January 30, 2014

Rihards Valtenbergs, head of the Latvian Cattle Breeders Association (LAMCB), said that as much as 90% of the beef sold in Latvia's stores and markets comes from unknown sources or is smuggled.

The grey economy has dominated Latvia's beef sales, and the companies that smuggle the meat into the country are able to provide it with legitimate paperwork, which makes combating illegal trade very difficult, Valtenbergs said.

Valtenbergs said Latvian breeders had been asking law enforcement authorities to intensify their efforts in cracking down on meat smugglers since 2004, but they were refused assistance from state institutions.

Despite the problems related to the illegal meat trade, the forecast for the Latvian beef market was positive and the number of local beef cattle breeders could double over the next several years, Valtenbergs added.

Meanwhile, Valtenbergs' claims were refuted by the country's Food and Veterinary Service (PVD). The state-run agency issued a statement in which it said similar remarks were harmful to the country's meat industry and not supported by the available data.

"Based on our data, the allegation that 90% of the beef market consists of meat which is of unknown origin or smuggled is unfounded and misleading to consumers and undermines the prestige of producers and retailers," the PVD said.

In 2013, the agency's inspectors performed controls in 8,685 establishments, including warehouses, shops, supermarkets and other retail outlets. Violations of regulations on beef meat labelling and proof of origin were determined in very few cases, the PVD said. Last year, the PVD established an emergency response group which brought together officials from law enforcement agencies, with the aim of combating the illegal food trade.