Latvia

Updates + Overviews

74 municipalities have issued  binding rules on prohibition for the cultivation of genetically modified crops: Aizkraukles novads, Aizputes novads, Aknīstes novads, Alojas novads, Alūksnes novads, Amatas novads, Apes novads, Auces novads, Ādažu novads, Baldones novads, Baltinavas novads, Balvu novads, Beverīnas novads, Carnikavas novads, Cēsu novads, Cesvaines novads, Dobeles novads, Dundagas novads, Durbes novads, Grobiņas novads, Gulbenes novads, Iecavas novads, Ikšķiles novads, Ilūkstes novads, Jaunpiebalgas novads, Jaunpils novads, Jēkabpils novads, Jelgavas novads, Kandavas novads, Kocēnu novads, Kokneses novads, Krāslavas novads, Krimuldas novads, Kuldīgas novads, Ķekavas novads, Lielvārdes novads, Līvānu novads, Lubānas novads, Madonas novads, Mālpils novads, Mazsalacas novads, Naukšēnu novads, Neretas novads, Nīcas novads, Ozolnieku novads, Pārgaujas novads, Pāvilostas novads, Pļaviņu novads, Priekules novads, Priekuļu novads, Raunas novads, Riebiņu novads, Rojas novads, Ropažu novads, Rucavas novads, Rugāju novads, Rundāles novads, Salacgrīvas novads, Salas novads, Saldus novads, Sējas novads, Skrundas novads, Smiltenes novads, Talsu novads, Tukuma novads, Vaiņodes novads, Valkas novads, Varakļānu novads, Vārkavas novads, Vecpiebalgas novads, Vecumnieku novads, Ventspils novads, Viesītes novads, Viļakas novads

Poll „Pro or contra GMO in Latvia” launched by the ministry of Environment has 27 000 votes for the first month. The recent data shows that 95% votes are against the GMO growing in territory of Latvia, 94% are against using GMO in feed and 96% - against GMO use in food. 91% considers that Latvia should be GMO free zone.
Minister of the Environment Raimonds Vējonis holds a view that Latvia must be genetically modified organisms (GMO) free zone, 15.07.2008

Organisations and institutions active on GMO

Green Liberty
Baltic Environmental Forum
Friends of the Earth Latvia, Kalnciema street 28, LV-1046, Riga, Latvia

Official and institutional links

Ministry of Agriculture
Latvian Biosafety Clearinghouse
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (Latvian/English)

Legal documents

According to the Law on Circulation of Genetically Modified Organisms a local government may determine a prohibition by issuing binding rules for the cultivation of genetically modified crops in the relevant administrative territory or in a particular territory thereof upon its own initiative or on the basis of a proposal of a person. The prohibition shall be determined for a period of time which is not less than five years.

Prior to taking of the binding rules the local government shall inform the public and publish a notification regarding the intention to determine such prohibition in the newspaper issued by the local government, but, if there is no such newspaper – in other local newspaper as well as the Ministry of Agriculture and  the Ministry of Environment indicating the territory where the determination of the prohibition for cultivation of genetically modified crops is intended, as well as the place and term for the submission of public opinions, proposals and objections. The term for the submission of proposals and objections may not be less than 30 days from the day of publication of the notification.

Draft regulation ‘Requirements for ensuring the coexistence of genetically modified crops, and a monitoring and control procedure’
The GMO legislation in Latvia: overview (2001)

Petitions

GMO-free Regions and areas: Petition to the European Commission. Download in pdf-format   doc-format

Other background information

Conventional, Organic Agriculture in Latvia and Genetically Modified Crops and Foods: Janis Sietinsons, Deputy Director of Agricultural Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Latvia
Public accountability in GMO policy in Latvia, Tālis Tisenkopfs, Valts Kalniņł. Rīga, Baltic Studies Centre