Latvia to implement laboratory testing for transit grain origin

The Latvian Ministry of Agriculture is proposing amendments to Cabinet regulations that would allow the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) to conduct laboratory testing on transit grain shipments. This measure aims to verify the declared country of origin through physical sampling.

The move follows reports from Ukraine regarding large volumes of illegally obtained grain from occupied territories. There are concerns that such grain, or grain originating from Russia and Belarus, could be moved through Latvian ports using fraudulent documentation.

Latvia has already banned the import and free circulation of agricultural and livestock products from Russia and Belarus, with further expansions planned for August 2026. Currently, laboratory tests are not performed on transit animal feed shipments to confirm their origin, creating a risk that the actual geographic source may not match the provided documentation.