A recent publication in the Trud Daily has indicated that at least 400,000 tonnes of food is being thrown away or destroyed in Bulgaria annually, or 1,095 tonnes per day. This data has been provided by the Foundation for Social Development, an NGO that has inherited the programs of the US Red Cross in Bulgaria.

The data has also been confirmed by Bulgaria’s Agriculture Ministry. At the same time, over 1.5 million Bulgarians are living below the poverty line, data of the National Statistical institute shows.

The situation EU-wide is no different – at least half of the food good for consumption is being wasted. Since 1986, a federation of the food banks has been operational in the EU, possessing already over 230 offices in 24 countries. These food banks assist European citizens living in poverty, whose number is some 79 million according to the latest estimates.

For several years, Bulgaria has also been trying to organize an efficient system of food banks. The products donated by retailers, farmers, food processing companies, will be given to the poorest people. These products are often foods whose expiry date has almost been reached or have damaged packaging.

The Bulgarian business sector supports this idea given that the 20-percent VAT on donated foods is waived. The financial ministry, however, is firm that nowhere in the EU food banks are exempt from VAT.

The Ministry of Agriculture has already prepared certain amendments to the Foods Act to facilitate the start of the project in this country. These legal amendments will introduce for the first time the term of food banking, i.e. the gratuitous giving of foods to persons who for health and age-related or social reasons are unable to obtain them by themselves. In fact, the Bulgarian Agency for Food Safety can also become a donator to the food bank.

When veterinary inspectors confiscate food products with vague origin, they analyze them, and in case these are found harmless, they will be donated to social institutions and food banks. Two large retail chains have already voiced their support for the future food bank and have promised to donate regularly food products.