The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BABH) has placed a poultry farm in Kramolin, Sevlievo municipality, under increased surveillance. “A phased depopulation of the animals will be carried out, due entirely to the barbaric and extremely cruel conditions under which they are kept,” BABH officials told “Za Istinata” (“For the truth”).
The conditions at the poultry farm in Kramolin were reported by the organization “Invisible Animals,” whose activists documented extreme inhumane treatment of the birds and filed a report with BABH. The organization is also conducting its own investigation, with footage capturing shocking and disturbing scenes.
For Stefan Dimitrov of “Invisible Animals,” the farm resembles a horror movie.
“I still have in front of my eyes how chickens are driven to such an extent that they are eating the carcasses of other chickens… I can’t stop thinking about the injured bird caught between the crooked bars. Clearly, it couldn’t free itself for a long time, and no one from the farm helped it. Maybe it has already died of hunger and thirst, or it was trampled and pecked to death by other chickens also left without food… BABH must immediately shut down this ‘farm.’ They have the right to do so, and if what I saw isn’t enough to take action, I can’t imagine what more needs to happen.” — commented the activist, quoted in “Invisible Animals” investigation.
The owner of the farm is the sole proprietorship “Eko Invest 2008,” registered in Gabrovo in 2008. Its manager is Pavel Lazarev, who also holds stakes in three other companies. According to the annual financial reports of “Eko Invest 2008,” its average turnover from sales from 2019 to 2022 exceeds 2 million BGN, with the highest being 2.7 million BGN in 2022.
The footage was filmed over a period of more than three years, aiming to demonstrate that these are not isolated incidents but systemic and severe violations that have drastically worsened by May 2025, according to “Invisible Animals.”
After monitoring the farm for over three years, the organization “Invisible Animals” concluded that the situation dramatically deteriorated in May 2025. On June 11 of this year, they filed a complaint with BABH, urging for the immediate closure of the facility. On June 16, the agency announced that an inspection had been carried out by experts from its central administration, in cooperation with representatives of the Regional Food Safety Directorate in Gabrovo.
The inspection revealed significant violations in implementing mandatory biosecurity and veterinary-sanitary control measures, including deficiencies in infrastructure, zoning, and hygiene practices at the site. Part of the observed non-compliance involved waste management of animal origin, microclimate maintenance, and adherence to humane treatment standards for the animals, according to BABH.
An Untimely Inspection
Undoubtedly, BABH has been slow to act, and their response appears somewhat lenient toward the farm owner if all the footage and photos seen by their officers are accurate. It is also puzzling how many inspections their officials actually conducted at the farm, considering that “Invisible Animals” observed ongoing issues over three years. When asked by “Za Istinata,” Dr. Spasov from the Gabrovo Regional Food Safety Directorate refused to provide details, directing to BABH’s website, claiming “everything is written there.” However, not everything raising questions is documented, so “Za Istinata” inquired with BABH about inspections carried out over the past three years—the period during which “Invisible Animals” monitored the farm. Their detailed—and highly bureaucratic—response failed to specify the number of inspections, suggesting the agency may have turned a blind eye to what is happening in Kramolin.
Meat and eggs in the retail network
What about the eggs from this farm appearing in stores? According to the video, they are sold in major retail chains. The farm’s website states that eggs and young birds are available in Gabrovo, but it is unclear whether this refers to the city or the wider region. “Za Istinata” asked BABH about this, and they responded that the laying hens are raised solely for egg production.
The agency responded that there are no plans to withdraw the products from the retail network, as no infectious or other diseases have been detected. They state that there is no evidence of a health risk to the public, implying that the eggs seen in the video among the carcasses of chickens can still be sold and consumed.
It is clear that the farm has made efforts to present a positive image of its operations. According to their statements, “the poultry farm meets all standards and requirements for quality,” and the company “Eko Invest 2008,” owner of the poultry farm in Kramolin, “possesses all the necessary certificates required in Bulgaria and the European Union,” claiming they focus on producing quality products to satisfy every customer, with honesty and affordable prices.
However, none of these claims align with the findings of the organization “Invisible Animals,” which documented severe violations and inhumane conditions at the farm.
