Latvia bans imports of Russian and Belarusian grain

Riga, Latvia (Svidomi) — The Latvian Saeima has passed a resolution banning imports of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products in two readings.

The ban will last at least until July 2025.

The ban was supported by 69 deputies; nine voted against it, and none abstained.

Latvia became the first country in the European Union to introduce such restrictions.

The amendments supported by the Saeima ban imports of agricultural and feed products from Russia and Belarus and imports of Russian or Belarusian products from third countries.

The import ban will apply to agricultural and livestock products in Latvia, not those shipped to other EU member states.

According to the Latvian Ministry of Agriculture, in the first ten months of last year, Russian imports of agricultural products and feed to Latvia totalled €280 million, or 12% of the European Union's (EU) total imports from Russia, ranking second among EU member states.