Poland recently blocked a shipment of Russian cucumbers and sent it back due to high pesticide levels. Latvian farmers now fear Russian cucumbers could still enter Latvia through Poland, where imports from Russia are not banned.
Latvia prohibits vegetable imports from Russia and Belarus, but Russian goods can still reach the EU through countries without such restrictions. According to Jānis Bušs from "Baltic Vegetables," Lithuanian farmers have seen Russian cucumbers in Latvian wholesale markets, raising concerns about unfair competition.
Latvia's Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) monitors imports from third countries but does not inspect goods arriving from Poland due to EU trade rules. PVD has not received complaints about Russian cucumbers being mislabeled as Polish, but officials urge reporting any suspicions.
The Ministry of Agriculture states that since July 2024, the EU has imposed higher tariffs on some agricultural products, but fresh vegetables are not included. If customs documents list Russia or Belarus as the country of origin, those goods cannot legally be sold in Latvia.
Despite the ban, Latvia imported over 3,000 tons of cucumbers from Poland in 2024, 1,000 tons more than five years ago. The total value of these imports was nearly €5 million.
Latvian officials warn that Russian vegetables may continue to enter the country through other EU states, and potential changes to EU customs rules could impact future imports.
Source: www.lsm.lv