Latvia to implement grain transit inspections to verify origin

The Latvian government has approved amendments to cabinet regulations that will allow the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) to take samples from transit grain shipments for laboratory testing. This measure aims to verify the declared country of origin and prevent grain illegally obtained from occupied territories in Ukraine from being moved through Latvian ports using fraudulent Russian documentation.

While Latvia has already banned the import and free circulation of agricultural and feed products from Russia and Belarus, transit goods from third countries can still cross Latvian and EU customs territories without entering the EU market. The Ministry of Agriculture noted a rapid increase in demand for grain transit and the need for comprehensive checks to ensure compliance.

According to PVD Director General Māris Balodis, the cost of these laboratory inspections—estimated at approximately 900 to 1,000 euros per shipment—will be borne by the sender. Because the analysis process can take up to a month, shipments may proceed only after prepayment is received. If a sender refuses to pay, the shipment will not be permitted to cross the Latvian border. The primary goal is to determine if grain declared as Russian is actually originating from occupied Ukrainian territories, providing a basis for future policy decisions at both national and EU levels.