Bulgarian Consumer Protection Watchdog Chair Urges Swift Legal Changes

Bulgaria's Parliament may avoid an infringement procedure for the failure to amend the Consumer Protection Act on time, according to the Chair of the consumer protection watchdog.

In a Monday interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, Veselin Zlatev suggested that the Bulgarian Parliament would find the time to transpose the EU Directive which had taken effect on June 13 so that the draft legal changes to the Consumer Protection Act, which had passed second reading at the parliamentary economic committee, would guarantee that Bulgarian consumers exercise their rights freely just as any EU citizen.

Zlatev claimed that the proposal to adopt a law stipulating the merger of the competition protection watchdog and the consumer protection commission would lead to a serious disturbance.

He made clear that the proposal would be discussed at an upcoming meeting with EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection Neven Mimica.

Zlarev vowed that he would present his opinion and the views of his colleagues on the forthcoming legal changes, stressing that the amendments could not possibly have a beneficial impact on the current situation in Bulgaria.