Size of fines for rogue traders goes up

MPs adopted at first reading amendments to the Consumer Protection Act to ensure that Bulgarian consumers will be as protected as European ones.

The amendments transpose European requirements into the Bulgarian law. They will ensure that traders who carry out unfair and deceptive practices will be penalised.

The size of fines and financial penalties for breaches of the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act is increased, especially in relation to 'widespread infringements' and 'widespread infringements with a Union dimension', i.e. outside Bulgaria but within the Community.

A pecuniary sanction of up to 4% of the trader's turnover for the preceding financial year in the relevant EU Member State or in each of the EU Member States participating in the coordinated activity is envisaged.

In cases where there is no information on the turnover generated by the trader in the previous financial year in each of the Member States participating in the coordinated action of the consumer protection authorities of the Member States, a pecuniary sanction of up to BGN 3 920 000 will be imposed.

Precise and unambiguous criteria for imposing fines are also introduced.