Latvia has made major changes to its legislation regarding the monitoring and control of EU fertilisers having the CE mark. The amendments, authorized on April 29th, are intended to simplify accounting and hasten the market introduction of these fertilisers. A crucial revision to Cabinet Regulation No. 318, first implemented on May 24, 2022, shortens the application review period for putting an EU fertiliser on the market from one month to 15 working days. This simplification is anticipated to help producers and importers by allowing them faster entry to the Latvian market. Furthermore, the State Plant Protection Service (VAAD) will no longer review and examine compliance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 during the document assessment phase. This shift in duty indicates the CE marking as a measure of conformity inside the European Union.

According to the updated legislation, EU fertilising products with CE marking can be freely imported into Latvia if stated in the records by the manufacturer, as well as any recycler or packer who is considered the manufacturer.

The amended regulations explain the documentation requirements for various parties in the supply chain:

· Manufacturers must submit an application, a copy of the EU declaration of conformity (in both the original language and a Latvian translation, unless the original is in English), and the Latvian text for the identifying mark, label, or supporting document.

· Importers who only import the manufacturer’s fertiliser without altering its pre-packaging or information must submit an application, a copy of the EU declaration of conformity (with translation exceptions for English originals), and the Latvian or original language text of the identification mark, label, or accompanying document.

· Packers or repackers who modify pre-packages, trade names, adapt dosages, or provide additional information (without contradicting the manufacturer’s information) must submit an application, a copy of the EU declaration of conformity (with translation exceptions for English originals), and the Latvian or original language text of the identification mark, label, or accompanying document, along with their own Latvia.

If a packer or repacker significantly alters the original product information (such as which crops it is for or how much to use), they are considered the manufacturer. This implies they accept full responsibility for ensuring the product complies with Regulation 2019/1009. For documentation, they must apply as the “manufacturer,” give the EU’s quality statement (original or their own copy, no Latvian translation required if the original is in English), and the Latvian text for the product label.

An revised application form may be found on the State Plant Protection Service website under the “Inclusion of fertiliser and substrate in the register” section. These changes are anticipated to simplify the procedure for businesses to involved in the trade of EU fertilisers in Latvia, promoting efficiency and transparency in the regulatory landscape.