Agriculture, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

Ministry of Agriculture previously indicated that at the moment, almost all municipalities in Latvia have imposed restrictions on cultivating genetically modified plants in their administrative territories. Four of 109 regions in Latvia have not yet exercised these rights, but two of them are already in the process of imposing restrictions.

Since January 1, 2013, functions of the European Food Safety Authority have been handed over to the scientific institution Bior.

The amendments stipulate that Bior will establish an independent scientific expert committee, which will be authorized to issue permits for activity connected with GMO in Latvia.

State Plant Protection Service will continue to develop and maintain a registry of genetically modified plant cultivators with the rights to supplement it with new ones. The service will also determine whether the seeds and plants are GMO-free.

The service will also establish a GMO monitoring system, making sure that the cultivators follow the regulations.