Macedonian lamb was sold "disguised" as Bulgarian

lamb
Photo: Archive

Previously, in a similar way, Bulgarian producers attacked the import of Ukrainian grain, as "dumping" and "questionable quality

More than thirty tons of frozen lamb meat from North Macedonia, discovered in a slaughterhouse near Krdzhali, which were presented as Bulgarian, have no differences in the indicators after microbiological analysis, and the meat will be diverted for further processing. This was stated by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BAFSA), which on April 11 placed the goods under embargo until the case was clarified after the report of the National Sheep Breeding Association, "Segabnews" reported.

- The slaughterhouse, which tried to mislead its associates and end consumers about the origin of the meat, was given two warnings and an order was issued to stop the activities related to the import and distribution of meat from small ruminants from third countries. A total of 1.406 kilograms of food of animal origin is prohibited for sale and sent for destruction during the Easter inspections - said BAFSA.

Before the Easter holidays, Bulgarian farmers and traders claimed on several occasions that Macedonian lamb, disguised as Bulgarian, is being sold on the market there. Earlier, in a similar way, Bulgarian producers also attacked the import of Ukrainian grain, as "dumping" and "questionable quality". On the other hand, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency assured that imports are under "extremely strengthened" control and counterfeiting of origin is impossible, recalling that if the meat is from an animal raised in Bulgaria, it has a blue seal, if it is from another origin it is marked with red ink.

According to the Shepherd Association, over 200 tons of lamb from North Macedonia entered Bulgaria at a price below 7 euros per kilogram. Due to the agreement between the EU and North Macedonia on duty-free trade, meat was imported to the local market, which is 30 percent cheaper than domestic production, claimed the vice president of the National Association for Sheep and Goats, Simeon Karakolev. Earlier, he told the Bulgarian radio "Focus" that "the western neighbor does not respect the European regulations for the use of animal feed, vaccines and medicines in animal breeding, and the quality of the corresponding meat is also questionable."

"Sloboden Pechat" has already published the position of the Agency for Food and Veterinary Medicine, according to which the Macedonian legal regulation is completely in line with the European one, and in certain segments stricter safety criteria than the European ones are in force.

- As an institution responsible for the safety of food and animal feed and the health care of animals, we most responsibly claim that the use of antibiotics in the production of meat and milk in the Republic of North Macedonia is legally regulated, with regulations that are more restrictive compared to the European ones, with which aligned – points from AHV.

The Bulgarian farmers add that there are also imports from Romania on the market there, which, however, does not bother them because the prices were up to theirs! The price of lamb in Bulgarian stores varied between 10 and 14 euros per kilogram. A kilogram of lamb in Macedonia is sold from 460 to 530 denars per kilogram, depending on whether it is bought with the internal parts.

Dear reader,

Our access to web content is free, because we believe in equality in information, regardless of whether someone can pay or not. Therefore, in order to continue our work, we ask for the support of our community of readers by financially supporting the Free Press. Become a member of Sloboden Pechat to help the facilities that will enable us to deliver long-term and quality information and TOGETHER let's ensure a free and independent voice that will ALWAYS BE ON THE PEOPLE'S SIDE.

SUPPORT A FREE PRESS.
WITH AN INITIAL AMOUNT OF 60 DENARS

Video of the day