PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS ACT
Prom. SG. 35/24 Apr 1996, amend. SG. 14/18 Feb 2000, amend. SG. 26/29 Mar 2000, amend. SG. 28/23 Mar 2001, amend. SG. 112/23 Dec 2003, amend. SG. 18/28 Feb 2006, amend. SG. 29/7 Apr 2006, amend. SG. 30/11 Apr 2006, amend. SG. 13/9 Feb 2007, amend. SG. 64/7 Aug 2007, amend. SG. 36/4 Apr 2008, amend. SG. 43/29 Apr 2008, amend. SG. 10/6 Feb 2009, amend. SG. 103/29 Dec 2009, amend. SG. 87/5 Nov 2010, amend. SG. 19/8 Mar 2011, amend. SG. 39/20 May 2011, amend. SG. 22/16 Mar 2012, amend. SG. 38/18 May 2012, amend. SG. 91/20 Nov 2012, amend. SG. 27/15 Mar 2013, amend. SG. 66/26 Jul 2013, amend. SG. 98/28 Nov 2014, amend. SG. 14/20 Feb 2015, amend. and suppl. SG. 61/11 Aug 2015, amend. and suppl. SG. 100/18 Dec 2015, amend. SG. 61/5 Aug 2016, amend. SG. 58/18 Jul 2017, amend. SG. 96/1 Dec 2017, amend. and suppl. SG. 17/23 Feb 2018, amend. and suppl. SG. 77/18 Sep 2018, amend. and suppl. SG. 83/9 Oct 2018, suppl. SG. 21/12 Mar 2021, amend. SG. 102/23 Dec 2022, amend. and suppl. SG. 86/13 Oct 2023, amend. SG. 102/8 Dec 2023, amend. and suppl. SG. 106/22 Dec 2023
Chapter one.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Art. 1. This Act shall regulate the preservation from damaging, the restoration and improvement of the fertility of the agricultural lands and determines the conditions and order of changing their designation.

Art. 2. (1) Agricultural land is deemed a primary national wealth and it shall only be used for agricultural purposes.
(2) The designation of the agricultural lands is for production of vegetal production and pasture in a way, not to damage the soil fertility and the health.
(3) The change of the designation of the agricultural lands is admitted only as an exception, for proven needs and under conditions and by an order, determined by this Act.
(4) (new – SG 39/11; amend. – SG 66/13, in force from 26.07.2013, amend. – SG 98/14, in force from 28.11.2014, amend. – SG 100/15, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, suppl. - SG 86/23, in force from 13.10.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) Construction on agricultural land without changing land’s designation can be done for greenhouses and linear sites under Art. 17a, para. 2, and for sites, whose functions are related to the agricultural use of the land and for agrophotovoltaics - under terms and conditions, specified by the Minister of Agriculture and Food and the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works.
(5) (amend. and suppl. – SG 19/11, in force from 09.04.2011; previous Para 4 – SG 39/11) The preservation from damaging, the restoration and the improvement of the fertility of the agricultural lands shall also apply for agricultural lands, included in the construction limits of the populated areas and the forestry areas, which are used for production of vegetal production and pasture.

Chapter two.
PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS FROM DAMAGE
Art. 3. The owners and the users of agricultural lands shall be obliged to preserve them from erosion, pollution, salination, oxidation, swamping and other damages and to maintain and improve their production quality.

Art. 4. (1) (amend. – SG 14/00; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The Ministry of Agriculture and Food shall provide for the owners and users of agricultural lands official information for:
1. the productive, technological, ecological and economic qualities of the agricultural lands, including their basic prices, as well as the potential risks of the worsening of these qualities due to erosion, pollution, salination, oxidation and swamping;
2. the preservation of the soil surface and its adherent ecological functions from damage;
3. the obligatory limitation in using the agricultural lands;
4. the pesticides, the fertilisers, the industrial or household waste, the biologically active and other substances, registered and approved for application, and the sanitary norms of their use, as well as the substances, prohibited for application.
5. the quality of the irrigation waters, the sanitary norms and the maximum admissible technological norms of their use, as well as the waters prohibited for irrigation of agricultural lands;
6. the anti-erosion crop-rotation for erosion threatened territories;
7. suitable systems and equipment for soil processing.
(2) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The Ministry of Agriculture shall maintain an information system for the agricultural soil resources. The information system shall contain a special register of the agricultural lands:
1. polluted with heavy metals and metalloids, radionucleids, oil products and other organic pollutants, industrial, construction and household waste;
2. threatened by erosion, salination, pollution, acidity and swamping.
(3) The register under para 2 shall also contain information about:
1. physical and corporate bodies or their successors, agents of pollution;
2. restricting and recommending regimes of land using and prescription for removal of the offences;
3. humus depots;
4. industrial waste, fit for reclamation and improvement of the agricultural lands;
5. short-term and long-term programmes for improvement of the productive qualities of the agricultural lands and their protection from erosion, pollution, salination, acidity and swamping.
(4) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The Ministry of Agriculture and Food shall have the right to impose obligatory restrictions for using agricultural lands for established:
1. damaging of agricultural lands;
2. non-compliance of the produced vegetal and animal production with the hygienic norms;
3. worsening of the ecological functions of the soil surface and the quality of the surface and underground waters;
4. other cases, stipulated by a law.
(5) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The Ministry of Agriculture and Food shall prescribe forest ameliorative and hydrotechnical measures protecting the soil surface from water and wind erosion.

Art. 5. (1) The owner shall freely choose the way of using the agricultural land if, by this, he does not change its designation and does not cause damages to his own land, the lands of the other owners or the quality of the surface and underground waters.
(2) When, on the use of the agricultural land restrictions are imposed by the force of a law, the owner, respectively the user, shall be obliged to observe them.
(3) The owners and the users of the agricultural lands shall be responsible for:
1. the compliance with the hygienic norms of the produced vegetal or animal production from the agricultural land;
2. the damages inflicted on the agricultural lands, property of other owners, as well as for damaging the quality of the surface and underground waters.
(4) (new – SG 13/07) The users of agricultural lands shall be responsible for the setting on fire of stubble fields and other plant waste located on the agricultural lands and shall take part in their extinguishing.
(5) (prev. text of para 4 – SG 13/07) The owners and the users of agricultural lands shall have the right to tax and credit preferences when they offer:
1. the obligatory restrictions for using the agricultural lands;
2. anti-erosion agrarian technology;
3. the recommendations for preservation of the soil surface and its adherent ecological functions;
4. the systems of organic agriculture and agriculture with reduced use of herbicides, pesticides and artificial fertilizers;
5. the projects for reconstruction and improvement of the productive quality of the agricultural lands.
(5) (prev. text of para 5 – SG 13/07) The physical and corporate bodies shall bear responsibility if, by their activities they damage the quality or the ecological functions of the agricultural lands.

Art. 6. (1) Prohibited is:
1. (amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The use of pesticides, mineral foliage fertilizers and micro fertilizers, as well as of biologically active substances, which are not given biological and toxicological registration by the special commissions and councils at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Environment;
2. (amend., SG 14/2000) the burning of stubble and other vegetal residuals on agricultural lands;
3. (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) the use of organic sediments from industrial and other waters and household waste for the agricultural lands without the permit by the specialized bodies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food;
4. the destruction or the change of constructed anti-erosion and hydromeliorative constructions without the explicit consent of the respective state bodies.
(2) It shall not be permitted to use for irrigation waters, which contain harmful substances and waste above the admissible norms.
(3) The organizations, which manage and supply water for irrigation, shall carry out periodical control over the quality of the water and, in cases when harmful substances are found and waste over the limit of the admissible norms, they shall inform the users and shall stop the supply of the water until the recreation of its quality. The users of the waters, for the period of suspension, shall have the right to request compensation for suffered damages and missed profit by a claim order.

Chapter three.
RECREATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PRODUCTIVE QUALITIES OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS
Art. 7. (1) Recreation and improvement of eroded, polluted, salted, acid and swamped agricultural lands is a complex of measures or technologies aiming at:
1. recreation of the damaged ecological functions of the soil surface;
2. reduction or elimination of the health and veterinary risks from the use of vegetal and animal production;
3. preservation and improvement of the soil fertility.
(2) The recreation and the improvement of eroded, polluted, salted, acid and swamped agricultural lands shall be carried out on the grounds of preliminarily developed, coordinated and approved technologies and projects.
(3) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The technologies and projects shall be approved by an expert council of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Health.
(4) The executors of the technologies and projects shall be appointed by a competition, announced by the expert council under para 3.

Art. 8. (1) (amend., SG 14/2000, amend. - SG 18/06; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. and suppl – SG 10/09; amend. - SG 61/15, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) * The Ministry of Agriculture and Food shall annually administer under its budget the proceeds from: the fees under Art. 30, para 1; the proceeds from rent and lease for using lands of the State land fund, as well as the proceeds from their sale; the proprietary sanctions and the fees under this Act; revenue from governmental fees, collected by the bodies of the land ownership according to the tariff of Art. 31, para. 2 of the Farm Land Ownership and Use Act, and as well as the expenses under Art. 10, para 10 of the Farm Land Ownership and Use Act.
(2) (new, SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 10/09, revoked – SG 100/15)
(3) (new, SG 14/2000, revoked – SG 100/15)
(4) (prev. para 2 - SG 14/2000) The sources of the pollution or damaging of the agricultural lands shall be liable for the expenses for the activities under Art. 7 or he shall owe to the state the expenses made for this purpose.
(5) (prev. para 3 - SG 14/2000) The state shall take over the expenses for the elimination of the causes of the non-fulfilment of the prescriptions for preservation of the soil surface and its adherent ecological functions, if they are a result of the activities or inactivity of state bodies or if the agent of the damage is not established.

Art. 9. (1) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The conditions and order of accepting the projects and technologies, their implementation and maintenance, shall be determined by an ordinance of the Minister of Agriculture and Food.
(2) The owners of lands, on which projects and technologies have been applied, shall be obliged to comply with the requirements and prescriptions determined by them.
(3) For failure to comply with the requirements and prescriptions under para 2, the owners of the lands shall owe to the state the invested resources.

Art. 10. (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, respectively the municipality, can cede, for a period determined by a contract, gratuitously, a right of using to a physical or a corporate body, who have reinstated or acquired with their own resources state and municipal low-production agricultural lands.

Chapter four.
RECLAMATION OF LANDS
Art. 11. (1) Subject to reclamation shall be:
1. mines, pits and other lands with damaged soil profile;
2. ash ponds, tailings, land fills and other waste depots;
3. old river beds;
4. tracks of abandoned canals, roads, railway roads and construction sites, upon dismantling of the engineering installations, lining and upper construction.
(2) The reclamation shall be made on the basis of a preliminarily made, coordinated and approved project which is an integral part of the project for the construction of the site.
(3) (new – SG 103/09; amend. – SG 19/11, in force from 09.04.2011, amend. – SG 100/15, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) Coordination of the reclamation project under par. 2 shall be performed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food or by an authorized official when the suggested way is resoiling of land for agricultural purposes and/or for its inclusion in forest areas.
(4) (new - SG 100/15) Apart from the cases in para. 3, the coordination of the reclamation project shall be done by:
1. the Minister of Environment and Waters or by an authorized official - for ash ponds, as well as landfills and other waste depots under the Waste Management Act;
2. the Minister of Energy or by an authorized official - for reclamation, arising from the activities of operators with active permits for prospecting or exploration, or for exploration and extraction concessions for the respective mining waste facilities;
3. the Minister of Economy or by an authorized official - for reclamation of closed mines, mines and related facilities included in the regulations governing the activities of the closure of mines, pits and mining facilities of coal, ore and uranium mining;
4. the Minister of Energy or the Minister of Economy, according to their competence, or officials authorized by them - for tailings.

Art. 12. (1) The reclamation of the terrains, expropriated for state and municipal needs, shall be carried out by the investor of the object, at his account.
(2) When the investor of the object has paid the due state taxes under Art. 30 and the value of the land to its former owners, he shall become owner of the reclaimed land.
(3) The use, for agricultural purposes, of land reclaimed under para 1 and 2, shall be possible through changing its designation by the order of this Act.
(4) When the investor has paid the state taxes under Art. 30 and the value of the land to its former owners, but he has not carried out reclaiming of the terrain, he can request a change of the designation of the land for other non-agricultural needs, by paying for it or receiving the difference from the due taxes, according to the new type of activity.

Art. 13. (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, respectively the municipality can present, for a period, determined by a contract, gratuitous right of using by physical and corporate bodies, who have reclaimed with own resources state or municipal lands as agricultural.

Art. 14. (1) The construction on agricultural land from first to sixth category shall only be performed upon removal of the humus layer.
(2) The humus layer shall be removed from the entire site or track of the object, with the exception of terrains, designated for planting.
(3) The humus layer shall not be removed from lands, designated for cemeteries, planting, and those included in sanitary protected zones, as well as in the cases when its thickness is under 10 cm.
(4) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The humus layer of the agricultural lands, polluted with heavy metals and metalloids, radionucleids, organic and other pollutants, above the admissible limits of concentration, shall be used by special technologies, approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Food and the Minister of the Environment.

Art. 15. (1) The humus layer shall be used for reclamation of damaged terrains, and if there are none - for improvement of low productivity lands.
(2) The removed humus layer from mines and pits shall be used for reclamation of the same areas, in time or after the conclusion of their exploitation or for reclamation of other damaged terrains.
(3) The removed humus layer during laying underground pipings shall be used for reclamation of the excavations upon their filling up.
(4) The removal and utilization of the humus layer, under para 1, 2 and 3, shall be carried out by the investor of the object with his own resources.
(5) The removed humus layer by physical or corporate bodies during construction on their own land shall be used for their needs.

Art. 16. (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09; amend. – SG 66/13, in force from 26.07.2013; amend. – SG 98/14, in force from 28.11.2014, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The order of using the humus, the reclamation, the improvement of lands and the acceptance of reclaimed areas shall be determined by an ordinance, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, coordinated with the Minister of the Regional Development and Public Works.

Chapter five.
CHANGE OF THE DESIGNATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL LANDS FOR NEEDS DIFFERENT FROM THE AGRICULTURAL
Art. 17. (Amend., SG 28/2001) (1) The change of the designation of the agricultural lands for needs different from agricultural shall be permitted depending on the productive qualities and the purposes of the change by:
1. (amend. - SG 43/08;suppl. – SG 39/11)) commissions to the regional directorates "Agriculture" - when the requested area is up to 50 decares of fifth to tenth category and is not under irrigation, and the land is located in the land areas of the settlements on the territory of the respective region;
2. the Commission for the farm lands - in the remaining cases.
(2) During the procedures for change of the designation of the agricultural lands they shall be categorized in 10 categories according to the productive capacities of the soil and climatic conditions, the relief and technological qualities of the land, its fitness for production of different kinds of vegetal production, and the imposed restrictions of land usage, under conditions and by an order, determined by an ordinance, issued by the Council of Ministers.
(3) (amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) In cases of disagreement with the category determined according to para 2, stakeholders can request an expertise, which shall be assigned by the Minister of Agriculture and Food by the order, determined by the ordinance under para 2.
(4) (amend. – SG 36/08; amend. - SG 43/08; amend. – SG 10/09; amend. – SG 39/11; amend. – SG 66/13, in force from 26.07.2013; amend. – SG 98/14, in force from 28.11.2014, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The Minister of Agriculture and Food shall determine the list of the commissions to the regional directorates "Agriculture" which shall include representatives of the regional structures of the Ministry of Environment and Waters, the Ministry of Health, the Directorate for national construction supervision at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the regional administrations, the interested agricultural and economic industrial branch organisations.
(5) The Commission for farm lands shall exercise control over the work of the commissions under para 1, item 1.

Art. 17a. (new – SG 39/11) (1) Change of designation of agricultural lands for non-agricultural needs may be admitted for:
1. construction of technical infrastructure sites as per Spatial Development Act;
2. establishment of new or expansion of building boundaries of existing urbanised territories (inhabited places or inhabited structures);
3. establishment or expansion of boundaries of separate regulated land estates out of the building boundaries of existing urbanised territories (inhabited places and inhabited structures);
(2) (amend. – SG 100/15, amend and suppl. - SG 83/18) Approval shall not be required for sites and routes for design and change of designation of agricultural land to construct linear sites of the technical infrastructure where they are not located on the surface of the terrain and the necessary area of each of the adjoining facilities on the ground is up to 15 sq. m., the linear sites for electricity transfer with voltage level of 110 kV and higher – the required area of each element of the linear site is up to 100 sq. m., while for valve stations, cathodic protection stations, candles, measuring instruments and electrical equipment to pipelines with an area of no more than 300 square meters.
(3) (New - SG 100/15, amend. - SG 96/17, in force from 02.01.2017, suppl. - SG 21/21, suppl. - SG 86/23, in force from 13.10.2023, suppl. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) Any change in the purpose of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, provided for by an effective general development plan, and also in the cases of construction of industrial parks, under the Industrial Parks Act, of facilities for the production of energy from renewable sources and for the performance of a concession contract, shall be done without carrying out a procedure for approval of a site or design track.

Art. 18. (Amend., SG 28/2001; amend. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) The stakeholders can request determining and approval of a site and/or of a track and a change of the designation of the land, whenever they need it for the construction of objects, not related to the use of the land according to its designation.

Art. 19. (prev. art. 19 - amend., SG 14/2000; Amend., SG 28/2001; amend. – SG 66/13, in force from 26.07.2013; amend. – SG 98/14, in force from 28.11.2014) The proposals for approval of sites or a track for designing and for change of the designation of the farm land for state needs shall be made by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works for sites and facilities on the territory of more than one region, by the regional governor - for sites and facilities on the territory of the respective region, and for municipal purposes - by the mayor of the respective municipality.

Art. 20. (Amend., SG 28/2001) (1) (Amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) The boundaries and the designation of the farm lands included within the boundaries of the urbanized territories shall be determined by a general or detailed development plan.
(2) (Amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) Change of the designation of the farm lands included within the boundaries of the urbanized territories can also be carried out in quarters in compliance with the development of the plan upon a proposal of the mayor of the municipality.

Art. 20a. (New, SG 28/2001) (1) (Amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) The owners of farm lands shall file a request to the mayor of the municipality for its inclusion within the boundaries of the urbanized territories or for the creation of new urbanized territories, and for change of its designation.
(2) (amend. – SG 39/11) The mayor of the municipality shall, within 30 days from receiving the application, make proposal to the commission under Art. 17, para 1, which shall take a motivated decision within 30 days from filing the proposal.. A favourable decision shall be a ground of issuance of a permit to draft a detailed spatial plan under the conditions and following the procedure of the Spatial Development Act. Not announcing a decision by the deadline shall be considered implied denial.
(3) (amend. - SG 30/06, in force from 12.07.2006, suppl. - SG 77/18, in force from 01.01.2019) The explicit or implied denial of the commission under Art. 17, para 1 can be appealed before the administrative court by the order of the Administrative Procedure Code. The decision of the administrative court is final.

Art. 21. (Amend., SG 28/2001) (1) (amend. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) For each site proposed to be built-up or expanded on farm lands shall be determined the necessary platform with a drawing of the property or a draft-drawing when the platform is for a part of the property, with specified boundaries and area defined by the geodetic coordinates of their defining points, and for the linear sites – a track with a draft project as per Art. 126, Para 6, item 1 of the Spatial Development Act. For determination of the sites and tracks, effective decisions and opinions, issued under Chapter Six of the Environmental Protection Act and under Art. 31 of the Biological Diversity Act shall also be required.
(2) (amend. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 100/15) Determined, simultaneously with the basic platform or track, shall also be the necessary auxiliary and additional platforms, and tracks for ensuring transport access by road of stable paving, terrain for temporary use and others, related to the construction and/or use of the site.
(3) (new – SG 39/11) For site, where the transport access is executed via farm roads and activities, related to usage of transportation machines of size and other technical characteristics, different than the provided for the farm roads, are planned, a change of designation of the land for the road shall be done following the general procedure, simultaneously with the main site.
(4) (previous Para 3, suppl. – SG 39/11) When affecting lands from first to sixth category determined for the site shall be at least two platforms or tracks, with exception of the lands proposed for extraction of underground natural resources, as well as in other cases, defined with the Rules on Implementation of this Act.
(5) (new – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) In the cases where for the sites a proposal of at least two sites or tracks is required, sites shall be determines with a drawing of the property or a draft-drawing when the site is for a part of the property, with specified boundaries and area defined by the geodetic coordinates of their defining points, and the tracks for linear sites of the technical infrastructure – with a draft project with variations of the track as per Art. 126, Para 6, item 1 of the Spatial Development Act shall be provided.

Art. 22. (Amend., SG 28/2001) (1) The platforms and tracks of the sites under Art. 21 shall be approved by a decision of the commissions under Art. 17, para 1, upon request of the owner of the land - for the cases under Art. 18 and upon request of the investor of the site - for the cases under Art. 19. The decision shall be issued within one month from filing the written request.
(2) The platform or the track shall not be approved when the proposed platform does not comply with hygienic, construction and other requirements or with restrictions stipulated by other Acts.

Art. 23. (Amend., SG 28/2001; previous text of Art. 23, amend. – SG 39/11) Not permitted on irrigated areas and lands from first to fourth category shall be designing and construction of sites with area over 500 Dk, except by permit of the Council of Ministers for each individual case, upon proposal of the Commission for the farm lands.
(2) (new – SG 39/11) If a national site as per the State Ownership Act or of a municipal site of first–rank importance as per Spatial Development Act, Para 1 shall not be applied.
(3) (New – SG 39/11, amend. and suppl. – SG 100/15, amend. - SG 86/23, in force from 13.10.2023, amend. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) Construction and/or expansion of sites for the production of electric energy from renewable sources using photovoltaic (solar) systems, expect in cases where the production of electrical energy is used for own needs, shall be allowed on non-irrigated agricultural lands of the seventh to tenth categories or uncategorizable.
(4) (new – SG 27/2013, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) Approval of platforms and/or tracks for projecting and change of designation of agricultural lands within the boundaries of Zone A, Zone B or in the urbanised territories of the inhabited places after Zone A as per the Act on the Black Sea Coast Spatial Development shall not be allowed, in which sand dunes are located, except in the cases of Art. 17a of the same Act.
(5) (New - SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) Until the boundaries of the sand dunes are reflected in the cadastral map and in the specialized maps and registers under Art. 6, Para. 7 of the Act on the Black Sea Coast Spatial Development, the establishing of platforms and/or tracks for designing and changing the designation of agricultural land within the boundaries of Zone A, Zone B or in the urbanized areas of populated areas beyond the boundaries of Zone A under the Act on the Black Sea Coast Spatial Development shall be allowed after a written statement of the Minister of Environment and Waters, or of an official authorized by him stating that the sand dunes do not fall within the property.
(6) (New - SG 21/21) When constructing industrial parks under the Industrial Parks Act para. 1 does not apply.

Art. 24. (Amend., SG 28/2001) (1) (amend. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) Upon an effective decision on the approval of a final paltform and/or track, the stakeholder may apply for a permission to create a detailed development plan under the order of the Spatial Development Act.
(2) (amend. and suppl. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) In the presence of an approved detailed development plan, the stakeholder shall propose a change of the designation of the necessary farm land for purposes other than agricultural. The commissions under Art. 17, Para 1 shall, within 30 days from filing the proposal, pronounce a decision for change of the designation of the farm lands.
(3) The change of the farm land can be permitted in stages.
(4) (amend. – SG 22/12, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) The decision under para 2 shall be enacted upon payment of a fee according to art. 30, Para. 1 or 2, except in cases under Art. 30, Para. 3 and 4.
(5) (new – SG 39/11) Decision to change designation of a farm land shall lose its legal effect, if:
1. within three months period from the announcement under the procedure of Art. 24a the fee envisaged in Art. 30 is not paid;
2. within three years period from the entering of the decision to change designation of a farm land into force issuance of a permit to construct the site is not applied;
3. within 6 years period from the entering into force of the decision to change designation of a farm land construction of the site is not started.
(6) (new – SG 39/11) Where sites for state and municipal needs shall be constructed and for which needs expropriation procedures shall be conducted, Para 5 shall not be applied.
(7) (New – SG 87/10; previous Para 5 – SG 39/11, suppl. - SG 86/23, in force from 13.10.2023) The agricultural lands shall be deemed to be with a changed designation from the moment of entry into force of a detailed development plan providing for the construction of a national site or of a municipal site of primary interest that become public state or municipal property or construction of a site for the production of energy from renewable sources.
(8) (New – SG 87/10; previous Para 6, amend. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018, suppl. - SG 86/23, in force from 13.10.2023) In the cases of Para 7, the fee under Art. 30, Para. 1 or 2 shall not be due, except in the case of construction of facilities for the production of energy from renewable sources.
(9) (New – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23, amend. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) In the cases under Para. 7, the interested person shall send to the Minister of Agriculture and Food a copy of the detailed development plan that has entered into force, accompanied by a document of findings certifying its entry into force, a register of the affected properties, and the documents specified in the regulations necessary to change the purpose of the land. To change the purpose of land from the municipal land fund, for which a fee is due under Art. 30, Para. 2, a document from the relevant municipal administration shall be attached indicating the amount of the local fee payable and the bank account to which the fee should be transfered.
(10) (New - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) Within 30 days from submission of the documents under Para. 9, if the proposal is completed according to the requirements, the Minister of Agriculture and Food shall determine ex officio the fee under Art. 30, Para. 1. The interested person shall be notified in writing pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Code of the fee due under Art. 30, Para. 1 or 2.
(11) (New - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) Within 30 days from payment of the due fee under Art. 30, Para. 1 or 2, the Minister of Agriculture and Food or an official authorized by him shall issue a certificate to serve as an official statement of the change of purpose of the agricultural land in the respective registers. Refusal to issue a certificate shall be subject to appeal under the Administrative Procedure Code.
(12) (New - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) For a certificate issued for facilities for the production of energy from renewable sources, the terms and rules under Para. 5 shall apply.

Art. 24a. (New, SG 28/2001; amend. - SG 30/06, in force from 12.07.2006; amend. – SG 39/11, suppl. - SG 77/18, in force from 01.01.2019) The decisions under Art. 22, Para 1 and Art. 24, Para 2 of the commissions envisaged in Art. 17, Para 1 shall be announced under the procedure of the Administrative Procedure Code to the interested persons and can be appealed under the conditions and procedure of the same Code. The court's decision is not subject to a cassation appeal.

Art. 25. (Amend., SG 28/2001) (1) (amend. - SG 29/06; suppl. – SG 87/10; amend. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) A copy of the decision to change the designation of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes shall be issued to the applicant upon presentation of a document evidencing the payment of the fee under Art. 30, Para. 1 or 2.
(2) (amend. - SG 29/06; suppl. – SG 39/11, revoked – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018)
(3) (new – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. - SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) Copy of the decision to change designation of the farm land dor needs different than agricultural shall be forwarded by the commissions envisaged in Art. 17, Para 1 to the municipal administration at the location of the property and to the relevant department of geodesy, cartography and cadastre.
(4) (new – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) Minister of Agriculture and Food shall publish decisions of the Farm Lands Commission per Art. 40 on the Internet site of the ministry. The Director of the respective district directorate “Agriculture” shall publish decisions of the commission envisaged in Art. 17, Para 1, item 1 on the Internet site of the respective district directorate.

Art. 26. (Amend., SG 28/2001; suppl. – SG 87/10; amend. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018, suppl. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) Permit for construction shall only be issued upon enacted decision of the commissions under Art. 17, Para 1 or a certificate as per Art. 24, Para. 11 for facilities for production of energy frm renewable sources for change of the designation of the agricultural land, and upon removal or utilization of the humus layer according to Art. 14 and 15.

Art. 27. (Amend., SG 28/2001) (1) The enacted decisions for changes of the designation of lands, owned by individuals and corporate bodies, necessary for state and municipal needs shall be grounds for expropriation of these lands by the order of expropriation of property for state and municipal needs.
(2) (amend. – SG 39/11) The procedure of expropriation of lands for state and municipal needs shall begin within three years from the enactment of the decision for change of the designation of the land, and when the expropriation is made in stages - within three years for the respective stage.
(3) When the expropriation of lands is made in stages, due to the nature of the constructed object, the owners of the lands shall use them according to their initial designation, without the right of construction of objects and investments of long-standing nature. For failure to comply with these restrictions the owners shall not be compensated for the introduced improvements and shall remove the constructed buildings and installations for their account.

Art. 28. (amend., SG 14/2000; amend., SG 28/2001) The lands expropriated for state needs according to Art. 27, para 1 shall receive title deed as public state or municipal property.

Art. 29. (Amend., SG 28/2001; amend. – SG 39/11) (1) (amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, suppl. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) Change of the designation of farm land of the state land fund or of the municipal land fund, needed for construction of sites of the technical infrastructure or of other sites by persons, whose purchase or establishment of right to construct or of servitude over state and municipal property shall be performed without tender or competition ex lege, may be executed on their account after a decision for a preliminary consent of the Minister of Agriculture and Food, respectively of the municipal council to draft a detailed spatial plan, on the base of filed by them application in a form approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Food. With the decision, the Minister of Agriculture and Food, respectively the municipal council, shal define the period of validity of the preliminary consent.
(2) (Amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) In the application under Art. 1 shall be indicated the UIC under the Act on theCommercial Register and the Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities, where the applicant is a legal person or a sole trader, or the number and date of issue of the identity document, where the applicant is a natural person, and shall also be included:
1. maps with a reflected project location of the platforms or tracks in the property / properties with geodetic coordinates of their determining points;
2. preliminary (pre-investment) investigations.
(3) (amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) After approval of a plot (track) and where the detailed spatial plan is effective for the lands envisage din Para1, the Minister of Agriculture and Food, or an official empowered by him/her, respectively the municipal council, shall purchase the lands or shall establish limited real rights or servitudes over them.
(4) Apart from the cases per Para 1, change of designation of farm lands of the state or of the municipal land fund for the needs of natural or legal persons may be done, only after the envisaged persons acquire them as ownership or are entitled to right to construct on them or to servitudes.
(5) (New – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) The provisions of this Article shall not apply when there is change of the designation of agricultural land from the State Land Fund or the Municipal Land Fund for the construction of national sites or of municipal sites of primary importance that are to become public state or municipal property.

Chapter six.
TAXES FOR CHANGE OF THE DESIGNATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND
Art. 30. (amend., SG 14/2000) (1) (suppl. – SG 39/11)For change of the purpose of agricultural land, where it is not form the municipal land fund, shall be paid state fee determined by a tariff of the Council of Ministers. The fee shall be paid by the owner of the agricultural land who has required the change of its purpose or by the investor of the site for state or municipal needs.
(2) (new – SG 39/11) In event of change of designation of the agricultural land from the municipal land fund, including cases under Art. 29, Para 3 and 4, a local fee, as defined by the municipal council shall be paid for the lands from the municipal land fund.
(3) (suppl., SG 112/03; amend. – SG 19/11, in force from 09.04.2011; previous Para 2, suppl. – SG 39/11; amend. - SG 61/15, amend. – SG 100/15) Fee shall not be paid according to Para 1 and 2 for construction under the conditions of Art. 4, Para 2 of the Farm Land Ownership and Use Act; for planting forest wood kinds; for lands excluded from the construction boundaries of the populated areas determined by a construction and regulation plan or by a surrounding polygon when their inclusion within the same limits is requested again; for construction connected with the application of technologies and measures under Art. 7, as well as in cases under Art. 22a, para. 12 of the Investment Promotion Act.
(4) (new – SG 39/11) Fee as per Para 1 and 2 shall not be due by the State and the municipalities, where designation of agricultural land from the state or the municipal land fun is subject to change for the purposes of sites – state or municipal public ownership.

Art. 31. (revoked, SG 14/2000)

Art. 32. (revoked, SG 14/2000)

Art. 33. (revoked, SG 14/2000)

Chapter seven.
REVOKING AND AMENDING DECISIONS AND CERTIFICATES (Title amend. - SG 14/2000, suppl. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023)
Art. 34. (1) (amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) The decision for approval of the final site for designing an object shall be revoked if, upon expiration of one year from the entry into force of the detailed development plan, the stakeholder does not extend a request for change of the designation of the land.
(2) (amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) When the object is constructed in stages, the decision for approval of a site or a track shall be revoked if, within one year from the entry into force of the detailed development plan, a request is not extended for change of the designation of the land for construction on the first stage.

Art. 35. (Amend. - SG 14/2000, suppl. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) The decision for change of purpose of the land and the certificate as per Art. 24, Para. 11 issued for facilities for the production of energy from renewable sources shall be revoked or amended when:
1. the size of the land exceeds the needs for which it has been ceded;
2. the needs for the land have been dropped;
3. (amend. – SG 39/11) within three years from the enactment of the decision the procedure for expropriation of the land for state and municipal needs has not started;
4. (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 39/11) within 6 years term form the enactment of the decision for change of designation of the land construction of the site for state and municipal needs has not been started.
5. (Revoked, SG 28/2001)
6. (new – SG 39/11, revoked – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018)

Art. 36. (Amend. – SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 28/01, amend. – SG 39/11, suppl. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) A decision of commissions of Art. 17, Para 1 and the certificate as per Art. 24, Para. 11 may also be revoked or amended when it is found that in its issuance an obvious factual error was made or changes in circumstances have occured under which it has been issued.

Art. 37. (1) (Amend. SG 14/2000; amend. - SG 28/2001, suppl. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) Proposal to cancel or amend a decision of the commissions under Art. 17, para 1 and the certificate as per Art. 24, Para. 11 can be done by the owner of the agricultural land, a minister, head of department, regional governor, mayor of a municipality and other interested organizations and persons.
(2) (Amend. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018, suppl. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) About the proposal for revokation or amendment of the decision for change of designation of the agricultural land and the certificate as per Art. 24, Para. 11, the stakeholder shall be informed under the procedure of the Administrative Procedure Code. Within 14-days term from the notification, the person shall have the right to submit an answer in written.
(3) (amend., SG 14/2000); revoked – SG 39/11)
(4) (new – SG 39/11) In the cases of Art. 35, item 1 prolongation of the term of validity of the decision shall not be admitted.

Art. 38. (1) (Amend. - SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 39/11, amend. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) A proposal for revoking or amendment of a decision of the commissions under Art. 17, para 1 and the certificate under Art. 24, para. 11 shall be considered and decided by the body which has issued the decision or the certificate, by a new decision or certificate, within one month from the elapse of the term as per Art. 37. Para 2.
(2) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. - SG 30/06, in force from 12.07.2006, suppl. - SG 77/18, in force from 01.01.2019) The act, revoking or amending the decision, respectively the refusal for that, shall be announced to the interested persons and it shall be subject to appeal by the order of the Administrative Procedure Code. The court's decision is not subject to a cassation appeal.
(3) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 39/11) In cases of revoking the decision for change of the designation of the land for state or municipal needs the owner shall be paid by the state or by the municipality a compensation for the caused damages and lost profit.
(4) (New – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018, suppl. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) In event of revokation of the decision to for change of designation of the land, as well as in the cases under Art. 24, Para 5, items 2 and 3 and Para. 11, the fee paid under Art. 30, Para. 1 or 2 shall not be reimbursed. Where the realization of the investment intention can not be accomplished due to prohibitions imposed by normative or general administrative act and the decision or certificate to change the designation of the agricultural land is to be be revoked at the request of the stakeholder, the fee paid under Art. 30, Para. 1 or 2 shall be reimbursed.

Chapter eight.
COMMISSION FOR AGRICULTURAL LANDS
Art. 39. (1) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) Commission for agricultural lands is established at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
(2) (amend. – SG 39/11; amend. – SG 66/13, in force from 26.07.2013; amend. – SG 98/14, in force from 28.11.2014; amend. – SG, 14/15, amend. – SG 100/15, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) In the body of the commission as per Para1 shall be included of one representative of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works; one of the ministry of Justice, one of the Ministry of Environment and Waters, one of the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Institute of soil science, agricultural technology and protection of plants "Nikola Poushkarov" in the structure of the Agricultural Academy. In case of necessity representatives of other interested institutions may also participate in the sessions of the commission.
(3) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The Minister of Agriculture and Food shall be chairman of the Commission for agricultural lands. He shall appoint the members by names, at the proposal of the respective ministers and heads of other administrative bodies.
(4) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The Ministry of Agriculture and Food shall provide the administrative, technical and financial services to the Commission for agricultural lands.

Art. 40. (1) The Commission for agricultural lands shall, by a decision:
1. approve short-term and long-term programmes for restoration and improvement of the productive qualities of the agricultural lands;
2. (Amend., SG 28/2001; suppl – SG 39/11) approve sites and tracks for designing any kinds of objects on farm lands with area over 50 Dca, for farm lands of first or fourth category or these under irrigation, in the cases under Art. 19, as well as the land is located in territories belonging to the settlement of the populated areas in more than one region;
3. (amend. – SG 39/11) in the presence of an effective detailed spatial plan or of a plot plan, decide for the change of the designation of agricultural lands for the construction of the object;
4. (amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) permit the change of the designation of agricultural lands in stages, upon request of the stakeholder;
5. (Amend., SG 28/2001) refuse the approval of the site or track in the cases under Art. 22, para 2;
6. (Amend., SG 28/2001) discuss the requests for change of the designation of irrigated areas and lands from first to fourth category, by making proposals to the Council of Ministers, in the cases under Art. 23;
7. (suppl., SG 14/2000; amend., SG 28/2001) revoke or amend its decisions by an order, stipulated by this Act, decisions according to the revoked Act on preservation of the cultivated land and pastures (SG, No 27 of 173), as well as decisions in connection with the filed complaints by the order of Art. 24a.
8. (new - SG 13/07; amend. - SG 61/15, revoked – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018)
9. (new - SG 100/15) suspend the procedure for change of designation of agricultural land when there are issues, related to health, construction and other requirements, or to limitations, stipulated in a law, until their clarification;
10. (new - SG 100/15) authorize the temporary use of agricultural land under the terms and conditions of the Rules on implementation.
(2) (amend. - SG 30/06, in force from 12.07.2006) The decisions under para 1 shall be announced to the interested persons by the order of the Administrative Procedure Code.
(3) (Amend., SG 28/2001; amend. - SG 30/06, in force from 12.07.2006, suppl. - SG 100/15, amend. - SG 77/18, in force from 01.01.2019) The decisions to approve sites and design tracks, to change the designation of farm lands for purposes other than agricultural and the refusal to issue a decision can be appealed before the relevant administrative court by the order of the Administrative Procedure Code. The decision shall be subject to cassation appeal before the Supreme Administrative Court.

Chapter nine.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND PUNITIVE PROVISIONS
Art. 41. (1) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 39/11) Fined from 500 levs to 5000 levs shall be a physical person who:
1. carries out activity, leading to a damage, pollution and destruction of agricultural land;
2. (amend., SG 14/2000) uses the agricultural land for purposes different from the agricultural, without a permit for change of the designation of the land;
3. (Amend., SG 28/2001, amend. – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018) occupies land in violation of the determined borders;
4. destroys the humus layer;
5. starts the construction of an object on a larger area than the permitted, or moves it to a land of a higher category;
6. does not vacate the land ceded for temporary use or does not return it in its initial state.
7. (new, SG 14/2000; revoked – SG 13/07)
(2) (amend., SG 14/2000) For repeated violation the penalty shall be a fine from 240 levs to 4000 levs.
(3) A corporate body shall be fined with a proprietary sanction amounting from BGN 1 000 to BGN 10 000, and case of repeated violation – from BGN 2000 to BGN 20 000.

Art. 41a. (new – SG 13/07) (1) (amend. – SG 64/07) User of agricultural land, on which has been carried out setting on fire of stubble fields and other plant waste, shall be punished with a fine of 1500 to 6000 BGN.
(2) (new – SG 64/07) The acts of the persons under Art. 44, para. 1 shall be forwarded to the State Fund "Agriculture" for sanctioning the violations of the National Standard 2.2 of the Terms and Conditions for maintenance of the land in a good agricultural and environmental condition.
(3) (prev. par. 2, amend. – SG 64/07) In case of repeated offence the punishment shall amount from 2000 to 12 000 BGN.
(4) (prev. par. 3, amend. – SG 64/07) The punishment under para 1 and 3 shall also be imposed on a person who has violated the prohibition of Art. 6, para 1, item 2.

Art. 42. (1) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 39/11) Fined with 500 levs to 5000 levs shall be an official who:
1. ( new – SG 39/11) issues an order to approve a detailed spatial plan or a plot plan on a farm land, without a decision for an improved spot (track) to plan a site, decreed by the commissions envisaged in Art. 17, Para 1;
2. (previous item 1 – SG 39/11) permits the start of construction on agricultural land, whose designation has not been changed by the order of the Act;
3. (Amend., SG 28/2001; previous item 2 – SG 39/11, revoked – SG 17/18, in force from 23.02.2018)
4. (previous item 3, amend, – SG 39/11) does not inform the municipal administration about land registration for the change in the cases stipulated by the Law;
5. (amend., SG 14/2000; previous item 4 – SG 39/11, revoked – SG 100/15)
(2) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 39/11) For repeated violation the fine shall be from BGN 1000 to BGN 10 000.

Art. 43. (1) (amend., SG 14/2000) Fined with 120 levs to 960 levs shall be a person, who does not maintain anti-erosion or other installation for preservation of the land.
(2) Fined with a fine equal to the doubled value of the installation shall be a person, who destroys or damages anti-erosion or other installation for preservation of the land.
(3) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 39/11) For repeated violation under para 1 the fine shall be from BGN 500 to BGN 15000, and under para 2 - the quadruplicate amount of the value of the installation.

Art. 44. (1) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09; amend. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The violation shall be established by an act of officials appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, or by an empowered by him/her official, respectively by the mayor of the municipality or by empowered by him/her and in the cases of violations related to lands of the municipal land fund, as well as in the cases under Art. 41, Para 1 – by officials, as empowered by the mayor of the municipality.
(2) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09; amend. – SG 39/11, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) The penalty decree shall be issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, or by an empowered by him/her official, respectively by the mayor of the municipality or by empowered by him/her official.
(3) The penalty decrees shall be issued, appealed and fulfilled by the order of the Administrative Violations and Penalties Act.
(4) (new – SG 39/11) Fines and property sanctions under penalty decrees, issued by the mayor of the municipality or by an empowered by him/her official shall come in the municipal budget.

Art. 45. (1) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) When establishing a violation of the law, the Minister of Agriculture and Food shall give obligatory prescriptions and shall determine a term of removal of the consequences.
(2) (amend., SG 14/2000; amend. – SG 36/08; amend. – SG 10/09, amend. – SG 58/17, in force from 18.07.2017, amend. – SG 102/22, in force from 01.01.2023, amend. - SG 102/23) For failure to fulfill the prescriptions and for not removing the consequences within the term, the Minister of Agriculture and Food shall stop, by an order, the construction of the object. The order shall be subject to appeal by the order of Art. 40, para 3.

Art. 46. (revoked, SG 14/2000)

Additional provisions

§ 1. (1) (Previous text of § 1 – SG 39/11)In the sense of this Act:
1. "Reclamation" is a complex of technical and biological activities, by which the initial use of the land is restored, and if it is not possible, another kind of use is created or a suitable landscape is formed.
2. "Linear objects" are highways, railway roads, navigable, draining and irrigation canals, underground and surface central heating pipings, steam pipings, gas pipings, produce pipings, water pipings, sewerage, cables, electric trunks, rope, telephone, telegraph, radio and telecommunication trunks.
3. (amend. –SG 39/11) "plot plan" is detailed spatial plan for the linear sites of the technical infrastructure out of the borders of the urbanized territories as per Spatial Development Act, under which the change if designation, expropriation and/or limitation of the right of ownership over the real estates shall be done.
4. "Ecological functions of the soil surface" are a reflection of its ability of accumulating water supplies, nutritious elements, active organic substances and the related chemical energy; to provide conditions for the vitality of the plants and micro-organisms; to regulate the chemical contents of the atmosphere, the surface and underground waters; to maintain the resistance of the geological ecological systems.
5. "Damage of the soil surface" is the change of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the soil, where a danger occurs for the ecological functions of the soil surface to be damaged or hindered to a considerable degree or for a long period.
6. "Basic price of the agricultural land" is a normative established by the state monetary equivalence of a complex of the productive, technological, ecological and economic qualities of the agricultural land for using it according to its designation.
7. "Humus depot" is a land area, determined for keeping the humus layer by the physical or corporate body, having received a permit for a change of the designation of the agricultural land.
8. (new – SG 39/11) “Person who is entitled to build in a somebody’s else real property” is that person, who is entitled to build on a somebody’s else real property is determined by force of a low or is provided on the grounds of a written contract with the owner of the land property, as entered in the lot of the respective property in the respective office of entries.
9. (new – SG 39/11) “Interested person” is the owner of the land, the person entitled to build on a somebody’s else property and the investor, who have made a request for approval of the plot/track and/or for change of designation of the land.
10. (new – SG 39/11) “Under irrigation” is such land, which is located on a territory serviced by an irrigation system or irrigation field, or it may be irrigated by a natural source, allowing gravitating water supply to the property.
11. (new - SG 86/23, in force from 13.10.2023) "Agrophotovoltaics" shall be energy facilities for the production of electrical energy from solar energy, built on agricultural land, which allow the peaceful and unhindered use of agricultural land for its intended purpose.
(2) (new – SG 39/11, revoked – SG 100/15)

§ 2. (1) (Amend. - SG 14/2000, amend. - SG 106/23, in force from 22.12.2023) For the construction on agricultural land, without an effective decision by the commissions under Art. 17, Para. 1 or a certificate as per Art. 24, Para. 11, the procedure by the order of this Act shall be performed.
(2) (amend.– SG 100/15) In the cases under para. 1, the owner of the site shall pay the sanction under Chapter Nine of the Act and twice the fee under Art. 30.
(3) (new - SG 100/15) When the land, on which construction has been made, is a state or municipal property within the meaning of Art. 10b, para. 5 of the Farmlands Ownership and Use Act and the amounts have been paid under para. 2, the owner of the site may acquire ownership of the land with changed designation at its market price in order, stipulated by the Rules on implementation.
§ 3. Agricultural producers, to whom a sanction is imposed under this Act cannot use a subsidy and conclude contracts under Art. 4, para 1 of the Protection of Agricultural Producers Act for the next economic year, as well as to receive resources from the state fund "Agriculture" under Art. 13, para 1, item 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the same Act for a period of one year from the enactment of the penalty decree.

Transitional and concluding provisions

§ 4. This Act revokes the Act on preservation of the cultivated land and pastures (prom. SG, No 3 and 102 of 1977, No 102 of 1981, No 58 of 1985, No 24 of 1987 and No 26 of 1989).

§ 5. The found unfinished procedures for determining a site or a track or for a change of the designation of agricultural land shall be completed by the order of this Act.

§ 6. An investor of an object who, by the enactment of this Act, was given a decision for expropriation or ceding land for needs different from the agricultural, shall enter into possession of the land by the order of the Act on preservation of cultivated land and pastures. When the three-year term under Art. 19, para 2 of the above-mentioned Act has passed and the object has not been constructed, the investor shall request a new decision by the order of this Act.
§ 6a. (new - SG 61/15, amend. – SG 61/16, in force form 05.08.2016) Designation change of agricultural lands permanently used as pastures common lands and meadows of the municipal land fund shall be permitted when such designation:
1. is stipulated in enacted general development plan for the respective area of the municipality;
2. is stipulated for the building of projects of national importance, national sites within the meaning of § 1 of the Supplementary Provisions of the State Property Act, as well as municipal sites of paramount importance;
3. is stipulated for the construction of facilities of technical infrastructure under the Spatial Planning Act, archaeological sites within the meaning of the Cultural Heritage Act and of special sites related to the defense and security of the country;
4. a concession is provided with a decision of the Council of Ministers.
§ 7. The following amendments and supplements are introduced in the Act for the mines and pits:
1. In Art. 22, para 4 is amended as follows:
"The ceding of agricultural lands for the needs under para 1 shall be accomplished by the order of the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Act."
2. The following amendments are introduced to Art. 26:
a) new para 2 is created:
"Change of the designation of the agricultural lands shall be made by the order of the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Act.";
b) the present para 2 becomes para 3.

§ 8. In the Roads para Act 2 of Art. 10 is amended as follows:
"Change of the designation of agricultural lands shall be made by the order of the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Act."

§ 9. The fulfilment of this Act is assigned to the Council of Ministers, who shall issue regulations for its implementation.

The Act was adopted by the 37th National Assembly on April 9, 1996 and was affixed with the state seal.

Additional provisions
(SG 14/2000)
§ 22. Everywhere the words "the Ministry of agriculture and forests", "the Minister of agriculture and forests", "the Ministry of Environment" and "the Minister of Environment" are replaced respectively by "the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests", "the Minister of Agriculture and Forests", "the Ministry of environment and waters and Waters" and "the Minister of the Environment and Waters.
Transitional and Concluding Provisions
(SG 28 2001)

§ 21. The started proceedings until the enactment of this Act shall be concluded by the previous order.

§ 22. The Act shall enter into force as of the day of its promulgation in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE CODE
(PROM. – SG 30/06, IN FORCE FROM 12.07.2006)

§ 93. In the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Act (prom. - SG 35/96; amend. - SG 14 and 26/00; 28/01; 112/03; 18/06) the words "the Administrative Procedure Act" shall be replaced by "Administrative Procedure Code".
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

§ 142. The code shall enter into force three months after its promulgation in State Gazette, with the exception of:
1. division three, § 2, item 1 and § 2, item 2 – with regards to the repeal of chapter third, section II "Appeal by court order", § 9, item 1 and 2, § 15 and § 44, item 1 and 2, § 51, item 1, § 53, item 1, § 61, item 1, § 66, item 3, § 76, items 1 – 3, § 78, § 79, § 83, item 1, § 84, item 1 and 2, § 89, items 1 - 4§ 101, item 1, § 102, item 1, § 107, § 117, items 1 and 2, § 125, § 128, items 1 and 2, § 132, item 2 and § 136, item 1, as well as § 34, § 35, item 2, § 43, item 2, § 62, item 1, § 66, items 2 and 4, § 97, item 2 and § 125, item 1 – with regard to the replacement of the word "the regional" with the "administrative" and the replacement of the word "the Sofia City Court" with "the Administrative court - Sofia", which shall enter into force from the 1st of May 2007;
2. paragraph 120, which shall enter into force from the 1st of January 2007;
3. paragraph 3, which shall enter into force from the day of the promulgation of the code in State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT ON AMENDMENT OF THE FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURES ACT
(AMEND. – SG 36/08)

§ 76. In the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Act (prom. SG 35/96; amend., SG. 14 and 26 of 2000, SG. 28/01, SG. 112/03, SG. 18, 29 and 30 of 2006 and SG. 13 and 64 of 2007) the words "the Minister of Agriculture and Forests", "Minister of Agriculture and Forests" and "the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests" are replaced respectively by "the Minister of Agriculture and Food Supply", "Minister of Agriculture and Food Supply" and "the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Supply".

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE OF FARM LAND OWNERSHIP AND USE ACT
(AMEND. – SG 10/09)

§ 19. In the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Act (prom. – SG 35/96; amend. – SG 14 and 26/00; SG 28/01; SG 112/03; SG 18, 29 and 30/06; SG 13 and 64/07; SG 36 and 43/08) the following amendments and supplementations are made:
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2. Everywhere in the Act the words "food supply" shall be replaced with "food".

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE OF STATE PROPERTY ACT
(AMEND. – SG 87/10)

§ 77. The provision of § 75 shall apply also to procedures for changing the designation of agricultural lands for construction of national sites and municipal sites of primary significance that have not been finalized before the date of entry into force of this Act.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE FORESTRY ACT
(PROM. – SG 19/2011, IN FORCE FROM 09.04.2011)

§ 42. This Act shall enter into force within one month period from its promulgation in the State Gazette, except for:
1. Paragraph 3, § 9, Para 9 – 11 and § 16, item 41, which shall enter into force from the day of promulgation of the State Gazette Act;
2. Art. 14, Para 1, item 2; Art. 115, Para 1, item 2; Art. 116, Para 2, Art. 183, Para 2, item 3 and Art. 249, Para 5, item 3; which shall ender into force from 1st January 2016.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE PRESERVATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL LANDS ACT
(PROM. – SG 39/2011; AMEND. – SG 22/12; SUPPL. - SG 91/12)

§ 27. (1) Pending procedures for approval of a plot and/or a track for projecting and for change of designation of farm lands shall be finalised under the so far existing procedure.
(2) As pending procedures shall be considered these procedures, where the proposals for approval of a plot and/or a track for projecting and for change of designation of the farm lands have been submitted at the Ministry of Agriculture ad Foods or in the respective directorate “Agriculture” before the entering of this Act into force.
(3) In the cases where to the moment of entering of this Act into force the decision for change of designation of farm lands has not been revoked under Art. 36 with an effective administrative act or with a court act, it shall be effective for the following periods:
1. (amend. – SG 22/12, in force from 24.05.2011) to the elapse of three years period from entry into force of this Act – where the expropriation of lands procedure for state or municipal needs was not started, or,
2. (amend. – SG 22/12, in force from 24.05.2011) till the elapse of 6-years term from entry into force of this Act – where construction of the site was not started.
(4) (new - SG 91/12) The due and not paid fees for the procedures referred to in Para 1, initiated before entry into force of this Act, shall be determined as set out in Art. 30 by the Council of Ministers according to a tariff determined by it for farm lands not part of the municipal land fund, or by the municipal council according to a local fee for farm lands of the municipal land fund.

§ 28. (1) Within three months form the entering of this Act into force, the Minister of Agriculture and Foods and the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works shall issue the ordinance envisaged in Art. 2, Para4.
(2) Till the issuance of the ordinance envisaged in Para 1, Ordinance No. 2 on constructions on the farm lands (SG 48/1998) shall be applied as far as it does not contradict this Act.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING THE PRESERVATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL LANDS ACT 
(PROM. – SG 22/12)

§ 3. The provision of § 2 shall enter into force from 24 May 2011.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE CIVIL SERVANTS ACT
(PROM. - SG 38/12, IN FORCE FROM 01.07.2012)

§ 84. (In force from 18.05.2012) Within one month from the promulgation of this Act in the State Gazette:
1. the Council of Ministers shall make the Classification of Offices in the Administration compliant with this Act;
2. the competent authorities shall make the structural acts of the respective administration compliant with this Act.

§ 85. (1) The legal relationships with the persons of the administrations under the Radio and Television Act, the Independent Financial Audit Act, the Electronic Communications Act, the Financial Supervision Commission Act, the Access and Act on Access to and Disclosure of the Documents and Announcing Affiliation of Bulgarian Citizens with the State Security Service and the Intelligence Services of the Bulgarian Popular Army, the Act on Forfeiture of Property Acquired through Criminal Activity, the Act on Prevention and Findings of Conflict of Interests, the Code of Social Insurance, the Health Insurance Act, the Agricultural Producers Assistance Act and the Roads Act shall be settled under terms and conditions of § 36 of the Transitional and Final Provisions of the Act Amending and Supplementing the Civil Servants Act (SG 24/06).
(2) The act of appointment of the civil servant shall:
1. determine the lowest rank for the position specified in the Classification of Offices in the Administration, unless the officer holds a higher rank;
2. determine an individual basic monthly salary.
(3) The additional funds for insurance installments for the persons referred to in Para 2 shall be made available within the limits for expenses for salaries, remunerations and insurance installments in the budgets of the budget credit administrators.
(4) The Council of Ministers shall amend as required by this Act the non-budget account of State Fund “Agriculture”.
(5) The governing bodies of the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund shall amend as required by this Act the respective budget credits.
(6) Any non-used days of leave under employment relations shall be preserved and shall not be subject to pecuniary compensation.

§ 86. ((1) Within one month from entry into force of this Act the individual basic monthly salary of the officer shall be so calculated that the said salary, reduced by the due taxes and the mandatory insurance installments due by the insured person, if available, shall not be lower than gross monthly salary received before, reduced by the mandatory insurance installments due by the insured person, if available, and the due taxes.
(2) The gross salary referred to in Para 1 shall include:
1. the basic monthly salary or the basic monthly remuneration;
2. the additional remunerations paid on permanent basis together with the due basic monthly salary or the basic monthly remuneration and dependent only on the working time.

§ 87. This Act shall enter into force from 1 July 2012 except for § 84, which shall enter into force from the day of the promulgation of the Act in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE BLACK SEA COAST DEVELOPMENT ACT 
(PROM. – SG 27/13)

§ 38. (1) Initiated and not finalized to the moment of entering into force of this Act into force procedures for approval of platforms and/or tracks for projecting and change of designation of agricultural lands, which contradict to the provision of Art. 23, Para 4 of the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Act shall be terminated.
(2) Initiated and not finalized to the moment of entering into force of this Act are those procedures, where there is no announced decision of the Commission envisaged in Art. 17, Para 1 of the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Act for approval of a platform and/or a track for projecting and for change of designation, or the decision for change of designation is not effective.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT ACT
(PROM. – SG 98/14, IN FORCE FROM 28.11.2014)

§ 117. The Act shall enter into force from the date of its promulgation in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS ACT
(PROM. – SG 100/15)
§ 12. The procedures which have begun prior to this Act entering into force with regard to coordinating the project for reclamation, shall be completed under the order prevailing hitherto.
Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE FARM LANDS OWNERSHIP AND USE ACT
(PROM. - SG 61/16, IN FORCE FORM 05.08.2016)
§ 13. This Act shall enter into force on the day of its promulgation in the State Gazette.
Concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING THE ACT ON BULGARIAN FOOD SAFETY AGENCY
(PROM. - SG 58/17, IN FORCE FROM 18.07.2017)
§ 47. Everywhere in the text of Preservation of Agricultural Lands Act words "Minister of Agriculture and Food" and "Ministry of Agriculture and Food" shall be replaced with words "Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry" and "Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry".
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§ 76. This Act shall enter into force on the day of its promulgation in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE CONCESSIONS ACT
(PROM. - SG 96/17, IN FORCE FROM 02.01.2018)
§ 41. The Act shall enter into force within one month from its promulgation in the State Gazette with the exception of:
1. Article 45, Para. 5, which enters into force within 12 months of the promulgation of the Act in the State Gazette;
2. Article 191, Para. 2-5, Art. 192 and 193, which shall enter into force on 31 January 2019.
Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE ACT ON THE SOWING AND PLANTING MATERIAL
(PROM. - SG 17 OF 2018, IN FORCE FROM 23.02.2018)
§ 29. Article 38, Para. 4, second sentence of the Preservation Of Agricultural Lands Act shall also apply to the enacted decisions for changing the designation of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, which at the date of entry into force of this Act have not lost any legal effect.

§ 30. (1) In the cases under § 27, Para. 3 of the Transitional and Concluding Provisions of the Act on Amending and Supplementing the Preservation Of Agricultural Lands Act (prom., State Gazette, issue 39 of 2011, amend., SG 22 and 91 from 2012), the stakeholder may request confirmation of the decision to change the purpose of the agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes by submitting a motivated application to the Commission under Art. 17, Para. 1 of the Preservation Of Agricultural Lands Act. The application shall indicate the number and date of the decision to change the designation and shall be accompanied by:
1. a document of ownership or established right for construction;
2. statements or effective decisions, issued by the order of Chapter Six of the Environmental Protection Act and under Art. 31 of the Biological Diversity Act;
3. a detailed development plan entered into force.
(2) The Commission under Para. 1 shall pronounce on the application within one month from the date of its receipt by issuing a decision confirming the decision to change the designation of the agricultural land, or by pronouncing a refusal. The decision shall be announced and may be appealed in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Code.
(3) In the decision which confirms the decision to change the designation of the agricultural land, the Commission shall determine the size of the fee under Art. 30, Para. 1 of the Preservation Of Agricultural Lands Act under the Tariff valid at the moment of submitting the proposal and approved by the Council of Ministers, or shall indicate the size of the fee under Art. 30, para. 2 of the Preservation Of Agricultural Lands Act. 
(4) The difference between the deposited fee for change of designation and the fee under Para. 3 shall be paid by the applicant, or shall be reimbursed to him.
(5) Where, from 24 May 2017 until the entry into force of this Act a new decision is taken to change the designation of the agricultural land and the specified fee under Art. 30, Para. 1 or 2 of the Preservation Of Agricultural Lands Act is paid, the interested party may file an application for revocation of this decision, and a motivated statement under Para. 1 to confirm the decision to change the designation of the agricultural land.
(6) In the cases under Para. 5, the administrative body shall pronounce on the submitted applications within one month from the date of their submission. In case of revocation of the decision for change of designation of the agricultural land, the fee paid for change of designation shall be reimbursed.
(7) The decision confirming the decision to change the designation of the agricultural land shall lose its legal effect within the terms of Art. 24, Para. 5 of the Preservation Of Agricultural Lands Act. 
§ 31. The terms under Art. 34, Para. 1 and 2 of the Preservation Of Agricultural Lands Act shall also apply to the proceedings already initiated for which the one-year period after entry into force of the detailed development plan for the respective property has not yet expired as of the day of entry into force of this act. 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
§ 37. (1) Within two months of the entry into force of this Act, the respective administrative bodies shall, within the limits of their competence, adopt with an order the templates of the documents under this act, and shall publish them on the web page of the respective administration.
(2) By 31 December 2019 the respective administrative bodies shall bring the public registers kept by them in accordance with the Electronic Governance Act and the secondary legislation for its implementation.

§ 38. The Act shall enter into force on the day of its promulgation in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE CODE
(PROM. - SG 77/18, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2019)
§ 156. The Act shall enter into force on 1 January 2019, with the exception of:
1. paragraphs 4, 11, 14, 16, 20, 30, 31, 74 and § 105 item 1 on the first sentence, and item 2 which shall enter into force on 10 October 2019;
2. paragraphs 38 and 77, which shall enter into force two months after the promulgation of this Act in the State Gazette;
3. paragraph 79, items 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, § 150 and 153, which shall enter into force on the day of the promulgation of this Act in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS SUPPORT ACT
(PROM. – SG 102/22, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2023)
………………………………………………………………………
§ 78. In Preservation of Agricultural Lands Act, the words "Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry" and "Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry" are replaced by "Ministry of Agriculture" and "Minister of Agriculture" respectively.
………………………………………………………………………
§ 106. The Act enters into force on January 1, 2023, with the exception of Art. 33a, para. 2, which enters into force on March 1, 2023.
Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE ENERGY FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES ACT
(PROM. - SG 86/23, IN FORCE FROM 13.10.2023) 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
§ 90. The act shall enter into force on the day of its promulgation in the State Gazette.
Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE PLANT PROTECTION ACT
(PROM. - SG 102/23)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
§ 92. Throughout the Protection of Agricultural Lands Act (prom., SG 35 of 1996; amend., SG 14 and 26 of 2000, SG 28 of 2001, SG 112 of 2003, SG 18, 29 and 30 of 2006, SG 13 and 64 of 2007, SG 36 and 43 of 2008, SG 10 and 103 of 2009, SG 87 of 2010, SG 19 and 39 of 2011, SG 22, 38 and 91 of 2012, SG 27 and 66 of 2013, SG 98 of 2014, SG 14, 61 and 100 of 2015, SG 61 of 2016, SG 58 and 96 of 2017, SG 17, 77 and 83 of 2018, SG 21 of 2021, SG 102 of 2022 and SG 86 of 2023), the words "the Ministry of Agriculture", "the Minister of Agriculture" and "Minister of Agriculture" shall respectively be replaced by "the Ministry of Agriculture and Food", "the Minister of Agriculture and Food" and "the Minister of Agriculture and food".
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ACT AMENDING THE TAX- INSURANCE PROCEDURE CODE
(PROM. - SG 106/23, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2024)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
§ 8. (In force from 22.12.2023) (1) The started and unfinished procedures for changing the purpose of agricultural lands under the Protection of Agricultural Lands Act until October 13, 2023 shall be completed in the order prior to the amendment of the act by the act amending and supplementing the Energy from Renewable Sources Act (SG 86 of 2023).
(2) Considered as incomplete shall be the procedures for which the proposals for approval of a site and/or design track and for changing the purpose of agricultural land are submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food or to the respective regional directorate "Agriculture" by October 13, 2023.
(3) The started and unfinished procedures after October 13, 2023, for changing the purpose of agricultural lands of the fifth and sixth categories under Art. 23, Para. 3 of the Protection of Agricultural Lands Act shall be terminated.
(4) § 30 of the transitional and final provisions of the Act amending and supplementing the Seed and Planting Material Act (SG 17 of 2018) shall not apply to sites for the production of energy from renewable sources.
(5) The change in the purpose of agricultural land, for which there is a detailed development plan for the construction of facilities for production of energy from renewable sources, approved before the entry into force of the Act amending and supplementing the Energy from Renewable Sources Act (SG 86 of 2023), and for which a proposal for change of purpose has not been submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food or to the respective regional directorate "Agriculture" before the entry into force of the same Act, shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure of this act.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

§ 10. The act shall enter into force on January 1, 2024, with the exception of:
1. paragraph 4, which enters into force on March 1, 2024;
2. paragraphs 7, 8 and 9, which enter into force on the day of its promulgation in the State Gazette.

Editor`s note
* Editor`s note: The amendment to this issue of the State Gazette refers to replacing a word with its synonym, which is practically untranslatable in English.