging at its transport.
6. (amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) "Ingredient" is each substance, including the
additives, used at the production and the preparation of the food, which is present in the final product although in changed form.
7. "Component" is each substance, including the additives for foods, which is included in the
composition of the ingredients of the food and which is present in the final product although in
changed form.
8. "Auxiliary substance" is a substance, which is not used separately as food but is used for achieving
of defined technological purposes at the processing of the initial food raw materials, the foods and the food ingredients, and its residual quantities or the quantity of its derivatives in the final food product
are not risk for human health and have no technological effect on the product.
9. "Date of packing" is the date, on which the food is put in the packing, in which it will be sold.
10. "Term of minimum durability" is the term, till which the food with guarantee preserves its specific
characteristics and qualities upon appropriate preservation regardless that also after this period the
food can still be with good characteristics.
11. (amend. SG 98/04) "Term of durability" is the term, till which the food can be preserved and consumed, after which expiry the food must not be sold because it can create immediate danger for
the health of the consumer.
12. "E-number" is the number of the additives according to the classification of the European Union.
13. "Fast perishable food" is a food, which if not properly preserved, under specific conditions, can perish and cause food diseases to the persons, who have consumed it due to reproduction of micro-
organisms or occurrence of bio-chemical changes in it.
14. (amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008) "Lot" is a group of units for sale of a particular
food, produced or packed under practically the same conditions.
15. (deleted – SG 98/04)
16. (deleted – SG 100/03).
16. (prev. 17 – SG 100/03) "On one visual field" is such disposition of the data at the labelling of the
food, which gives opportunity for simultaneous perception.
17. (new – SG 100/03) "Liquid medium" are: water, water solutions of salts, brine, water solutions of food acids, vinegar, sugar solution, water solutions of other sweetening substances, juices of fruits
and vegetables as well as mixtures of the enumerated products, including when they are in frozen state, as far as the liquid is only additive to the basic elements of the formulation of given food and is
not of decisive importance for the consumer.
§ 1a. (new – SG 75/07, in force from 18.09.2007; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008). By this ordinance the provisions of the following are introduced:
1. DIRECTIVE 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labeling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs (OJ, L
109 of 6.05.2000), last amended by Directive 2007/68/EC (OJ, L310 of 28.11.2007);
2. Directive 87/250/EEC of the Commission of 15 April 1987 on the indication of alcoholic strength by
volume in the labeling of alcoholic beverages for sale to ultimate consumers (OJ, L 113 of 30.04.1987);
3. Directive 89/396/EEC of the Council of 14 June 1989 on indications or marks identifying the lot to
which a foodstuff belongs (OJ, L 186 of 30.06.1989), last amended by Directive 92/11/EEC (OJ, L 65 of 11.03.1992);
4. Directive 1999/10/EC of the Commission of 8 March 1999 providing for derogations from the
provisions of Article 7 of Directive 79/11/EEC of the Council as regards the labeling of foodstuffs (OJ, L
69 of 16.03.1999).
5. Directive 2002/67/EC of the Commission of 18 July 2002 on the labeling of foodstuffs containing
quinine, and of foodstuffs containing caffeine (OJ, L 191 of 19.07.2002);
6. Directive 2006/107/EC of the Council of 20 November 2006 on adapting of Directive 89/108/EEC relating to quick-frozen foodstuffs for human composition and Directive 2000/13/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council relating to the labeling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs by
reason of accession of Bulgaria and Romania;
7. Directive 2008/5/EC of the Commission of 30 January 2008 concerning the compulsory indication
on the labeling of certain foodstuffs of particulars other than those, provided for in Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ, L 27 of 31.01.2008).
Transitional and concluding provisions
§ 2. The ordinance shall enter into force one year after its promulgation in State Gazette.
§ 3. The foods in the trade network by the moment the ordinance enters into force and not labelled according to its requirements, can be sold till their depletion by the market.
§ 4. (1) The control over the fulfilment of the ordinance shall be implemented by the bodies of the
state sanitary and state veterinary – medical control.
(2) (revoked – SG 100/03)
§ 5. The ordinance is approved pursuant to art. 10, para 3 of the Law of the foods.
Transitional and concluding provisions
Of Decree No 251 of November 6, 2003 for amendment and supplement of the Ordinance
for the requirements for the labelling and the presenting of the foods (Prom. SG 100/03)
§ 32. The provisions of § 6, item 3, § 7 and § 10, item 3 shall enter into force 3 months after the promulgation of the decree in State Gazette. The foods, labelled before that, which do not meet the
introduced requirements, can be sold till their depletion on the market but not later than 6 months
after the provisions enter into force.
§ 33. The provisions of § 9, item 2, § 15 and 24 shall enter into force from July 1, 2004. The foods on
the market by this date and not meeting the introduced requirements can be sold till depletion on the market if they have been labelled before july 1, 2004.
Transitional and concluding provisions
Of Decree No 288 of October 27, 2004 for amendment and supplement of the Ordinance for the requirements for the labelling and the presenting of the foods (Prom. SG 98/04)
§ 21. (1) The decree shall enter into force on November 25, 2004.
(2) The foods being on the market by November 25, 2004 and not meeting the requirements of the ordinance can be sold until their depletion on the market if they have been labeled before this date.
§ 22. Everywhere in the ordinance the words "per hundred vol." shall be substituted by "% vol."
Transitional and concluding provisions Of Decree No 213 of October 05, 2005 for amendment and supplement of the Ordinance for
the requirements for the labelling and the presenting of the foods (Prom. SG 82/05)
§ 5. (1) The release on the market of foods which do not meet the requirements of the Appendix No. 1
after 20 May 2006 shall be forbidden.
(2) The foods under Para may be sold till the exhaustion of the quantities on the marker if they have
been labelled before the 20th of May 2006.
§ 6. The ingredients of the substances as defined in Appendix No. 5 shall not be announced before the
25th of November 2007.
§ 7. Cream yellow fats with added phytosterol esters, which have been produced before the decree shall enter in force and do not meet the requirements of § 2 shall be sold till exhaustion of the
quantities on the market.
§ 8. The decree shall enter in force from 25th of November 2005.
Transitional and concluding provisions
TO DECREE No. 39 of 27th OF FEBRUARY 2006 OF AMENDMENT OF THE ORDINANCE OF THE
REQUIREMETS TO THE FAST-FROZEN FOODS
(PROM. – SG 20/06)
§ 5. The Decree shall enter into force from 31st of March 2006.
Additional provisions
TO DECREE NO 105 OF MAY 17, 2008 FOR AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE FOR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LABELLING AND THE PRESENTING OF THE
FOODS, ADOPTED BY DECREE NO. 136 OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF 2000
(PROM. SG 48/2008, IN FORCE FROM 31.05.2008)
§ 19. By the Ordinance the provisions of Directive 2007/68/EC, amending Annex IIIa to Directive
2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards certain food ingredients (OJ, L 310 of 28.11.2007) and of Directive 2008/5/EC of the Commission of 30 January 2008 concerning the
compulsory indication on the labeling of certain foodstuffs of particulars other than those, provided for
in Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council are introduced.
Transitional and concluding provisions
§ 20. The foodstuffs, released on the market or having been labeled before 31 May 2009 and not meeting the requirements of § 7 and 17, may be sold until their exhaustion.
§ 21. The Decree shall enter into force from 31 May 2008.
Appendix No 1 to art. 10 (Amend., SG 100/03, amend., – SG 82/05, in force from 25.11.2005; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.05.2008)
Categories of food and obligatory data to be included in their labeling, in addition to the data under art. 6, para 1
Category Obligatory
of food data
Food containing sweetener(s), admitted by "with sweetener(s)"
Ordinance No. 8 of 2002 for the requirements for This indication shall
usage of additives in foodstuffs (SG 44/02) accompany the name
under which the food is sold.
Food containing both added sugar(s) and
sweetener(s)
"with sugar(s) and
admitted by Ordinance No. 8 of 2002 sweetener(s)"
for the requirements for usage of additives This indication shall
in foodstuffs accompany the name
under which the food is sold.
Food containing "contains a source of
aspartase phenyl-alanine"
Food containing "Excessively high consumption may
more than 10 percent lead to a laxative
of added polyols effect"
Foods whose stability has been extended due to "packed in
the using of packing gases, admitted by protective atmosphere "
Ordinance No. 8 of 2002 for the requirements for usage
of additives in foodstuffs
A drink which is intended for consumption without "High caffeine contents"
undergoing any modification, or which after restoration
of the concentrate or of the dry substance
contains.
This indication must be present in the label
caffeine of any source in a proportion exceeding in the same view, in which the name
150 mg/l is written, under which the product is being
sold and must be followed in brackets by the
Caffeine content, expressed in mg/100 ml
Sugar products or "Contains Sweet Root/
soft drinks, (Sladnik/Lakritza
containing glycerolise Liquorice)"
acid or its
ammonium salt This mark shall be
due to adding added directly after the
the substance(s) itself list of
or adding of the ingredients, except the term
the liquorice plant Sladnik/Lakritza/ / Liquorice is already
Sweet root
(Sladnik/ Lakritza/ Liquorice )
Glycyrrhiza glabra in concentration included in the list of
100 mg/kg or the ingredients or in the name,
10 mg/l, or higher under which
the product is sold.
In case of absence of list
the ingredients of the enlisted above
mark
shall accompany
the name under which
the food is sold.
Sugar products "Contains Sweet Root
containing glycerolise (Sladnik/Lakritza
acid ort its Liquorice), and
ammonium salt the persons, suffering
due to adding of hypertonic shall
the substance itself avoid significant
or of consumption"
liquorice plant
Sweet Root Glycyrrhiza This mark shall be
glabra, in concentration added after the list
of 4 g/kg or higher of the ingredients.
In case of absence of list
the ingredients of the enlisted above
mark
shall accompany
the name under which
the food is sold.
Drinks "Contains Sweet Root
containing glycerolise (Sladnik/Lakritza
acid or its Liquorice), and
ammonium salt the persons, suffering
due to adding hypertonic shall
the substance(s) itself avoid significant
or adding of consumption"
the liquorice plant
Sweet root This mark shall be
(Sladnik/ Lakritza/ Liquorice ) added after the list
Glycyrrhiza glabra of the ingredients.
in concentrations 50 mg/l
or higher, or In case of absence of list
300 mg/l or higher, the ingredients of the enlisted above
in case of soft drinks mark
containing shall accompany
more than 1,2 % volume the name under which
alcohol (1). the food is sold.
(1) The level shall refer the products which are offers ready for consumption or which shall be
prepared in accordance with the instructions of the producers.
Appendix No 2 to art. 20, para 2 (Amend., SG 100/03, amend. SG 98/04)
List of components which may be indicated only by the name of the respective category
Name Name
of the component of the category
1 2
Refined oil, "Oil"
different from The name of the category
olive oil may be supplemented by:
- "vegetable" or "animal";
- indication of the region of
origin of the vegetable or
animal oils.
The term "fixed"
("hydrogenated") shall obligatorily
accompany the name
of the fixed oil.
Refined "Fat"
fats The name of the category
my be supplemented by:
- "vegetable" or "animal";
- indication of the region of
origin of the vegetable or
animal fats.
The term "fixed"
("hydrogenated") shall obligatorily
accompany the name of
the fixed fat,
meat and name(s)
of the animal kinds from which
it originates.
Flour mixes "Flour"
obtained from two or Enumerated shall also be the kinds of grain
more kinds of grain from which it was produced, with
their weight share in descending order.
Natural farina "Farina"
and farina modified by The name shall always
physical or be accompanied by indication
enzyme method of the vegetable origin
of the farina, when the component
may contain gluten.
All kinds of fish "Fish"
when they represent components
of food, the
packing and indication of which
are not related
to a definite
kind of fish
All kinds of "Cheese"
cheese, when it is
a component of
food, the packing
and indication of
which are not
related to a definite
kind of cheese
Seasoning which "Seasoning" or
are a quantity of "Mix of seasoning"
no more than 2 percent
of the quantity
of the food
Herbs or parts of "Herb(s)" or
herbs which are in "Mix of herbs"
a quantity not more
than 2 percent of
the quantity of the food
All materials "Chewing gum material"
used for
the production of the
chewing mass
of the
chewing gums
Baked and ground "Bread crumbs"
bread products
designated for
pane
Saccharose "Sugar"
of any
kind of products
Water free dextrose "Dextrose"
or dextrose
Monohydrate
Glucose syrup and "Glucose syrup"
water-free glucose
syrup
All kinds of "Lactic protein"
lactic proteins
(casein, caseinates,
and serum proteins)
and their mixes
Cocoa butter "Cocoa butter"
as an extract or
in compressed or
refined state
Skeleton muscles (**) from mammals and birds fit for consumption by people, with naturally included
or contiguous tissues, where the total content of facts and connective tissue does not extend the values indicated below, and where the meat (with exception of mechanically boned meat (***)
represents a component of another food as follows:
Kind of meat Fats Connective
(%) tissue(****)
(%)
From mammals (different from 25 25
hare and pork) and mixes
of meat of different
kinds with prevailing meat from
mammals
Pork 30 25
Chicken and hare 15 10
If these maximal limits are exceeded, but all other criteria of the definition for "Meat" are met, the
meet content shall be reduced respectively in the list of components indicating, besides the term
"meat", the presence of fats and/or connective tissue.
**The diaphragm and the chewing muscles are parts of the skeleton musculature, while the heart, tongue, the muscles of the head (different from the chewing ones), the muscles of the wrist, heel and
tail are excluded.
***Mechanically boned meat means meat obtained mechanically from bones covered by meat, with
exception of the meat from the head bones, from the parts under the last joints of the front and back limbs, and with pigs – also from the tail vertebrae. This meat is designated for production of thermally
processed meat products.
****The contents of connective tissue shall be calculated on the basis of the ratio between the
content of collagen and meat protein. The content of collagen is the content of hydroxyprolene multiplied by 8.
Appendix No 3 to art. 20, para 3
Name of the categories by which food components belonging to them must be indicated
Colorant
Preservative
Anti-oxidant
Emulsifier
Thickener
Jelly agent
Stabilizer
Spicing
Acid
Acidity regulator
Anti-sticking agent
Modified farina *
Sweetener
Rising agent
Anti-foaming agent
Glazing agent
Emulsifying salt
Flour processing agent
Moisture keeping agent
Filling
Hardener
Packing gas
* The name "modified farina" must be accompanied by an indication of its specific vegetable origin, when this component may contain gluten.
Appendix No 4 to art. 16, para 7
(new – SG 98/04; amend. – SG 48/08, in force from 31.08.2008)
List of .iIngredients of foods, which can cause adverse reactions in exposed individuals:
1. Grain foods, containing gluten (e.g. wheat, rye, barley, shpelta (kind of wheat), camut (kind of large grain hard wheat) or or their hybrid varieties.) and products thereof, except for:
a) glucose syrups based on wheat, including dextrose (1);
b) maltodextrines based on wheat (1);
c) glucose syrups on barley basis (1);
d) grain foods, used for preparation of distillates or ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin for spirit and
other alcohol drinks;
2. Crustacea, molluscs and products thereof;
3. Eggs and egg products.
4. Fish and fish products, except for:
a) fish gelatin, used as a bearer of vitamins or carotenoid preparations;
b) fish gelatin or fish clay, used as clearing agent in beer and wines;
5. Peanuts and peanut products.
6. Soy bean and soy bean products, except for:
a) totally purified soya oil and fat (1);
b) natural mixed tocopherols (E 306), natural D-alpha tocopherol. Natural D-alpha tocopherol acetate,
natural D-alpha tocopherol succinate from soya sources;
c) phytosterols, derived from vegetable oils and phytosetrol esters from soya sources;
d) vegetable stanol ester, produced from sterols of vegetable oils from soya sources.
7. Milk and milk products (including lactose), except for:
a) whey, used for preparation of distillates or ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin for spirit and other
alcoholic drinks;
b) lactitol.
8. Nuts, e.g. almonds (Amygdalus communis L.), hazelnuts (Corylus avellana), walnuts (Juglans
regia), cashue (Anacardium occidentale), North American walnut (Carya illinoiesis (Wangenh) K. Koch), Brazilian walnut (Bertholletia excelsa), pistachio (Pistacia vera), Macadamia walnut and
Queensland walnut (Macadamia ternifolia) and products thereof, except for nuts, used for production of distillates or ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin for spirit and other alcoholic drinks.
9. Celery and products thereof.
10. Mustard and products thereof.
11. Sesame seeds and products thereof.
12. Sulfur dioxide and sulfates of concentrations over 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/l, expressed as SO2 .
13. Lupina and products thereof.
14. Mollusks and mollusks products.
(1) And products thereof, as long as the process, to which they have been subjected, has not increased their allergenic level, evaluated by EFSA of the respective product, from which they
originate.
Appendix No. 5 of Art. 16, Para 8 (new – SG 82/05, in force from 25.11.2005, amend. – SG
20/06, in force from 31.03.2006; revoked – SG 48/08, in force from 31.08.2008)
Informatie afkomstig van de Nederlandse ambassade te Sofia, Bulgarije.(2012).
