At its regular meeting, the Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank has adopted new Ordinance No. 46 of the BNB on frontloading and sub-frontloading of euro banknotes and coins and euro coin starter kits under Article 23, paragraph 9 of the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria (LIERB), Ordinance No. 47 of the BNB on the conditions and procedure for providing information by credit institutions under Article 26 of the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria and for retaining and authenticating BGN banknotes and coins, Ordinance No. 48 of the BNB on the exchange of damaged BGN banknotes and coins for euros after the introduction of the euro in the Republic of Bulgaria under Article 26, paragraph 15 of LIERB.

I. The new Ordinance No. 46 of the BNB on frontloading and sub-frontloading of euro banknotes and coins and euro coin starter kits under Article 23, paragraph 9 of LIERB, ensures the application of the Law and of Guidelines 2006/525/EC, by establishing at national level:

1. The conditions and procedure for frontloading credit institutions (banks) with euro banknotes and coins by the BNB (frontloading);

2. The conditions and procedure for supplying Bulgarian Posts EAD and retailers (referred to as ‘sub-frontloaded parties’) with euro banknotes and coins by banks (sub-frontloading), including the conditions for applying a simplified procedure for sub-frontloading micro enterprises;

3. The contents of euro coin starter kits, and the conditions and procedure for supplying starter kits;

4. The requirements for banks with regard to the loading of self-service machines, including ATMs, with euro banknotes;

5. The reporting requirements for banks with regard to frontloading and sub-frontloading, including the reporting requirements for banks with regard to frontloaded euro banknotes and coins.

II. The new Ordinance No. 47 of the BNB on the conditions and procedure for providing information by credit institutions under Article 26 of the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria and for retaining and authenticating BGN banknotes and coins, lays down:

1. Banks’ obligations to provide the BNB with information pursuant to Article 26, paragraph 14 of LIERB;

2. The rules for retaining and authenticating BGN banknotes and coins suspected to be counterfeit or forged.

III. The new Ordinance No. 48 of the BNB on the exchange of damaged BGN banknotes and coins for euros after the introduction of the euro in the Republic of Bulgaria under Article 26, paragraph 15 of LIERB, lays down:

1. The immediate exchange for euros of damaged BGN banknotes and coins withdrawn from circulation with an unexpired period of exchange;

2. The subsequent exchange of damaged BGN banknotes for euros.