Government lifts restrictions on goods sold at grocery and hygiene stores

RIGA - The government on Friday approved the Economics Ministry's proposal to lift restrictions on goods that are sold at grocery and hygiene stores. 

As  of next Monday, February 8, stores will be allowed to reopen provided that at least 70 percent of their product range consists either of food products or personal hygiene goods. 

As reported, starting Monday, February 8, all retail outlets will have to introduce the "safe shopping" concept, according to amendments to the Regulation on Epidemiological Safety Measures for the Containment of the Spread of Covid-19 Infection. 

Under to the amendments, stores will have to ensure at least 25 square meters per customer and admit visitors into the store one by one, except for persons accompanied by a guide and children under the age of twelve who may be accompanied by one adult.

The number of shopping baskets and shopping carts in a store must not exceed the maximum number of customers allowed in the store.

The regulation also provides for a new definition of a retail outlet: a building of at least 1,500 square meters in area with at least five salespersons working there.

Store owners or managers will have to ensure that the maximum permissible number of customers at the store is not exceeded and that customers enter the store one by one. The same requirements will also apply to market pavilions.

All retail outlets will have to appoint a person responsible for implementation of epidemiological safety measures at the outlet.

Implementation of epidemiological safety requirements will be controlled by the State Police, Municipal Police, and the Consumer Rights Protection Center.