Latvia has tightened controls on grain due to the risk of illegal imports from Ukraine

The Latvian Parliament has urgently tightened inspections of grain shipments from third countries. The new rules are intended to help identify products of illegal origin, particularly grain that may have been exported from the occupied territories of Ukraine.

 

The Saeima finally adopted amendments to the Law “On the Circulation of Animal Feed” on September 24. These amendments allow for the inspection of feed shipments, including the collection of samples for laboratory analysis to determine their origin.

The government must define the list of shipments to be inspected, as well as the procedure for conducting such inspections by the Food and Veterinary Service.

The need to strengthen controls arose after Latvia received information about Ukrainian grain illegally exported from the occupied territories.

The country’s authorities are also considering the risk that such shipments may be transported with documents indicating Russian origin, particularly through Latvian ports.

Latvia had previously imposed a ban on imports of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and animal feed. However, transit shipments from third countries may pass through the country’s territory and the EU without entering the European market.

Now, the authorities want to establish a more flexible mechanism for verifying the origin of cargo. In particular, food-grade grain was not previously inspected to verify the accuracy of its declared geographical origin.

Source: Delfi

Earlier, Latvia blocked an EU compromise on sanctions against Russian oligarchs.

Latvia will also verify the origin of Russian grain during transit through the Baltic states.

Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports and problems with maritime exports could jeopardize not only this year’s grain shipments but also the 2027 planting season.