Latvia proposes to ban imports of Russian grain to the EU

Amid criticism, Latvia has raised the issue of banning grain imports from the Russian Federation to the EU and allowing it to be transported only in transit for export to third countries.

This is reported by Delfi.

According to the Border Control Department of the Food and Veterinary Service, 382,800 tons of grain from Russia were imported to the EU through the Latvian border in 11 months of 2023. At the moment, imports of Russian agricultural products are not restricted either by EU legislation or in Latvia.

It is not known exactly how much of this grain remained in Latvia.

In this regard, Lithuanian Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Navickas said that Russian grain does not enter Lithuania, and one of the Lithuanian agricultural associations called for stricter control on the Latvian-Lithuanian border to prevent grain from Russia from entering the Lithuanian market.

"It is a shocking situation that Latvia and possibly other neighboring countries are importing grain from the aggressor country. No one knows exactly where it comes from because of the lack of control," said the head of the Lithuanian Grain Producers Association.

Meanwhile, Latvian Minister of Agriculture Armands Krause initiated a discussion at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Committee on the ban on imports of Russian agricultural products to the EU. The position is shared by President Edgars Rinkēvičs.

Krause believes that it is time for the EU to ban imports of Russian grain to its market, but to retain the possibility of transit of Russian grain to third countries, so as not to worsen global food security.

Author - Olena Madiak, 04/12/2023