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Outside the ЕU - Bulgaria

Updated 09/2011

Legal requirements

Doing business outside the EU is subject to customs control according Community and Bulgarian national law.

Exporting goods

No permits   or licences  are required, and there are no restrictions on goods exported from Bulgaria to third countries except where such measures are justified on grounds of protecting the life and health of humans, animals and plants, protecting the environment and similar reasons. Examples of goods subject to control when being exported are goods with dual use, dangerous chemicals, threatened plant and animal species, precursors of narcotic substances, etc.

When exporting goods manufactured in Bulgaria, use can be made of the opportunities provided by the Export Insurance Act (ZEZ).

  • Export Insurance Act (ZEZ) български

Importing goods

When goods are imported from third countries which are not members of the EU, tariff and non-tariff measures are applied according to Community trade policy.

Statistics

According to the Bulgarian Customs Act (ZM), the customs administration   is responsible for collecting, processing, analysing, storing and supplying information about customs activities and processing customs statistics.

Data   on imports/exports to/from third countries (non-EU) is collected on the basis of information from an integrated administrative document submitted by the exporters/importers. The Customs Agency sends information on goods imported and exported to and from third countries to the National Statistics Institute.

  • Customs Agency български
  • National Statistics Institute български
 

Administrative procedures

Exporting goods

The main documents required for exports are: a customs declaration, invoices, shipping documents, licences or permits (if required for the goods exported; must be applied for from the appropriate authority in advance), etc.

Importing goods

When importing goods into Bulgaria from third countries all the legal requirements (community and national) must be observed, and all necessary documents provided. Importers also have to pay the customs duty applicable to the goods depending on their origin, as well as value added tax. According to the Excise and Bonded Warehouse Act (ZADS), some goods (energy products and electricity, tobacco, alcohol, alcoholic drinks, etc) are subject to excise duty.

Submitting statistics

The customs authorities collect and process data on exports and imports to and from third countries for statistical purposes. The data are based on the documents submitted by exporters or importers in the course of customs procedures.

  • Customs Agency български
  • National Statistics Institute български

Resources

You can find detailed information on customs control in Bulgaria for imports or exports to or from third countries on:

You can find information on rates of duty payable on exports from the EC via the TARIC advice module, or on the website of the Customs Agency. The Customs Agency website also contains information on import procedures:

You can find information on current measures in trade policy concerning imports from third countries on EU information resources, and on the website of the:

You will find information on tax legislation relating to imports (VAT, and in some cases excise duty) on the website of the:

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

  • References

    Legal texts

    • Export Insurance Act (ZEZ) български
    • VAT Act (ZDDS) български
    • Excise and Bonded Warehouses Act (ZADS) български
    • Customs Act (ZM) български
    • Customs Act Implementation Rules български

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Further help

Businesses who wish to trade with partners outside the EU can find support and information, as well as advice from the relevant government authorities (including thier websites), and from non-governmental associations.