Russian vegetables often arrive in Latvia through Poland, negatively impacting local farmers. Roland Feldmanis, CEO of the Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives (LLKA) finds this concerning. This trend, he notes, has led to decreased sales and prices for domestic produce.
The issue stems from two primary schemes. Firstly, Polish suppliers import Russian produce into Latvia, falsely labeling them as being of Polish origin to circumvent restrictions. Secondly, certain importers exploit loopholes by bringing fruits and vegetables from Poland through small companies. In this way, they are avoiding VAT payments and effectively pocketing 21% of the selling price.
This practice puts Latvian producers at a disadvantage, as those with turnovers exceeding €50,000 are obligated to pay 21% VAT.
Recently, the Latvian Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) received complaints about Russian or Belarusian cucumbers that are labeled as Polish, misleading consumers.
In one instance, a retailer confessed that he altered the origin of vegetables due to a consumer aversion to Russian produce. Such practices undermine transparency and consumer trust, necessitating stricter enforcement to protect local producers and consumers alike.
source: rus.delfi.lv