Latvia is planning to ban food imports from Russia and Belarus

In Latvia, the ban on importing products originating from Russia and Belarus will in future apply not only to agricultural products and animal feed, but also to foodstuffs, the national broadcaster reported on Thursday, although this proposal will still require final approval from the Saeima.

Since March 2024, a national import ban has been in force in Latvia on agricultural and animal feed products originating from Russia and Belarus.

However, according to the drafters of the bill from the Ministry of Agriculture, this ban does not apply to food products, so certain items manufactured in these countries, such as biscuits and chocolate, are still available on Latvian shop shelves.

The planned import ban will cover a wide range of food products, including marshmallows, biscuits, sauces, ready-to-eat soups, chocolate and sweets.

The ban will also affect various plant seeds, medicinal herbs, spices, oils and flour products. In addition, imports of sugar beet molasses and beet pulp from Russia and Belarus will be prohibited, as will processed plant products such as tinned vegetables, vegetable salads and apple purée.

The amendments provide for a ban on the import of food products from Russia and Belarus, even if attempts are made to bring them into Latvia via other third countries. With this move, Latvia’s sanctions regime becomes stricter than that of other EU Member States, which continue to import and export significant quantities of food and drink to and from Russia and Belarus.

The explanatory memorandum to the draft law also states that a threat still exists from the long-standing efforts by Russia and Belarus to use political, economic and informational means to influence the Latvian state, society and its values, as well as to undermine the country’s foreign policy course and internal political stability. Therefore, in order to avert potential threats to national security, it is necessary to reduce economic ties with aggressor states.