Bulgaria: Dealers Organised Cigarette Lobby

Source from:  Focus English News (bg)  08/13/2013

Small and medium-sized dealers of tobacco products united in an association for the first time to defend their rights and interests on a national and EU level, the Chairperson of the newly-formed Bulgarian Association of Tobacco Products Dealers (BATPD) Ivan Delchev announced. BATPD is a non-profit organisation that will fight for the establishment of clear rules, balanced legislation and equal conditions for all licensed dealers in the sector.
 
The members of the association do not belong to the Bulgartabac circle. For several years the Bulgartabac Holding, owned by VTB and the Chairperson of Corporate Commercial Bank's (CCB) Supervisory Board Tsvetan Vasilev, has been leading a large-scale campaign to invade the retail market and oust smaller dealers. It is yet unclear if the new organisation is an attempt to oppose the occupation of the market by a single player, Capital Daily reports. Enditem