Control of food and agro product contamination in Bulgaria.

The ban of organochlorine pesticides in Bulgaria (1969) has led to their significant drop below the maximum residue limits. The climate and the imperfect storage facilities benefit the production of Fusarium toxins desoxynivalenol (folytoxin), zearalenon (F-2), T-2, ochratoxin A and aflatoxins in grain products, M1 in milk products, and patulin in apple juices and nectars. Heavy metals are found in smaller concentrations than in industrially developed countries with the exception of lead, which may be due to the wide use of leaded gasoline. Bulgaria has 5 "hot spots" related to sources of heavy metals. An elaborated inventory PCB, PCDD, and PCDF sources suggests that there are no toxicologically significant environmental and food pollutions with these substances. Sanitary control is enforced by several laws and subordinate regulations on the national level, which, however, have failed to coordinate it with the relevant activities of the Ministries of Health and of Agriculture and Forestry.