The Saeima¹ has adopted and
President has proclaimed the following Law:

Law On Breeding and Animal Production

Section 1. Terms Used in this Law

The terms used in this Law are as follows:

1) breeding - a complex of zootechnical measures for targeted animal breeding and improvement of their genetic and economically valuable characteristics, which includes proper accounting, selection, pair selection, feeding, keeping and rearing;

2) breeding book:

a) collected information regarding origin, productivity and breeding value of farm breed animals,

b) collected information regarding origin of pet animals;

3) pedigree certificate - a document characterising the origin of a pet animal;

4) breeding value - the genetically specified difference of average indicators of the trait to be improved for an individual animal and the respective population;

5) genetic resources - numerically small species, breeds and populations of farm and pet animals, which are of cultural and historical, scientific or economic value;

6) certificate of origin - a document certifying the origin and breeding value of a farm animal, its semen, ovum or embryo;

7) farm animals - cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, fur-bearing animals, rabbits, poultry, honey-bees (Apis mellifera L.) and animals of wild species, which are held in restricted areas for acquisition of produce;

8) pet animals - dogs, cats, pet ferrets;

9) recording operation - process, which ensures quantitative and qualitative data on productivity and exterior of farm animals and registration of such data;

10) certified breeding material - semen, ovum or embryo of a breeding farm animal, which conforms to the criteria specified in the breeding programme and regarding which a certificate for the use of the breeding material has been received;

11) certified sire - a male breeding farm animal, which conforms to the criteria specified in the breeding programme and regarding which a certificate for the use of the sire has been received;

12) breed - population of one animal species, which bears similar genetically specified characteristics;

13) farm animal breeding farm - a farm, which belongs to a natural or legal person who is engaged in breeding of farm animals of specific breed according to a breeding programme, and to which the status of a farm animal breeding farm has been granted;

14) organisation of farm breed animal breeders - a merchant, co-operative society, association or foundation, which is engaged in improvement and selection of specific farm animal species and breed;

15) organisation of pet breed animal breeders - a merchant, co-operative society, association or foundation, which is engaged in improvement and selection of specific pet animal species and breed;

16) [27 February 2014];

17) supervision - a part of an individual system for recording of farm animals, within the scope of which the credibility of milk productivity and quality is checked.

[27 February 2014]

Section 2. Purpose of the Law

The purpose of the Law is to ensure the development of breeding and animal production in the state in order to:

1) promote sustainable development of the livestock sector, to promote rearing of herds of good quality and economic production of animal produce;

2) retain and improve the productivity and competitiveness of farm animals, promoting creation of highly productive herds;

3) retain and protect the diversity of genetic resources as national value;

4) promote acquisition of pet animals of high value.

Section 3. Scope of Application of the Law

The Law shall apply to natural and legal persons who perform breeding and are engaged in production of farm animals, pet animals and aquaculture animals, as well as to State administration institutions and other institutions, which carry out State administration tasks related to breeding.

[27 February 2014]

Section 4. Competence of the Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture shall co-ordinate:

1) a single strategy for breeding and animal production;

2) attracting of financing for breeding related to farm animals;

3) preservation of genetic resources.

Section 5. Competence of the Agricultural Data Centre

The Agricultural Data Centre (hereinafter - Data Centre) shall:

1) maintain, keep and supervise the single electronic supervision system, formed by the register of farm animals, their owners, herds and holdings;

2) maintain and keep the register of the persons engaged in breeding in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations regarding breeding;

3) assign identification numbers to farm animals to be grown in the state;

4) maintain and keep an information database of breeding related to farm animals and recording operation;

5) maintain and keep archives of farm animals, their owners, herds, holdings and farm animal breeding;

6) in accordance with Section 7, Paragraph one of this Law evaluate merchants, co-operative societies, associations and foundations and grant the status of an organisation of farm breed animal breeders;

7) register merchants, co-operative societies, associations and foundations in the register of organisations of pet breed animal breeders;

8) issue the certificates referred to in Section 13, Paragraphs one, two, three, and four of this Law to natural persons. The Data Centre may delegate the issuance of certificates in accordance with the procedures laid down in the State Administration Structure Law by a contract to a private individual or another public person;

9) approve and register new breeds of farm animals. The procedures for approving and registering breeds of farm animals shall be determined by the Cabinet;

10) perform supervision of dairy cows and dairy breed goats. The Data Centre may delegate the supervision of dairy cows and dairy breed goats in accordance with the procedures laid down in the State Administration Structure Law by a contract to a private individual or another public person;

11) cancel the recording operation data that does not conform to the laws and regulations regarding recording operation;

12) temporarily suspend the operation of organisations of farm breed animal breeders and such natural persons who perform evaluation, recording operation, artificial insemination, transplantation of ova and embryos of farm animals, or cancel the documents issued to the abovementioned organisations and persons, which allow them to operate in the respective field, if the operation of such organisations and persons does not conform to the laws and regulations regarding breeding;

13) temporarily suspend the operation of organisations of pet breed animal breeders or exclude the organisation of pet breed animal breeders from the register of organisations of pet breed animal breeders, if it has repeatedly violated the laws and regulations regarding breeding during the year.

[27 February 2014]

Section 6. Competence of the Food and Veterinary Service

(1) Conformity with this Law and the laws and regulations regarding animal production and breeding shall be supervised and controlled by the Food and Veterinary Service.

(2) The Food and Veterinary Service has the right to control natural and legal persons who perform breeding of farm and pet animals, and to request documents and information from them, as well as to visit herds, organisations of farm breed animal breeders and organisations of pet breed animal breeders.

(3) The Food and Veterinary Service shall inform the Data Centre regarding violations detected in the operation of the organisations and persons referred to in Paragraph two of this Section.

[27 February 2014]

Section 7. Competence of an Organisation of Farm Breed Animal Breeders

(1) The conformity criteria of an organisation of farm breed animal breeders and the procedures for granting the status of an organisation of farm breed animal breeders shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(2) The organisation of farm breed animal breeders shall carry out the following State administration tasks related to breeding:

1) draw up, approve and implement breeding programmes provided for species and breeds of farm animals, as well as programmes for preservation of genetic resources;

2) keep a breeding book of farm animals and organise checks of the origin of farm animals in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding keeping of a breeding book. The procedures by which the organisation of farm breed animal breeders shall keep a breeding book of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and horses, shall be determined by the Cabinet;

3) issue a certificate of origin regarding breeding farm breed animals intended for sale, their semen, ova and embryos, as well as other farm breed animals - upon request of their owner;

4) evaluate farms, which are engaged in breeding of farm breed animals, and grant the status of a farm animal breeding farm. The conformity criteria of a farm animal breeding farm and the procedures for granting the status of a farm animal breeding farm and cancellation thereof shall be determined by the Cabinet;

5) certify cattle, swine, sheep, caprine and equine sires, their semen, ova and embryos. The procedures for certification and accounting of breeders of the abovementioned species, their semen, ova and embryos shall be determined by the Cabinet;

6) organise measures for determination of breeding value, auctions and participation in exhibitions of farm animals;

7) represent the interests of farm breed animal breeders in the field of breeding in Latvia and abroad;

8) in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding recording operation keep and maintain an information database of recording farm animals.

(3) In carrying out the tasks referred to in Paragraph two of this Section, organisations of farm breed animal breeders are functionally subjected to the Data Centre.

[27 February 2014]

Section 8. Procedures for Registering an Organisation of Pet Breed Animal Breeders and its Competence

(1) In order to issue pedigree certificate and to register pet animals in a breeding book, a merchant, co-operative society, association or foundation shall register in the register of organisations of pet breed animal breeders of the Data Centre. The procedures for registering an organisation of pet breed animal breeders shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(2) The procedures by which an organisation of pet breed animal breeders shall keep a breeding book of pet animals and issue the pedigree certificate of such animals, shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(3) The organisation of pet breed animal breeders shall be responsible for the information indicated in the pedigree certificate of pet animals and the breeding book.

Section 9. Registration of Farm Animals and Aquaculture Animals, Their Herds and Holdings, Identification of Animals

(1) All farm animals and aquaculture animals, their herds and holdings must be registered, and all farm animals must be identified. The procedures for registering farm animals and aquaculture animals, their herds and holdings, as well as the procedures for identifying farm animals shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(2) A State fee shall be paid for registering herds and holdings and issuing a horse passport. The amount of the State fee and the payment procedures shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(3) Pet breed animals shall be identified and registered in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding registration of pet animals.

[27 February 2014 / Amendment regarding deletion of Paragraph two shall come into force on 1 January 2015 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as on 1 January 2015. See Paragraph 2 of the Transitional Provisions]

Section 10. Obtaining of Offspring of Farm Animals

(1) Cattle, sheep, caprine and equine offspring for breeding and recording operation shall be obtained from certified sires and certified breeding material.

(2) In recorded swine herds offspring shall be obtained from:

1) certified sires and certified breeding material, if the offspring obtained is left for breeding;

2) sires and breeding material, the origin of which is known in at least two generations, if the offspring obtained is fattened for acquisition of meat.

[27 February 2014]

Section 11. Provision of Farm Breed Animals, Their Semen, Ova and Embryos with the Certificate of Origin

(1) An owner of a breeding farm breed animal shall provide the following with the certificate of origin:

1) a breeding farm breed animal intended for sale, its semen, ovum and embryo;

2) a breeding farm breed animal brought into Latvia, its semen, ovum and embryo.

(2) The data to be indicated in the certificate of origin of a breeding farm breed animal, its semen, ovum, and embryo, and the procedures for issuing the certificate of origin shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[27 February 2014]

Section 12. Recording Operation, Evaluation of the Working Capacity of Horses and Their Participation in Competitions

(1) Recording operation is a voluntary measure ensured in a herd by its owner. The procedures for recording farm animals shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(2) The provisions for evaluating the working capacity of horses and the procedures for participation of horses in competitions shall be determined by the Cabinet.

Section 13. Requirements for Persons Performing Evaluation, Recording Operation, Artificial Insemination of Farm Animals, Transplantation of Ova and Embryos

(1) Evaluation of farm animals shall be performed by a natural person who has received a respective certificate and entered into a contract regarding exchange of information between organisations of farm breed animal breeders and single methodology for acquisition of data.

(2) Recording operation of farm animals (except evaluation) shall be performed:

1) by a natural person who has received a respective certificate, in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding recording operation exchanges information with an organisation of farm breed animal breeders and complies with the single methodology for acquisition of data;

2) in one herd - by a natural person who has received a respective certificate, in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding recording operation exchanges information with an organisation of farm breed animal breeders and complies with the single methodology for acquisition of data.

(3) Artificial insemination of farm animals shall be performed:

1) by a natural person who has received a respective certificate;

2) in one herd - by a natural person who has received a respective certificate.

(4) Transplantation of ova and embryos of farm animals shall be performed by a natural person who has received a respective certificate.

(5) The training procedures provided for natural persons who perform evaluation, recording operation, artificial insemination of farm animals, transplantation of ova and embryos, as well as the procedures by which such persons shall be issued and cancelled the respective certificate, shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(6) A State fee shall be paid for the issuance of the certificate referred to in Paragraphs one, two, three and four of this Section. The amount of the State fee and the payment procedures shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[27 February 2014 / Amendment regarding deletion of Paragraph six shall come into force on 1 January 2015 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as on 1 January 2015. See Paragraph 2 of the Transitional Provisions]

Section 14. Procedures for Contesting and Appealing of Decisions

(1) Decisions of the Food and Veterinary Service and of the Data Centre may be contested and appealed in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law.

(2) Decisions of an organisation of farm breed animal breeders, which have been taken in relation to the State administration tasks delegated thereto, may be contested to the Data Centre. The respective decision of the Data Centre may be appealed to the Administrative District Court.

Transitional provisions

[27 February 2014]

1. With the coming into force of this Law the Breeding Law (Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1998, No. 10; 1999, No. 2; 2000, No. 8; 2004, No. 2, 23; 2006, No. 1; 2007, No. 3, 15; 2008, No. 21; 2009, No. 14), is repealed.

[27 February 2014]

2. Amendments to this Law regarding deletion of Section 9, Paragraph two and Section 13, Paragraph six shall come into force on 1 January 2015.

[27 February 2014 / The abovementioned amendments shall be included in the wording of the Law as on 1 January 2015]

3. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 7, Paragraph two, Clause 5, Section 9, Paragraph one and Section 11, Paragraph two of this Law by 1 July 2014. Until the day of coming into force of this Regulation, but not later than by 30 June 2014 Cabinet Regulation No. 474 of 21 June 2011, Procedures for Certification of Cattle, Swine, Sheep, Caprine and Equine Sires, Their Semen, Ova and Embryos, Cabinet Regulation No. 650 of 16 August 2011, Procedures for Registration of Farming Animals, the Herds and Holdings Thereof and the Procedures for Identification of Farming Animals, and Cabinet Regulation No. 793 of 11 October 2011, Regulations Regarding Issuance of the Certificate of Origin for a Breeding Farm Animal Intended for Sale or to be Brought into Latvia, its Semen, Ovum and Embryo, insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law.

[27 February 2014]

Informative Reference to European Union Directives

This Law contains legal norms arising from:

1) Council Directive 88/661/EEC of 19 December 1988 on the zootechnical standards applicable to breeding animals of the porcine species;

2) Council Directive 89/361/EEC of 30 May 1989 concerning pure-bred breeding sheep and goats;

3) Council Directive 90/427/EEC of 26 June 1990 on the zootechnical and genealogical conditions governing intra-Community trade in equidae;

4) Council Directive 91/174/EEC of 25 March 1991 laying down zootechnical and pedigree requirements for the marketing of pure-bred animals and amending Directives 77/504/EEC and 90/425/EEC;

5) Council Directive 94/28/EC of 23 June 1994 laying down the principles relating to the zootechnical and genealogical conditions applicable to imports from third countries of animals, their semen, ova and embryos, and amending Directive 77/504/EEC on pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species;

6) Council Directive 2009/157/EC of 30 November 2009 on pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species (Text with EEA relevance).

This Law shall come into force on 1 July 2011.

This Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 20 January 2011.

President V. Zatlers

Adopted 8 February 2011

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2016 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)