About 38.76 tonnes of laughing gas can no longer be sold or moved after checks at three sites at the same address in Sofia, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) said.

The Sofia City food safety directorate and the Sofia customs office carried out the checks together, after a delivery of nitrous oxide. All the packs carry a label saying the gas is meant for use in food.

A wholesale food warehouse held ten pallets, 5,760 kg in all. There were no papers showing where the batches came from or that they were safe. The amount also does not match the CMR consignment note, which lists 6 pallets of 236 units each. The agency banned the transport and sale of this gas.

In a second warehouse, run by another firm, inspectors found 21 pallets, about 23,000 kg. According to the papers, the gas was bought from a firm that is not registered under the Food Act. The agency stopped its sale.

A storage room at the same address held another 11 pallets, about 10,000 kg, with no papers on origin or traceability. Transport and sale of this gas are banned too.

In September, police in Panagyurishte seized 1,200 laughing gas canisters meant for distribution at an entertainment venue.