See the answers that the Commission for Consumer Protection gave to questions from Noblesse Oblige magazine.
How is the CCP informing consumers about their rights during the euro changeover? Are there special campaigns or materials already in place?
The CCP has launched a dedicated section on its website, “About the Euro,” featuring FAQs and sample visuals for correct dual price display (labels, price tags, menus, etc.). Since mid-September 2025, experts have been visiting 165 small municipalities as part of an outreach campaign that will run until the end of October. The goal is to reach people of all ages and backgrounds, ensuring that reliable information reaches everyone.
The CCP mobile app includes a scanner that allows the user to photograph the displayed price directly with their phone and instantly check if the conversion into euros is correct. The app also includes a calculator that allows you to quickly calculate the BGN equivalent in euros and vice versa. For months now, the CCP has been actively working to inform the public about the process of introducing the single European currency in Bulgaria, and this will continue during the transition period and after the euro’s introduction in January 2026.
What is the procedure for filing a complaint if consumers notice unlawful price increases or incorrect dual pricing?
Consumers can submit complaints via the CCP website, mobile app, mail, national consumer hotline, or in person at any CCP office. Along with the complaint, consumers must attach all available evidence – receipts, delivery documents, correspondence, etc. Complaints should specify the particular merchant and goods in question and include photos and documents.
Will online traders and e-commerce platforms also be monitored during the euro introduction?
CCP’s online oversight will include inspections of e-shops, e-commerce platforms, and websites offering goods and services. The Commission will monitor whether prices are displayed simultaneously in leva and euros using the fixed exchange rate, and whether the requirements for clarity, legibility, and equal visual presentation are followed. This way, the CCP will ensure that online consumers are protected like physical stores.
Does the CCP have the capacity (human resources) to effectively monitor the entire retail network during the transition to the euro?
The CCP will use all of its available resources to effectively control compliance with the Law on the Introduction of the Euro to the Republic of Bulgaria (LIEB). Joint inspections with other institutions are also planned to optimize oversight. The CCP and institutions such as the Bulgarian National Bank, the National Revenue Agency, the Commission for the Protection of Competition, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Economy and Industry will work together under a standard methodology for real-time monitoring of price conversions. This will include regular on-site inspections, document checks, and analysis of consumer and organizational complaints. The CCP will ensure continuous monitoring and prompt response when violations are detected.
What results has the coordination mechanism between the CCP, the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC), and the National Revenue Agency (NRA) achieved so far?
Coordination between institutions will be crucial for successfully limiting potential abuses during the transition to the euro. The introduction of the euro is an inter-institutional process requiring comprehensive cooperation among state bodies. In June 2025, the three institutions signed an agreement for joint inspections against unjustified price increases and unfair practices. The mechanism aims for rapid data exchange and coordinated actions. Joint inspections are already being carried out, and complaints are referred to the competent authority as needed.
Will there be a register of sanctioned traders who violate the principle of fair conversion during the euro transition?
At present, legislation does not provide for a separate public register of those sanctioned for violations related to the introduction of the euro on the CCP website.
What preventive measures is the CCP taking regarding vulnerable consumer groups, such as the elderly or people with low financial literacy?
The informational campaign in 165 small municipalities specifically targets people outside the big cities—citizens, local businesses, and authorities. We believe that in smaller settlements, more vulnerable consumer groups, such as elderly people, will receive sufficient and reliable information.
The CCP publishes visual examples/guidelines (easy-to-understand labels, price lists), maintains a consultation hotline, and offers a mobile app – all tools that reduce the risk of deception. The CCP has also created and distributed a brochure for the visually impaired.
What good practices and lessons from other eurozone countries does the CCP apply to minimize risks for Bulgarian consumers?
Bulgaria is applying proven practices from Croatia – mandatory dual price display over a long period and a focus on preventing unjustified price hikes. In Bulgaria, the rules for dual price display are in effect from August 8, 2025, to August 8, 2026, and detailed guidelines have been officially published. At the same time, the dual circulation period for leva and euro will go on during the entire month of January 2026 – in line with the experience of countries that have already adopted the euro. Bulgarian citizens should not doubt that we have made every effort to adopt and implement the best European practices here at home.
