Zemnieku saeima urges revision of Criminal Law environmental amendments

The association ‘Zemnieku saeima’ is calling on members of the Saeima to reject proposed amendments to the Criminal Law and return them to the Legal Committee for revision. The organization argues that the current draft fails to clearly distinguish between intentional environmental crimes and situations where landowners are honestly managing their property and attempting to combat invasive species.

The proposed changes aim to align Latvian law with European Union directives regarding environmental criminal protection. The goal is to ensure strict criminal liability and penalties across the EU for serious, intentional offenses such as significant pollution, destruction of protected species or habitats, and illegal activities involving invasive species.

However, ‘Zemnieku saeima’ chairman Juris Lazdiņš warns that broadly interpreted norms could unfairly penalize farmers who follow regulations and rely on official guidance. He emphasizes that a farmer should not face criminal charges simply because invasive species, such as balsam pear, remain on their land despite ongoing efforts to eradicate them. The association seeks clear definitions stating that the mere presence or natural spread of invasive species on private property does not constitute a criminal offense.