In Latvia, import bans on agricultural and feed products from Russia and Belarus have been extended until July 1, 2027. This is provided for in amendments to the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development, which were approved by the Saeima in their final reading on Wednesday, April 1.
The import ban has been set to remain in effect until July 1 of next year. The ban had previously been set to expire in July of this year.
Extending the ban is also essential for Latvia’s security. It is necessary because hostilities in Ukraine continue and Russia is still carrying out acts of aggression, according to the explanatory memorandum to the bill.
The ban has been effective, especially in combination with the increased customs tariffs and sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU), as representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture (ZM) previously told the Economic Affairs Committee, which is responsible for advancing the bill in the Saeima.
Latvia banned the import of certain agricultural products from Russia and Belarus on March 8, 2024. This prohibits the import into Latvia of agricultural and feed products from Russia and Belarus, as well as products originating from these countries that are sourced from other third countries. The ban does not apply to transit and deliveries to other EU member states. Meanwhile, in 2024 and 2025, the EU significantly increased import tariffs in two phases on agricultural and food products originating from Russia and Belarus, as well as on certain types of mineral fertilisers.
After assessing the impact of the ban, the Ministry of Agriculture concluded that imports of agricultural goods from Russia and Belarus have decreased significantly and consistently. In Latvia, imports from Russia fell by 30% in the first 11 months of 2024 and by a further 85% in the first 11 months of 2025. Imports from Belarus, meanwhile, decreased by 12% and 55%, respectively. A similar trend is also observed across the EU as a whole.
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