Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 03/10/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** LG5002

LG5002

**Latvia**

**Fishery Products**

**Latvia Bans Retail Sale of Baltic Salmon**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Margaret E. Thursland, Agricultural Counselor

U.S. Embassy Stockholm

**Prepared by:**

Jolanta Andersone, Agricultural Marketing Specialist

U.S. Embassy Riga

**Report Highlights:**

As of February 1, 2005, the Latvian Food and Veterinary Service banned
the retail sale of salmon caught in the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Riga due
to high dioxin levels. Latvia has asked the European Commission for
permission to continue to sell Baltic salmon if consumer warnings are
posted.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Riga \[LG1\]

\[LG\]

**Latvia Bans Retail Sale of Baltic Salmon**

As of February 1, 2005, the Latvian Food and Veterinary Service (FVS)
banned the retail sale of salmon caught in the Baltic Sea and the Gulf
of Riga.

The British firm Central Science Laboratories informed the FVS that they
had detected levels of dioxin above the maximum allowed in eight of 13
fish tested. The remaining five salmon, as well as Baltic herring and
sprats, also tested positive for dioxin but at lower levels. The British
lab also detected dioxin in the livers of cod. However, as the European
Commission (EC) has not yet established a maximum dioxin level for cod,
it will continue to be sold in the retail market.

The Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia has requested the EC to authorize
a transition period for the domestic retail sale of Baltic salmon.
During the transition period, retail sales would be allowed provided
that consumers were warned of the risks related to consumption of
dioxin-contaminated Baltic Sea salmon.

The EC has granted transition periods to both Sweden and Finland to sell
Baltic seafood with high dioxin levels. This period expires at the end
of 2006. Consumers are advised that women of childbearing age should not
eat salmon more than once a week.

###### Most Seafood Sourced from Norway

The ban is unlikely to have any significant economic impact on the
Latvian seafood sector. Most salmon sold in Latvia is not sourced from
the Baltic Sea but from Norway. During the first nine months of 2004,
1,487 metric tons of Norwegian farmed salmon were imported into Latvia.

**Latvian Salmon Imports by Source, Jan-Sept 2004**

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Country               | Volume, metric tons   | Import price per      |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       |                       | metric ton, US\$      |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Norway                | 1,487.2               | 3,352                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Sweden                | 84.1                  | 3,815                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Estonia               | 21.4                  | 1,833                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Russia                | 20.5                  | 1,444                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| USA                   | 20.1                  | 2,585                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Denmark               | 15.5                  | 3,907                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| The Netherlands       | 13.3                  | 1,963                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Lithuania             | 12.7                  | 5,537                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

Source: State Fisheries Department, MOA Note: USD 1 = LAT 0.54

###### Impact on Local Fishing Industry Unknown

Latvian fishermen were rather slow in filling the 2004 salmon quota of
59,500 fish. Only 12.6 percent of the quota was filled. The ban on
retail sales will negatively affect the operations of about 35 coastal
fishing boats with licenses for the 2005 salmon catch. Latvian Fisheries
Association President Inarijs Voits said it was too early to predict the
impact on the industry, but noted that in the long term the ban could
lead to considerable financial losses.

Agriculture Minister Roze has asked for an investigation into the
pollution problem. Ministry officials have begun working on a
compensation plan for coastal fishermen.