Latvia
Country introduction:
Latvia is a Member State of the European Union, and the regulation of GM foods takes place at EU level. Safety assessments are carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and authorisations are issued on an EU-wide basis. Assessments include a detailed study of potential for toxic, nutritional and allergenic effects.
Regulatory framework:
My country has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country has competent authority, agency, organization, ministry, department, committee, commission or a system/mechanism that is tasked to conduct or review GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information (regulatory framework):
Latvia applies the respective EU requirements.
Relevant contact details:
Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment - "BIOR" is a newly formed public research institution with a derived public person`s legal status.
There are the following areas of responsibility of the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment - "BIOR":
to carry out scientific activities in food, veterinary, environmental and fisheries sectors and in other sectors of biology by developing applied and basic researches to promote progress and integrity of science, higher education and corresponding industries;
to provide an expertise, scientific substantiation and risk assessment for sectoral development policy;
to implement execution of national data collection programs for fisheries sector, scientific activities and state monitoring needs in the field of food quality and safety, fisheries and animal diseases and zoonoses according to the Institute’s competence;
to implement projects to assess the risk in the field of food safety and animal infectious diseases, ensuring cooperation with institutions and organizations from the mentioned areas;
to carry out fishery inspections and provide scientific substantiation for environment-friendly, rational and sustainable management of fish resources in the inland and coastal waters of Latvian jurisdiction, territorial waters and waters of the economic zone of the Baltic Sea;
to perform functions of the National Reference Laboratory in the areas defined in the legislation;
to carry out laboratorial and diagnostic investigations related to state monitoring and food movement control, animal health protection and animal feed and veterinary drugs movement;
to implement a state policy on reproductive capacity of fish stocks through the implementation of activities of the Fish Resources reproductive state program;
to represent interests of Latvia and to implement an international scientific cooperation by organizing scientific conferences, seminars and other science-related information activities and by participation there;
to provide public advices within the competence of the Institute.
There are the following areas of responsibility of the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment - "BIOR":
to carry out scientific activities in food, veterinary, environmental and fisheries sectors and in other sectors of biology by developing applied and basic researches to promote progress and integrity of science, higher education and corresponding industries;
to provide an expertise, scientific substantiation and risk assessment for sectoral development policy;
to implement execution of national data collection programs for fisheries sector, scientific activities and state monitoring needs in the field of food quality and safety, fisheries and animal diseases and zoonoses according to the Institute’s competence;
to implement projects to assess the risk in the field of food safety and animal infectious diseases, ensuring cooperation with institutions and organizations from the mentioned areas;
to carry out fishery inspections and provide scientific substantiation for environment-friendly, rational and sustainable management of fish resources in the inland and coastal waters of Latvian jurisdiction, territorial waters and waters of the economic zone of the Baltic Sea;
to perform functions of the National Reference Laboratory in the areas defined in the legislation;
to carry out laboratorial and diagnostic investigations related to state monitoring and food movement control, animal health protection and animal feed and veterinary drugs movement;
to implement a state policy on reproductive capacity of fish stocks through the implementation of activities of the Fish Resources reproductive state program;
to represent interests of Latvia and to implement an international scientific cooperation by organizing scientific conferences, seminars and other science-related information activities and by participation there;
to provide public advices within the competence of the Institute.
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country does not regularly conduct food safety assessment of GM food, but has conducted at least once in the past.
Supplemental information (assessment):
Latvia applies the respective EU requirements.
EFSA is the responsible authority for risk assessment of GMO in the EU.
EFSA is the responsible authority for risk assessment of GMO in the EU.
Regulation stacked events:
Stacked events require full assessment as a new GM event.
Supplemental information (stacked events):
Latvia applies the respective EU requirements.
GM food/feed production:
My country does not produce any GM food or feed.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information (production and trade):
Latvia applies the respective EU requirements.
LLP/AP incidents:
My country has not faced any LLP/AP situations in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information (LLP/AP incidents):
Latvia applies the respective EU requirements.
Labelling requirement:
My country has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It contains GMO).
Supplemental information (labelling requirement):
Latvia applies the respective EU requirements on GMO labelling.
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