STATE AGENCY FOR METROLOGICAL AND TECHNICAL SURVEILLANCE

Their core work

SAMTS is Bulgaria's national authority responsible for market surveillance and enforcement of energy efficiency regulations, including eco-design and energy labelling requirements. They inspect, test, and verify whether products sold on the Bulgarian market — such as air conditioners, water heaters, lamps, and ventilation units — actually comply with EU energy performance standards. Their core function is protecting consumers and the single market by catching non-compliant products, making them a critical enforcement link in the EU's energy efficiency policy chain.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

SAMTS has shown remarkable consistency rather than dramatic shifts — they have participated in all three generations of the EEPLIANT coordinated action from 2015 through 2024. The early projects (EEPLIANT, EEPLIANT2) focused on establishing coordinated market surveillance practices across EU member states. By EEPLIANT3, the scope became more specific and ambitious, targeting named product categories (air conditioners, tumble driers, lamps, local space heaters) and deepening the enforcement methodology around eco-design and energy labelling compliance.

SAMTS is deepening its product testing capabilities for specific appliance categories, making them increasingly valuable for projects needing a Bulgarian market surveillance authority with hands-on enforcement experience.

How they like to work

SAMTS is a consistent participant, never a coordinator — which is typical for national market surveillance authorities that join EU-wide enforcement actions led by larger agencies. They operate within large consortia (35 unique partners across just 3 projects), indicating these are broad pan-European coordinated actions. Their loyalty to the EEPLIANT series across all three rounds suggests they are a reliable, committed partner who builds long-term relationships rather than shopping around for projects.

SAMTS has worked with 35 different partners across 24 countries through the EEPLIANT series, giving them connections to nearly every national market surveillance authority in Europe. This is a remarkably broad geographic network for an organization with only three projects, reflecting the pan-European nature of coordinated market surveillance.

What sets them apart

SAMTS is Bulgaria's designated authority for energy product market surveillance — there is no substitute if you need the Bulgarian enforcement perspective in a consortium. Their decade-long track record in the EEPLIANT series means they understand exactly how coordinated EU market surveillance works in practice, not just in theory. For any project requiring access to the Bulgarian market or needing to demonstrate EU-wide enforcement coverage, SAMTS fills a role that no other Bulgarian organization can.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EEPLIANT3
  Their largest funded project (EUR 51,098) with the most detailed scope — targeting specific product categories like air conditioners, lamps, and local space heaters for eco-design compliance testing.
• EEPLIANT
  The original coordinated market surveillance action that established the framework all subsequent rounds built upon — SAMTS was there from the beginning in 2015.