. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/AG/N/LVA/8
21 October 2003
(03-5552)
Committee on Agriculture Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The attached notification concerning new or modified domestic support measures exempt
from reduction (Table DS:2)  was received from the delegation of Latvia on 10 October 2003.G/AG/N/LVA/8
Page 2
Table DS:2
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  LATVIA
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:
New or modified domestic support me asures exempt from reduction
__________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Full title of measure:    'Support for Biological Farming'.
(2) Domestic legislation reference:   Regulation:  'Support for Biological Farming'.
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to the criteria:
Development of environmentally friendly farming practice:  farmers to be eligible for this
support must acquire a Biological Farming Certificate.
A farmer to obtain the Biological Farming Certificate has to meet the specific criteria of
biological agro-technology methods.
The support is limited to the extra cost to comply with biological methods of farming.
The programme is exempt from reduction commitments consistent with paragraph 12 -
Payments under environmental programmes - of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture.
(4) Cost of measure:   105.8 thousand SDR in 2001 (annual allocation).
(5) Date of entry into effect:  2001
(6) Period of application: Ongoing
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):  Agricultural products.G/AG/N/LVA/8
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Table DS:2
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  LATVIA
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:
New or modified domestic support me asures exempt from reduction
__________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Full title of measure:  'Renovation of technical equipment of agricultural production'.
(2) Domestic legislation reference:   Regulation: 'Renovation of technical equipment of
agricultural production'.
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to the criteria:
Diminish technological disadvantages of producer's operations.
Promote effective and rational production.
Promote use of energy saving technologies.The programme is exempt from reduction commitments consistent with paragraph 11 -
Structural adjustment assistance provided through investment aids - of Annex 2 of the
Agreement on Agriculture.
(4) Cost of measure:   6,037.01 thousand SDR in 2001 (annual allocation).
(5) Date of entry into effect:  1998
(6) Period of application: Ongoing
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):  All rural producers.G/AG/N/LVA/8
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Table DS:2
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  LATVIA
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:
New or modified domestic support me asures exempt from reduction
__________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Full title of measure:    'Marketing and promotion services'.
(2) Domestic legislation reference:   Regulation: 'Marketing and promotion services'.
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to the criteria:
Publishing informative materials on market situation.
Development of database of agricultural and food producers.Marketing support for agricultural products and for participation in international farmer
organisations.
The programme is exempt from reduction commitments consistent with paragraph 2(f) -
Marketing and promotion services - of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture.
(4) Cost of measure:   300.11 thousand SDR in 2001 (annual allocation).
(5) Date of entry into effect:  2001
(6) Period of application: Ongoing
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):  All rural producers.G/AG/N/LVA/8
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Table DS:2
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  LATVIA
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:
New or modified domestic support me asures exempt from reduction
__________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Full title of measure:    'Liquidation of consequences of natural disasters'.
(2) Domestic legislation reference:   Regulation: 'Liquidation of consequences of natural
disasters'.
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to the criteria:
Government participates in crop insurance schemes to reduce production risk due to natural
disasters (frost, hail, storm, flood, and drought).
Payments are made following a disaster and applied only in respect of losses of income.  No
future production is required.
The programme is exempt from reduction commitments consistent with paragraph 8 -
Payments (made either directly or by way of government financial participation in crop
insurance schemes) for relief from natural disasters - of Annex 2 of the Agreement on
Agriculture.
(4) Cost of measure:   25.21 thousand SDR in 2001 (annual allocation).
(5) Date of entry into effect:  1998
(6) Period of application: Ongoing
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):  All rural producers.
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