Bulgarian government rejects duty-free plea

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According to local reports, Bulgaria's government has turned down a request from the country's duty-free operators to prevent the planned closure of the country's border duty-free stores.

According to local reports, Bulgaria's government has turned down a request from the country's duty-free operators to prevent the planned closure of the country's border duty-free stores. As reported previously on TRW (21/5/03) the government plans to close 44 border stores to combat the grey market, as part of the Excise Duty Act.

Finance minister Milen Velchev said that the stores would close should parliament pass the act. The ministry claims that cigarettes and alcohol bought at motorway stores were later found being sold in the domestic market. Sources within Bulgaria's duty-industry countered that the measures were unfair, and that the industry would continue to fight the proposals.