Latvia
Organisations and institutions active on GMO
GMO-free network in Latvia
Ance Gobiņa, ance@zemesdraugi.lv
GMO-free movement/ Volunteer certification scheme (Latvia)
Inese Romanova, inese.romanova@zemesdraugi.lv
Official and institutional links
Ministry of Agriculture
Latvian Biosafety Clearinghouse
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (Latvian/English)
 |
| Genetically modified crops restrictions on local governments |
In connection with the June 18, 2009 and December 1, amendments made by the Genetically Modified Organisms Act and these amendments the rights established by local authorities on their own initiative or on a proposal from the person with the above binding rules to prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified crops in the administrative area or part thereof before adoption of these rules by informing the public and the publication of a notice of intention to prohibit the local government's newspaper, as well as placing the notification on its website on the Internet and sending information about this statement the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment of the information placed on their website on the internet (22. Genetically Modified crop restrictions) Ministry of the Environment has published the municipalities that have banned genetically modified crops list and visual information to supplement the map (map updated 11/05/2013) |
Updates + Overviews
The list of municipalities that have banned genetically modified crops (20.06.2014)
Genetically modified crops restrictions on local governments
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.
(Updated in June 2014: Information provided by GMO-free network in Latvia)
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
