Inspectors stopped the sale of more than 8,000 litres of poor-quality fuel after checking 16 petrol stations between 5 and 7 October, the Interior Ministry said.

They found substandard fuel at five of the sites. They immediately halted sales of 4,627 litres of diesel that does not meet the requirements for diesel engines. So far, 3,571 litres of petrol have been pulled from the market.

Teams checked petrol stations in Sofia and in the regions of Plovdiv, Varna, Ruse, Pleven, Haskovo and Pernik. The inter-agency centre at GDBOP, the organised crime directorate, directed the work. The Interior Ministry, the Customs Agency, the National Revenue Agency and the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Surveillance took part.

Inspectors drew up more than 20 reports of administrative offences. They also served 7 records of mandatory instructions and issued 3 written orders. The fuel distributors face financial penalties.

At the end of September, the Consumer Protection Commission announced checks at petrol stations across Bulgaria over unjustified rises in the retail price of the main fuels.

On 18 September, the government announced a package worth more than €300m because of high fuel prices. Under it, the excise duty on LPG (propane-butane) will be scrapped. It also provides for subsidies to key sectors, including public transport, school transport and medical transport.