Traders, importers and producers of fruit and vegetables from southwestern Bulgaria have sent an open letter to Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, demanding an urgent meeting with him. The reason is an order by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, which obliges them to test for pesticides all goods imported from neighboring Greece and other EU Member States.

Traders say the analysis could take days and in the meantime their goods could rot. In addition, the sample for each batch will cost about 215 euros, which will make the goods more expensive.

The Agency said that the requirement is in favor of consumers. In the past 2 months alone, inspectors have blocked more than 200 tons of goods with increased amount of pesticides.