Legal framework
The acts that set the obligations of companies placing oils on the Bulgarian market, and the recovery targets they must meet
Regulatory framework
The Bulgarian and European acts that govern used oils
Waste Management Act
The Act sets the core obligations of persons placing products on the market, and the framework for meeting those obligations collectively, through a recovery organization
View the text on the Ministry site (PDF in Bulgarian on the Ministry site, opens in a new tab)Ordinance on Used Oils and Waste Petroleum Products
As amended: State Gazette No. 68 of 19 August 2025
Sets the requirements for the collection, storage, transport, treatment and reporting of used oils, together with the targets that apply
View the text on Lex.bg (in Bulgarian, opens in a new tab)Ordinance on the Procedure and Amount for Payment of the Product Fee
Sets the procedure for payment and the method of calculating the product fee, together with the rules for evidencing that the obligations have been met
Adopted by Council of Ministers Decree No. 76 of 12 April 2016
Directive 2008/98/EC — Waste Framework Directive
The European framework the Bulgarian rules sit inside
It requires used oils to be collected separately and gives regeneration priority over the other forms of recovery
The minister’s annual orders
The orders naming the manufacturers and importers responsible for meeting the recovery targets and for paying the product fee
They are issued by 15 May of the current year (Art. 63(1) and (3) of the Ordinance)
Important: This section is for information only
Any particular case is governed by the legislation in force, the individual agreement, the general terms and conditions and the permits that apply
Who this concerns
The obligation arises for manufacturers and importers placing oils on the Bulgarian market
It can be met individually — after obtaining a permit under Art. 81(1) of the Waste Management Act — or collectively, through a recovery organization
Where the target is not met, a product fee under Art. 59(1) is due to EMEPA (ПУДООС), the Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection Activities
Each year the Minister of Environment and Water issues an order naming the companies that owe the product fee
Companies placing oils on the market draw up a monthly declaration of the quantities placed on the market and of the fee due
The deadlines most often missed
- 15 May — the minister’s order names the manufacturers and importers that owe the fee for the previous reporting year
- 31 March — recovery organizations submit to the Executive Director of the Executive Environment Agency information on the measures taken, the awareness campaigns held and the results in meeting the target under Art. 8 (Art. 47 and Art. 48 of the Ordinance)
Exported quantities are reported separately — quarterly, within 20 days of the end of each quarter (Art. 44 of the Ordinance)
These deadlines come from secondary legislation and are not extended
Check the version of each act in force before you file