Agriculture minister Plamen Abrovski told reporters that checks start today at all central warehouses of retail chains in Bulgaria.

The first check was a joint one by the food safety agency BABH, the tax agency NAP and the consumer protection commission KZP. They inspected a Lidl warehouse near the village of Ravno Pole, Sofia. Abrovski said the checks mark the start of efforts to bring the whole food supply chain in Bulgaria "into the open".

Yesterday, BABH, KZP and NAP said they would inspect the warehouses of the big chains across the country together. The agencies said the aim is to protect consumers and make sure goods are sold fairly.