Adam Persenski

Bulgaria's Health Ministry plans to introduce a new tax of 3-10% on unhealthy food products and energy drinks.

"The tax rate will be determined by the health risk, be it caused by salt, sugar, trans-fatty acids, or the amount of caffeine or taurin in drinks," said Adam Persenski, Deputy Health Minister, as cited by Trud daily.

Ivaylo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Policy, has been appointed Chair of Bulgaria's National Council for Tripartite Cooperation.

Vladislav Goranov, Finance Minister, will also be a representative of the government on the Council, according to the press office of the Council of Ministers.

Bulgaria's Health Minister Petar Moskov has vowed to present a plan for reform in the sector by end-November.

Moskov, as cited by dnevnik.bg, made clear that the plan would highlight spheres in which the country was lagging behind other EU Member States, including the health of mothers and children, where the mortality rate was higher than the EU average.