Latvia bans imports of food from Russia and Belarus; rules also cover drivers’ food supplies

As of 8 August this year, Latvia has banned the import of additional groups of products from Russia and Belarus, including fish, dairy products, fruit, coffee, tea, oils and sugar. The restrictions also apply to food carried for personal use in a truck cab. However, they do not apply to cargo transported under the transit procedure.

The Latvian ban covers products imported directly from Russia or Belarus. It also applies to goods of Russian or Belarusian origin imported from other third countries. In practice, this means that a driver entering Latvia from Russia or Belarus must also pay attention to food products carried in the cab. Latvia’s State Revenue Service (VID) explicitly states that the restrictions also apply to travellers and truck drivers carrying products in their personal luggage for their own use.

The ban covers entire product groups

The full scope of the restrictions is defined using Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes. For some products, the ban covers entire tariff chapters.



If a product falls under one of these chapters and is imported from Russia or Belarus, the ban applies regardless of its quantity or whether it is intended for personal use.

Coffee, tea, oils and sugar covered by specific codes

For CN Chapters 09, 15 and 17, the ban does not automatically cover all products within those chapters. The Latvian regulation lists specific eight-digit codes.



The ban covers all basic types of coffee, both roasted and unroasted, with or without caffeine, and also applies to green and black tea. The spices listed include, among others, pepper, paprika, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, coriander, cumin, anise, star anise, fennel, juniper, ginger, saffron, turmeric and curry.

The list also includes fats and oils specified by their codes, including olive oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, corn oil, coconut oil and palm oil, as well as margarine. The sugar category includes, among others, white sugar, cane and beet sugar, lactose, glucose, fructose, syrups, maltodextrin and molasses. The full list of eight-digit codes is set out in Regulation No. 158 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia.

Meat and dairy products are also subject to EU rules

Regardless of the Latvian ban, EU rules prohibit travellers from bringing meat and meat products, as well as milk and dairy products, from most third countries. Therefore, a driver entering from Russia or Belarus should not have fresh meat, sausages, canned meat, cheese, milk, butter, yoghurt or kefir in the cab. The ban may also cover products containing meat, such as filled pasta, certain sauces and ready-made soups.

What can be carried in the cab?

There is no blanket ban on carrying food. Among the products generally permitted for import from third countries, VID lists, for example, bread, biscuits, confectionery, chocolate and pasta without meat. However, each case must be assessed taking into account the type of product, its origin and its CN code. Following the expansion of Latvia’s list, it can no longer be assumed that all food of plant origin is permitted, as even everyday supplies such as coffee, tea, sugar or a bottle of oil may now be prohibited.

Transit cargo is a separate matter

The ban described above applies, among other things, to goods released for free circulation, intended for processing or final use. It does not apply to cargo transported through Latvia under the transit procedure or to goods stored in free zones or customs warehouses. This exemption does not apply to drivers’ personal food supplies intended for consumption during the journey.

The Latvian restrictions remain in force until 30 June 2027.