Latvia to Allow Lab Testing of Transit Grain Origin at Its Ports

Latvia's Ministry of Agriculture (ZM) has prepared amendments to Cabinet of Ministers regulations that would give the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) the right to take samples from grain cargo passing through Latvia in transit and conduct laboratory tests to verify its declared country of origin.

Latvia has already banned imports of agricultural and feed products from Russia and Belarus, with the ban expanded further in August 2026. At the same time, Ukraine has provided information about significant volumes of grain illegally extracted from occupied Ukrainian territories, warning that some of it, carrying Russian origin documents, could be moved through Latvian ports.

Reason for the change

The ministry says it has recorded an unusually sharp rise in demand for grain transit and transshipment from Russia, making a comprehensive origin check necessary. Currently, grain intended for animal feed and moved in transit through EU territory is not subjected to laboratory testing confirming its country of origin. The new rules would also allow the PVD to charge companies involved in the animal feed trade an advance payment for cargo inspection and lab analysis.

Government decision expected next week

The government plans to decide next week on granting the PVD authority to control transit grain cargo at Latvian ports, and may also consider a full ban on Russian grain transit through Latvia. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said he was surprised the PVD had lacked such powers throughout the war years. He said Russia mixes grain stolen in Ukraine with its own and ships it through other countries' ports, with pressure currently being applied on all Baltic ports. Ukraine is reportedly ready to send experts to Latvia who could best determine which grain was grown in Ukraine. A cooperation memorandum similar to the one Lithuania, Ukraine and the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs signed in 2024 is also planned for Latvia.

Rising transit through the Baltic Sea

After Ukrainian strikes destroyed more than 80% of Russia's grain export capacity at its Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports, Russian exporters have increasingly redirected shipments toward the Baltic Sea. From the start of the new season through mid-August, requests for grain shipments to Russian Baltic ports reached five million tonnes, approaching the six million tonnes handled by Novorossiysk and Tuapse. Analysts estimate Russia's wheat exports in August fell to just 1.9 million tonnes, the lowest level in 16 years.