In connection with the increased public and media interest regarding odor signals on the territory of the city of Veliko Tarnovo, the Ministry of Environment and Water provides information on the actions taken by the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water – Veliko Tarnovo with respect to the production site of Kronoshpan Bulgaria EOOD.

The Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water – Veliko Tarnovo exercises its powers with operational autonomy, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act. Control activities are carried out at an expert level and in strict compliance with administrative and procedural rules.

The Ministry of Environment and Water firmly supports the implementation of environmental legislation, the protection of the public interest and the activities of the regional inspectorate. The Ministry monitors the expert work of the control bodies on site and will continue to monitor the case within its powers.

The problem of odors is complex and does not yet have a regulatory basis at the European level.

Upon taking office, the Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov reinstated the work on creating regulations on odors, which requires joint efforts and the competence of the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

We recall the chronology of the actions of the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water - Veliko Tarnovo in the case

On 15.01.2026, by Order of the Director of the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water - Veliko Tarnovo, a compulsory administrative measure (CAM) was imposed on Kronoshpan Bulgaria EOOD, requesting the suspension of the production activity of the Particle Board Production Line.

As of the same date, 15.01.2026, the second production line - for the production of fiberboard is not operating. The MDF line has been suspended since 05.01.2026 due to lack of raw material.

On 25.01.2026, in implementation of the CAM order, two facilities of the particleboard production line (PB) were sealed.

On 26.02.2026, the RIEW – Veliko Tarnovo received a letter from Kronoshpan Bulgaria EOOD, in which the company notified the start of work on the second production line – for the production of wood fiber boards (MDF).

On 27.02.2026, RIEW – Veliko Tarnovo received 27 reports of odor of wood and bluish fog over different neighborhoods of Veliko Tarnovo, at different times of the day.

In response to the reports, a RIEW team patroled different streets in the indicated areas, in the presence of an individual who submitted a report on the odor, but without the participation of representatives of the company, due to their refusal to participate in the inspection. A smell of wood was detected, which constitutes a failure to comply with a condition of the Complex Permit that stipulates that “the holder of this permit shall carry out all activities on the site in a manner that prevents the spread of odors beyond the boundaries of the production site”, as well as the presence of fog with a blue azure hue. The RIEW committed to take action to hold the operator of the installation administratively liable.

An inspection of the facilities of the operating line for the production of wood fiber boards (MDF) of “Kronoshpan Bulgaria” EOOD was carried out. An accident was detected in the early hours of the same day, relating to a leak from a pipeline to the line, about which the company notified the RIEW – Veliko Tarnovo in a letter. During the inspection, it was found that the same had been repaired and work resumed in the afternoon.

On 28.02.2026, an inspection was carried out in connection with 28 reports received via the "green phone" about the spread of odors, bluish fog, and smoke in different parts of the city of Veliko Tarnovo.

During the inspection, a specific smell of wood, characteristic of the production activity of "Kronoshpan Bulgaria" EOOD - Veliko Tarnovo site, was established, by organoleptic method (by inhalation), based on the production process itself. At the time of the inspection, the sources of the specific smell of wood were two discharge devices to a dryer and a press of a line for the production of wood fiber boards (MDF). A visible spread of emissions released after a wet electrostatic precipitator to an MDF dryer in the city of Veliko Tarnovo was also established.

RIEW – Veliko Tarnovo will again draw up an act for the company for the established administrative violation related to non-compliance with a condition in a complex permit, namely the spread of odors beyond the boundaries of the production site.

...

RIEW – Veliko Tarnovo will continue to monitor for strict compliance with environmental legislation in implementation of the policies of the Ministry of Environment and Water.