The Latvian government has approved the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolutions on the list of feed and agricultural products banned for import from Russia and Belarus. This was reported by Kommersant Ukrainian 
with reference to the website of the Latvian government.
Latvia, as a country bordering Russia, seeks to sever economic ties with the aggressor country as soon as possible. This initiative is an additional element of the European Union’s sanctions policy, the statement said.
The resolution will come into force on 8 March.
The import ban applies to:
- vegetables and root vegetables, in particular, potatoes, onions, carrots and tomatoes;
- all fruits, berries and nuts (apples, watermelons, melons, pineapples, nuts)
- cereals (wheat, rye, corn, buckwheat, barley, oats);
- feed raw materials and ready-made feed
More details on the list of products prohibited for import can be found in Regulation No. 2658/87.
It is noted that in 2023, EU countries imported products from Russia totalling €2.7 billion, which is 2% more than in 2021. All types of food and agricultural products are imported from Russia to the EU – fish, cereals, animal feed, as well as dairy products, sugar confectionery, etc. These are products that the EU can provide itself, with much stricter production standards and higher quality.
As a country bordering Russia, Latvia is one of the Member States through which significant imports of agricultural and food products of Russian origin enter the EU market. Four product groups from Russia accounted for 90% of Latvia’s import value in 2023: 44% of feed, 24% of cereals, 14% of peas and 8% of rapeseed oil.
“The dependence of all EU countries, including Latvia, on Russian resources – mineral fertilisers, fodder, food and energy – must end. These goods are not irreplaceable, and their purchase finances Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine,” the statement said,
– the statement reads.
It is worth noting that Russian agricultural products are not banned from importing into the European Union, as they are considered to be an important element of global food security, particularly for Asian and African countries.
On 22 February, the Latvian Saeima adopted a decision to ban the import of agricultural products and animal feed from Russia and Belarus.