In an interview with FACTI, Stefan Dimitrov from the organization "Invisible Animals" described the industrial chicken farm in the village of Kramolin as a "farm from hell." The organization, through video footage captured between October 2021 and May 2025, exposed severe violations of animal welfare regulations, biosecurity, and food safety standards. The violations included horrifying scenes: decomposing corpses, severed chicken heads, injured chickens trapped and left without food or water, and the presence of rats and cats among the live birds—all posing a significant public health risk.
Following this scandal, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) took strict action. A surprise inspection was conducted in June 2025, after which the site was shut down and its registration revoked. According to the BFSA, the farm will not be allowed to resume operations unless all violations are fully rectified and the facility is re-evaluated by a specialized commission. Dimitrov emphasized that the cost of addressing these issues may be prohibitively high for the farm owner, making reopening unlikely.
Dimitrov also criticized the cage-based method of raising hens, calling it outdated and inhumane, as it does not even provide the birds with enough space to spread their wings. He noted that the European Union has been steadily transitioning toward alternative systems such as floor-based or organic farming. Over 60% of hens in the EU are now raised outside cages, while Bulgaria still lags behind at just over 30%.
As for the fate of the chickens in the closed facility, the older birds have been sent to a slaughterhouse at the owner's expense, as they have surpassed their productive laying period (around 70 weeks). The younger birds may be transferred to another industrial facility. However, they cannot be sold as domestic hens due to differences in vaccination protocols and the potential health risks involved.
Dimitrov praised the swift and serious response from the BFSA, highlighting the effective coordination between state institutions and civil organizations. He also pointed to the growing awareness among the Bulgarian public regarding animal welfare issues, which contributed significantly to the outcome. He revealed that there are suspicions of criminal activity at the Kramolin site, which could lead to a future investigation by the Prosecutor's Office.
