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LV Business and farmer organizations call for lifting mandatory COVID-19 certificate requirement
Latvian business organizations Zemnieku Saeima (ZSA), the Cooperation Council of Agricultural Organizations (LOSP), the Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives (LLKA), the Latvian Federation of Food Enterprises (LPUF), and the Latvian Food Traders Association (LPTA) are calling on the government to immediately lift the mandatory requirement for COVID-19 certificates for employees and service providers, as well as the application of "green" and "red" regimes at retail outlets.
ZSA Board Chairman Juris Lazdins: "The agricultural sector in Latvia has successfully overcome the potential negative impact of the COVID pandemic. In order for us to be able to maintain our competitiveness and generate income for the state budget in the future, we call on the government to immediately join the decisions of Estonia and Lithuania regarding the easing of COVID-19 restrictions."
Every day that is delayed in unproductive discussions in the corridors of government has an irreversible impact on entrepreneurs. The mandatory requirement for a certificate will affect many sectors in the long term – the competitiveness of Latvian entrepreneurs in the entire Baltic region will decrease. Businesses must be given the opportunity to work, because entrepreneurs, including farmers, base their business on the money they earn, not on state subsidies.”
LOSP Board Chairman Edgars Treibergs: "In our opinion, compulsory COVID-19 vaccination and certificate requirements should be abolished in Latvia immediately, at least as of March 1. Farmers are a conscientious part of society and they have complied with the requirements for ensuring human and animal health before and during the pandemic, to the extent that government regulations have been feasible for farmers without interrupting their economic activities."
We must stop undermining the Latvian economy, including agriculture. The government must abolish the mandatory COVID-19 certification and allow farmers and food producers to supply their Latvian people with local products, allow the people to enjoy the Latvian countryside and recreational areas without traveling to neighboring countries Lithuania and Estonia, but instead strengthen the Latvian economy.”
Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Football Association Indulis Jansons: "I have been concerned for a long time about the current policy in Latvia - the government's indecisiveness, late and unjustified decision-making, which is putting entrepreneurs and society in general in an unenviable situation. We must also take into account that the funding for overcoming the consequences of COVID-19, which is currently being poured into the wallets of Latvian entrepreneurs and residents, will have to be returned together, putting the Latvian economy in an even more difficult situation."
LPUF Council Chairwoman Ināra Šure: "To get out of the current situation, we must urgently change the strategy from centralized, detailed regulation for food companies to recommendations and guidelines! Our industry already had strict and specific work environment and hygiene requirements before COVID-19, so we must remove the current draconian, unjustified regulations and return to the original regulation, both safe work and a safe work environment are within the competence of employers! We must give up as much as possible the desire to include everything in regulatory regulations, because in food companies, each employer takes into account both the specifics of the industry and provides their employees with all the necessary personal protective equipment."
LPTA Executive Director Noris Krūzītis: “Food traders and producers are calling for an immediate end to the “green” and “red” regimes and the requirement for certificates in areas where they are not necessary. With the spread of the omicron variant, this system has lost its meaning – the existence of a certificate no longer guarantees a person’s health. However, the blow to farmers, food producers and traders is devastating. The volume of sales of food produced in Latvia has fallen dramatically at “green” regime retail outlets, while small “red” regime stores are unable to ensure sufficient product circulation to compensate for this shortage.”
More information:
Association "Farmers' Council"
+371 26371925