Latvia strengthens grain control due to the risk of Russian transit
Latvia introduced stricter control over the origin of grain cargo from third countries to prevent the transit through its territory of grain that Russia could have exported from the occupied territories of Ukraine. In parallel, the Saeima called on the government to prepare a complete ban on the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain through the country.
On September 24, the Saeima of Latvia urgently finally adopted amendments to the law on the circulation of animal feed. The new rules will allow controlling the relevant cargo and take samples for laboratory tests to establish their actual origin.
Special attention will be paid to cases where there are suspicions that the real origin of the cargo does not correspond to that indicated in the accompanying documents or the products may originate from the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia.
According to LSM, the government will receive the authority to determine which feed cargo from third countries must undergo border control. The procedure for inspections will be established by the Cabinet of Ministers, and control will be directly carried out by the Food and Veterinary Service of Latvia.
The chairman of the parliamentary commission on economic, agricultural, environmental and regional policy, Arvils Aseradens, explained the decision by the need to prevent the use of Latvia for transporting grain stolen by Russia in Ukraine. For this, according to him, a mechanism is needed to check the true origin of the cargo.
On the same day, the Latvian parliament went further and called on the government to develop a legislative mechanism for the complete cessation of grain imports from Russia and Belarus, including its transit.
The Saeima demands that Latvian ports, railways and other infrastructure not be used for transporting grain from aggressor countries. The government was also called upon to create a system of control over compliance with the ban and provide for liability for its violation.
Parliament explains the tightening of restrictions by the change in Russian logistics routes. According to the assessment given in the Saeima decision, against the background of problems with the use of traditional sea routes, Russia is more actively redirecting grain cargo through the Baltic region, in particular through Latvia.
Latvian deputies also called for seeking a similar ban on Russian and Belarusian grain at the level of all Baltic countries and the European Union. Thus, the current decisions may become the first stage of a broader restriction of Russian grain transit through the Baltic transport infrastructure.
Based on materials: Saeima of Latvia, LSM
