On the last day before their summer break July 31 2008, MPs approved the proposals of the oppositional right-wing Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party to introduce a limit to the number of pharmacies that can be owned by one company or one individual. 

This became possible after Parliament  passed - on second reading - amendments to the Medicinal Products for Human Use Act.

The amendments, in effect, mean a limitation on large drug store chains. According to Bulgarian-language Dnevnik daily, the DSB took their stance from the European Union experience. Many EU countries had similar provisions in their legislation, DSB said.

MPs also decided to give every individual the right to open a pharmacy. Until now only a graduate pharmacist had the right to open pharmacies. This amendment still gives drug store chains the chance to own more than four pharmacies by registering them under different individuals' or companies' names, Dnevnik said.