Transit of grain from Russia and Belarus must be completely banned - LLKA

RIGA - Latvia’s security and the interests of its agricultural sector can be safeguarded most effectively by completely banning the import and transit through Latvia of grain originating from Russia and Belarus, Rolands Feldmanis, chairman of the board of the Latvian Agricultural Cooperatives Association (LLKA), told LETA.

He believes that the decision adopted by the Saeima on Thursday - to impose stricter border controls on grain shipments from third countries as a matter of urgency - is a step in the right direction, but controls alone are not enough.

"The Saeima’s decision to impose stricter border controls on grain shipments from third countries is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough. The reality on the ground shows that inspections and attempts to trace the true origin of these shipments will quickly turn into a game of cat and mouse. The simplest, safest, and most effective solution is to ban these shipments entirely," Feldmanis notes.

He emphasizes that it will be particularly difficult to determine the true origin of a shipment in cases where grain of different origins has been deliberately mixed into a single shipment.

Feldmanis notes that the liability of the cargo owner and the penalties for non-compliant or falsely declared cargo must also be seriously considered. In his view, when non-compliant cargo is detected, it must be possible to immediately detain and confiscate it, while those responsible must face real economic and legal consequences.

"If the cargo owner faces no real financial losses or criminal liability, there is a significant risk that the infrastructure will be deliberately flooded with questionable cargo. Such a scenario could paralyze both the control authorities and the grain terminals, physically halting Latvia’s own transit and export capabilities," Feldmanis emphasizes.