Decree No. 163: What Business Owners Need to Know About the New Fee Schedule

The new Decree No. 163, adopted on September 25, 2026, introduces a fee schedule for charges collected by the Executive Agency for Variety Testing, Approbation, and Seed Control. This replaces the previous schedule from 2015. The purpose of the decree is to update the fees to meet current industry needs and comply with the regulatory framework for seed and planting material and protection of new plant varieties and animal breeds.

What changes

The changes involve the introduction of new types and amounts of fees collected by the agency. While the previous 2015 schedule is repealed, the new structure provides a detailed list of fees for various services related to testing, approval, and seed control. A significant change is the shift in fee expression from Bulgarian levs to euros, aligning with European standards for identity and compliance. Fees apply to a wide range of services, including field inspections, laboratory analyses, and evaluation of planting material. The fee adjustments aim to ensure higher service quality and effective protection of new plant varieties.

Who is affected

This decree primarily affects entities in the agricultural sector. The most impacted are producers and traders of seed and planting material. Processing companies and laboratories involved in seed certification and analysis must carefully plan their financial resources in light of the new fees. Additionally, companies applying for legal protection or registration of new varieties and specialized agricultural operations must comply with the updated fee requirements.

Dates and deadlines

Decree No. 163 was adopted on September 25, 2026, and takes effect on October 1, 2026. This means that the new fees become binding for industry entities from this date onward. Businesses should prepare for the financial changes accordingly. The document repeals the schedule adopted by Decree No. 96 from 2015, which ceases to be valid after the new decree comes into force.

Practical next steps

To adapt to the new regulations, businesses should review the updated fees and assess their financial models' impact. Agricultural producers and analysis labs should consider consulting with legal experts to ensure full legal compliance. Moreover, organizations should revise their budgets to incorporate the new rates and plan necessary certification and approval procedures before the effective date.

What to check for your situation

The decree primarily structures and updates existing fees. There are no new obligations requiring major organizational changes for all businesses. It specifically pertains to companies dealing with seed and planting material, without imposing a general regulatory burden on all industrial sectors.