What Is Changing in the Consumer Protection Act in 2026 and Why It Matters for Businesses
With the amendments to the Consumer Protection Act, promulgated in the State Gazette, issue No. 13 of 3 February 2026, new rules on general product safety and collective judicial protection of consumers are being introduced into Bulgarian legislation. These changes are important not only for traders in the traditional sense, but also for importers, distributors, online platforms, and organizations defending consumer rights.
In practice, this marks a new stage in consumer protection, with higher requirements being imposed on businesses, broader powers being granted to supervisory authorities, and more effective mechanisms being created for seeking liability in the event of violations.
New Rules on Product Safety
One of the most significant changes concerns the rules on product safety. The previous national framework has been replaced by a new regime aligned with European rules, covering a wider range of products and methods of supply.
The new requirements do not apply only to sales in physical stores. They also affect online commerce, distance selling, second-hand goods, repaired, refurbished and recycled products, as well as products reaching the end consumer as part of a service.
This means that companies must carefully assess not only what they sell, but also how it reaches the consumer and whether the required safety and traceability information has been provided.
More Specific Obligations for Participants in the Supply Chain
The amendments also introduce clearer responsibilities for manufacturers, importers, and distributors. Manufacturers are now required to maintain records of complaints, incidents, product withdrawals, and corrective actions taken. This shows that they are expected not only to place the product on the market, but also to actively monitor its safety afterwards.
It is also essential that a product may not be placed on the market unless there is a designated economic operator established in the European Union who bears the relevant responsibility. In addition, safety and traceability information must be available in Bulgarian and, in some cases, in an accessible format for persons with disabilities.
Where a dangerous product is identified, the law allows the costs of inspection and assessment to remain at the expense of the relevant economic operator. This makes prior control and internal organization even more important.
New Obligations for Online Platforms
Particular attention should be paid to the new requirements for online platforms and electronic marketplaces. The law now expressly includes them in the system for ensuring product safety and imposes specific obligations on them.
These include registration in the “Safety Gate” system, designation of a single point of contact, establishment of internal response procedures, and implementation of orders for the removal, restriction of access to, or marking of dangerous products.
In certain cases, the platform must notify the competent authority of the measures taken within a very short period. This means that companies operating electronic marketplaces must build a clear internal structure for handling alerts and orders relating to dangerous products.
Broader Judicial Protection for Consumers
The second major group of changes concerns the judicial protection of the collective interests of consumers. The law introduces a new framework for so-called representative actions, through which certain organizations and the Consumer Protection Commission may protect the interests of a broader circle of affected persons.
These actions will no longer be limited to seeking cessation or prohibition of a certain practice. It will also be possible to seek compensation, repair, replacement, price reduction, termination of the contract, and reimbursement of amounts paid.
This is a substantial change because it increases the risk for companies working with a large number of consumers under standard contracts, general terms and conditions, and mass commercial practices. Under such a model, the same violation may affect a large number of persons and lead to far more serious consequences than an individual consumer complaint.
More Serious Consequences in the Case of Unfair Commercial Practices
Among the important changes is the express right of the consumer to request a price reduction or termination of the contract when it was concluded as a result of an unfair commercial practice. In addition, the possibility of seeking damages under the general rules remains available.
The law also provides for immediate enforcement of certain administrative measures even when they are appealed. This means that in the event of intervention by supervisory authorities, the trader must react quickly and in an organized manner, without relying on the appeal itself to suspend the effect of the measure.
What It Would Be Reasonable for Businesses to Do Now
For most companies, the most important first step is not a formal change of documents, but a comprehensive review of their activities in light of the new rules.
It is necessary to clarify whether the products offered fall within the scope of the new regime and what role the company plays in the supply chain. This should be followed by a review of labels, instructions for use, traceability information, the procedure for handling complaints and alerts, the actions to be taken when a risk is identified, and the way in which communication with supervisory authorities is organized.
For companies engaged in electronic commerce or operating online platforms, it is particularly important to have clearly drafted internal rules for responding to alerts concerning dangerous products and to orders issued by a competent authority.
It is equally important to assess litigation risk. Companies operating in the mass consumer sector should take into account not only the likelihood of individual complaints, but also the possibility of representative actions. This is particularly relevant for activities based on standard contracts, general terms and conditions, distance selling, aggressive advertising, or digital content.
Conclusion
The changes to the Consumer Protection Act in 2026 are not merely a technical legislative amendment. They impose new requirements on the way businesses organize their sales, monitor product safety, communicate with consumers, and manage legal risk.
For many companies, now is therefore the right time to carry out a timely review of their internal rules, contractual documentation, and the manner in which they comply with their statutory obligations. If you have questions regarding the new requirements or need a legal review and assistance in bringing your business into compliance with the law, our team can assist you.
