November 27, 2006

Bulgaria's meat prices to rise 20 percent as it joins the EU
 

Prices of meat products in Bulgaria may jump as much as 20 percent after the country joins the EU, Emil Dimitrov of Bulgaria's Meat Processors' Association said.

The country's main imports of meat from Brazil and Argentina, currently taxed at 5 percent now, would shoot up to 80 percent after the EU accession, he said.

To stem the rising costs, Bulgaria would have to import from within Europe, which can be 50 percent more expensive than meats from South America, excluding shipping costs.

Due to the high prices for beef, meat processors may start using more pork to make up for the higher prices. In that case, it would have to be imported from EU as well as it is cheaper than the locally produced version, Dimitrov said.