Latvia to get new veterinary control points

  • 2004-09-29
  • Baltic News Service
RIGA - A group of European Commission experts was scheduled to arrived this week to accredit four new EU-level veterinary border points that had been closed since accession in May, Finance Minister Oskars Spurdzins announced.

The four new customs points 's in Ventspils, Riga, Daugavpils and Rezekne 's have not handled food shipments for more than four months as a result of the lack of certification, and many officials have expressed concern that the cargo, having found other routes, may not return.

The EU experts had initially planned to inspect the newly built facilities in October, which would allow them to open for work by November, but their visit was pushed forward.

"I hope the cargo returns," said Spurdzins, who had previously said that construction could be completed at the two ports and two railway stations by September.

The new customs points are needed for EU-level food and veterinary control. After Latvia joined the EU, only the customs points at road crossings, Liepaja Port and also the railway stations of Zilupe, Indra and Karsava met EU requirements.

The biggest problem was reportedly at the Riga port, where all food cargo transit was ceased. Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars has stated that the port would probably lose the food handling part of its business for good. He said it had been one of the most profitable sectors at the port.

President of the Latvian Logistics and Customs Broker Association Aivars Taurins also said that food cargo handled at the locations before May 1 would probably not return to these locations after the facilities were updated.

"It is five times harder to get cargo back than getting new cargo," said Taurins.

Experts believe that Latvia would not experience any sanctions from the EU for not building the new customs facilities in time for accession, but the state as a whole will suffer since overall transit volumes are certain to drop.

Riga could get the biggest blow, where around 4 percent of the total cargo amount handled consisted of foodstuffs requiring veterinary control.