Bulgaria's revenue agency has stepped up checks on meat traders. Inspectors have checked 228 trucks over 3.5 tonnes and frozen about 78,000 euros in assets in 11 cases, according to Hristo Uzunov, spokesman for the National Revenue Agency (NRA) in Burgas.

The checks started on September 1. Across Bulgaria, inspectors are watching 40 sites — warehouses, cold stores and other facilities run by 10 companies. Most of them, 13, fall under the NRA's Sofia office, while 6 warehouses are being watched in the Burgas area.

Inspectors check trucks both coming in and going out. They look at transport papers and check whether a unique tracking number has been declared for goods seen as high tax risk, then trace the routes, senders, recipients and drop-off points. This also lets the agency catch loads moving without a declared number.

At the warehouses, inspectors match stock against the books. "Once we work out how much of a product is actually in a warehouse, we compare that with what the books show," Uzunov said. They check delivery notes, warehouse logs, invoices and other paperwork.

Assets aren't frozen after every check — only when there are signs the company getting the goods is a risk. "The amount frozen comes to 30% of the market value of the goods," the spokesman said. Companies have 24 hours to pay if the goods are perishable, and 72 hours for everything else. The goal is to get the full tax paid on time.

Uzunov said more unique transport numbers are now being declared in the meat trade, which he said makes it easier to track goods and improves tax compliance. He added that the checks aim to cut hidden income, stop unfair competition and block unauthorized transport.

The checks cover every stage goods go through — from import and intra-Community acquisition, through transport and storage, to the final sale. The checks are continuing.