In eleven months of 2023 a total of 382 808 tonnes of cereals from Russia went through Latvia’s border checkpoints on the way to the greater European Union. This includes 61 894 tonnes in November, as reported by Latvian Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) Border Control Department’s Director Iveta Šice-Trēde.
“Currently neither European nor Latvian regulations prohibit imports of food products, cereals included, from Russia,” she said.
At the same time, she mentioned that all freight going through the border undergoes usual control measures. No non-compliant freight has been found so far.
Šice-Trēde adds that PVD does not have information as to the amount of imported cereals that remain in Latvia and the amount that is carried through Latvia’s territory further into the EU.
In regards to the suspicions about Russian cereals entering the EU through Latvia,
Lithuanian Minister of Agriculture Kęstutis Navickas announced that Russian cereals are transported through his country as well, but it does not stay in it. He did say, however, that Latvia’s government should act.
Aušrys Macijauskas, Head of the Lithuanian Cereal Growers Association, proposes establishing tighter control on the Latvian and Lithuanian border to prevent Russian cereals from ending up in Lithuania.
“Cereals from Russia are carried by railway, and they are easily controlled, because everything is seen in accompanying documents. I have checked and there are certainly concerns that Latvian cereals [Russian cereals from Latvia] have not entered our ports. However, there is no such information, and the port has confirmed that there are no Latvian cereals,” Navickas told a Lithuanian radio station.
Macijauskas mentioned that approximately one million tonnes of cereals is important from Russia to Latvia.
“What is shocking is that Latvia, and potentially other neighbouring countries, import cereals from the aggressor because of the lack of control,” said the head of the Lithuanian Cereal Growers Association.
He is confident control on the Latvian and Lithuanian border should be tightened to make sure Russian cereals do not end up in Lithuania.
“It’s clear that neither we nor Latvian government like what is happening. However, the question is why Latvian government isn’t taking any action,” said the Lithuanian minister.
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