Russian vegetables often make their way into Latvia through Poland, negatively impacting local farmers, which has raised concerns to Roland Feldmanis, CEO of the Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives (LLKA). This trend, he notes, has led to decreased sales and prices for domestic produce.
The issue stems from two primary schemes. Firstly, Polish suppliers import Russian produce into Latvia, falsely labelling them as of Polish origin to circumvent restrictions. Secondly, certain importers exploit loopholes by bringing fruits and vegetables from Poland through small companies, avoiding VAT payments and effectively pocketing 21% of the selling price.
This practice puts Latvian producers at a disadvantage, as those with turnovers exceeding €50,000 are obligated to pay 21% VAT to the state budget.
Recently, the Latvian Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) received complaints about Russian or Belarusian cucumbers being labelled as Polish, misleading consumers.
In one instance, a retailer confessed to altering the origin of vegetables due to consumer aversion to Russian produce. Such practices undermine transparency and consumer trust, necessitating stricter enforcement to protect local producers and consumers alike.
source: rus.delfi.lv