The Ministry of the Environment and Water (MOEW) has prepared draft amendments to the Ordinance on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. The amendments, which have been published for public consultation, aim to bring Bulgarian legislation fully into line with European requirements and to prevent infringement proceedings from being started against Bulgaria.

In 2025, the European Commission initiated infringement proceedings against Bulgaria for failing to notify, within the prescribed time limit, the measures for the full transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/884. The proposed amendments remedy the identified non-compliance by incorporating all the requirements of the European Directive into national legislation and fulfilling the country’s obligations as a Member State of the European Union.

The main change concerns the allocation of responsibilities for financing the costs of the collection, treatment, recovery, and environmentally sound disposal of waste from photovoltaic panels. The amendments regulate the allocation of these responsibilities for both household waste and waste from non-household users, in respect to photovoltaic panels placed on the market between 13 August 2005 and 13 August 2012.

By adopting these amendments, Bulgaria will comply with the requirements of European legislation, ensure legal clarity for all stakeholders and take the necessary steps to avoid penalties under the infringement proceedings initiated by the European Commission.

The amendments have been published on the official website of the Ministry of Environment and Water in the ‘Public Consultations’ section at the following link: https://www.moew.government.bg/bg/proekt-na-postanovlenie-na-ministerskiya-suvet-pms-za-izmenenie-i-dopulnenie-na-naredba-za-izlyazloto-ot-upotreba-elektrichesko-i-elektronno-oborudvane/