The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has taken action after receiving a tip from an animal rights group about poor conditions at an egg farm in the village of Kramolin, central Bulgaria.
The agency conducted an on-site inspection and found multiple violations. The farm, which houses up to 46,800 laying hens kept in battery cages, failed to meet several regulatory standards, the BFSA said in a statement released Tuesday.
Inspectors discovered serious breaches of biosecurity and veterinary rules. They noted problems with the farm’s infrastructure, poor separation of zones, and inadequate hygiene practices. The agency also reported improper handling of animal by-products, poor air quality, and violations of animal welfare standards.
As a result, the BFSA issued orders requiring the farm to fix these issues. It also imposed a temporary ban on moving live birds in or out of the facility. The farm is now under increased government supervision. Further steps are expected, including gradually removing the hens from the farm, following all legal rules.
The case drew public attention after the Bulgarian animal rights group Kazhi shared disturbing videos on Facebook. These were part of a global investigation into egg farms using battery cages, covering 37 countries worldwide. Kazhi is pushing for a nationwide ban on caged chicken farming in Bulgaria. So far, more than 16,000 people have signed a petition supporting the ban.
Kazhi points out that Bulgaria is one of the countries with the highest percentage of hens kept in battery cages, with about 70% of the country’s hens living their entire lives confined in these cages.
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