Latvia to tighten checks on origin of transit grain from third countries

On September 25, Latvia’s parliament adopted amendments to the Law on the Circulation of Animal Feed on an urgent basis, introducing border controls for grain shipments from third countries. Delfi reported this. The new rules are intended, among other things, to prevent grain illegally taken from occupied Ukrainian territories from being transported through Latvia.

The Latvian government will determine which batches of feed and grain will be subject to controls, as well as the requirements and procedures for inspections by the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD). The service will be able to take samples from transit shipments for laboratory testing if there are suspicions that the actual origin of the products does not match the information in the accompanying documents or that the cargo may be linked to Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.

The Latvian government had previously approved amendments allowing the PVD to verify the declared origin of grain. Testing will be carried out by BIOR, the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment, as an official control laboratory. Checks will also apply to food-grade grain that is not intended for sale on the EU market.

Latvia’s Ministry of Agriculture links the need for the measures to a significant increase in the transit and handling of grain from Russia. According to the ministry, Ukraine has provided information on significant volumes of grain illegally obtained in occupied Ukrainian territories, creating a risk that such grain could be transported through Latvian ports with documents indicating Russian origin. Previously, food-grade grain was not tested to establish its declared geographical origin.

The inspections could take up to one month, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said. At the same time, cargoes will not be allowed to be detained in ports while the tests are being conducted. If information is received indicating that a specific shipment contains Ukrainian grain that was illegally taken from occupied territories, Latvia will be able to pass the information on to the grain buyers.

Tags: grain, Latvia, restrictions, grain stolen, Russia