The Saeima ¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

Law on the Reduction of Consumption of Products Containing Plastic

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Terms Used in the Law

The following terms are used in the Law:

1) place on the market - make a product available (deliver for distribution, consumption, or use) on the market for the first time;

2) oxo-degradable plastic - plastic materials containing additives which, through oxidation, lead to the fragmentation of the plastic material into micro-fragments or to chemical decomposition;

3) plastic - a material consisting of a polymer as defined in Article 3(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (hereinafter - Regulation No 1907/2006) to which additives or other substances may have been added and which can function as the main structural component of final products, except for natural polymers that have not been chemically modified;

4) littering - discarding of a single-use product containing plastic or fishing gear containing plastic or the abandonment thereof at a location not designated for this purpose as a result of which it is released into the environment or sewerage system;

5) producer - a natural or legal person who carries out commercial activity in Latvia, another European Union Member State, or a third country and produces, fills, sells, brings in from another European Union Member State or imports from a third country irrespective of the trading techniques used, including with a distance contract in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding a distance contract, and places on the market in the Republic of Latvia single-use products containing plastic (also filled) or fishing gear containing plastic, except for the persons who carry out the fishing activities defined in Article 4(28) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC;

6) single-use product containing plastic - a product that is made wholly or partly from plastic and that is not conceived, designed, or placed on the market to accomplish, within its lifecycle, multiple trips or rotations by being refilled or re-used for the same purpose for which it was conceived;

7) fishing gear - any item or piece of equipment that is used in fishing or aquaculture to target, capture, or rear marine biological resources or that is floating on the sea surface, and is deployed with the objective of attracting and capturing or of rearing such marine biological resources;

8) waste fishing gear - any fishing gear which the holder discards, intends, or is required to discard, including all separate components, substances, or materials that were part of or attached to such fishing gear when it was discarded, including when it was abandoned or lost.

Section 2. Purpose of the Law

The purpose of this Law is to prevent and reduce the impact of certain single-use products containing plastic and fishing gear containing plastic on the environment, in particular the aquatic environment, and human health, and also to promote a transition towards a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models, products, and materials, thus contributing to the effective functioning of the internal market.

Section 3. Exclusions to the Application of the Law

The Law shall not be applicable to the following:

1) food packaging for dried food or food which is sold cold and requires further preparation;

2) primary packaging in which more than one portion of food is sold;

3) secondary packaging;

4) not chemically modified substances as defined in Article 3(40) of Regulation No 1907/2006;

5) mixtures - dyes, inks, and adhesives as defined in Article 3(2) of Regulation No 1907/2006.

Chapter II
Restrictions on and Requirements for Products Containing Plastic

Section 4. Restriction to Place Products Containing Plastic on the Market

(1) The producer is prohibited from placing the following single-use products containing plastic on the market:

1) cotton buds, except for the case where they are covered by Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC (hereinafter - Regulation No 2017/745);

2) tableware (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks);

3) plates;

4) straws, except for the case where they are covered by Regulation No 2017/745;

5) beverage stirrers;

6) sticks to be attached to and to support balloons, and mechanisms of such sticks, except for balloons for industrial or other professional uses and applications which are not distributed to consumers;

7) food packaging made of expanded polystyrene, including food packaging used for fast food or other meal ready for immediate consumption (receptacles with or without a cover) if the food:

a) is intended for immediate consumption, either on-the-spot or take-away;

b) is typically consumed from the receptacle;

c) is ready to be consumed without any further preparation (cooking, boiling, heating, etc.);

8) beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, including their caps and lids, and also cups for beverages.

(2) The producer is prohibited from placing on the market the products made of oxo-degradable plastic.

(3) The prohibition specified in this Section to place on the market the food packaging made of expanded polystyrene shall not be applicable to the food packaging, plates, packages, and packaging in which food is packed and in which food for individual consumption is packed on the production line and then transported to a point of sale which is located outside the production site or warehouse of the producer.

Section 5. Informing of a Consumer of the Products Subject to the Requirement for the Reduction of Consumption

(1) The producer has an obligation to:

1) offer or sell to a consumer re-usable products containing plastic or products not containing plastic as an alternative to the single-use products containing plastic specified in Paragraph two of this Section;

2) inform consumers of the possibility to use their own cups for beverages or food packaging brought along as an alternative to the single-use products containing plastic specified in Paragraph two of this Section;

3) not to provide a consumer with the single-use products containing plastic specified in Paragraph two of this Section free of charge.

(2) The single-use products containing plastic subject to the requirements for the reduction of consumption shall be as follows:

1) cups for beverages and lids thereof;

2) food packaging, including food packaging used for fast food or other meal ready for immediate consumption (receptacles with or without a cover) if the food:

a) is intended for immediate consumption on-the-spot or take-away;

b) is typically consumed from the receptacle;

c) is ready to be consumed without any further preparation (cooking, boiling, heating, etc.).

(3) The requirements of this Section for the informing of consumers and the reduction of consumption shall not be applicable to the food packaging, plates, packages, and packaging in which food is packed and in which food for individual consumption is packed on the production line and then transported to a point of sale which is located outside the production site or warehouse of the producer.

Section 6. Requirements for Products Containing Plastic

(1) The producer may place on the market beverages in single-use plastic or composite packaging with a capacity of up to three litres (beverage packaging, caps and lids thereof) if the beverage packaging contains at least 30 per cent of recycled plastic.

(2) The producer may place on the market the beverage packaging specified in Paragraph one of this Section only if the caps and lids made of plastic cannot be separated from the beverage packaging over the entire expected use of the beverage packaging. The abovementioned provision shall not apply to the beverage packaging with metal caps and lids with plastic seals.

(3) The requirements laid down in Paragraphs one and two of this Section shall not be applicable to the beverage packaging made of glass or metal which has corks and lids made of plastic, or the beverage packaging intended and used for the food for special medical purposes which is in liquid form in accordance with Article 2(2)(g) of Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control and repealing Council Directive 92/52/EEC, Commission Directives 96/8/EC, 1999/21/EC, 2006/125/EC and 2006/141/EC, Directive 2009/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulations (EC) No 41/2009 and (EC) No 953/2009.

(4) The beverage packaging specified in Paragraph one of this Section which corresponds to the harmonised standards - standards specified in Article 2(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on European standardisation, amending Council Directives 89/686/EEC and 93/15/EEC and Directives 94/9/EC, 94/25/EC, 95/16/EC, 97/23/EC, 98/34/EC, 2004/22/EC, 2007/23/EC, 2009/23/EC and 2009/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decision 87/95/EEC and Decision No 1673/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council - or parts thereof the references of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union shall be considered corresponding to the requirement laid down in Paragraph two of this Section.

(5) The Cabinet shall determine a calculation for achievement of the target indicator specified in Paragraph one of this Section.

Section 7. Marking Requirements

(1) The producer shall ensure that certain single-use products containing plastic placed on the market - sanitary towels (pads), tampons and tampon applicators, wet wipes, i.e. pre-wetted personal care and domestic wipes, antibacterial wet wipes (hereinafter - the biocidal products), tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products, and cups for beverages - are subject to the requirement that the products bear a clearly visible, legible, and indelible marking on the packaging thereof or on the product itself informing consumers of the following:

1) the manner in which product waste is managed in conformity with the waste management hierarchy;

2) the content of plastic in the product;

3) the negative environmental impact of plastic if the environment is littered with plastic or plastic is placed in waste containers not intended for it.

(2) The producer shall mark the single-use products containing plastic specified in Paragraph one of this Section in accordance with the following requirements:

1) the marking shall be placed on the primary (trade) or secondary packaging of the product. Where multiple sales units are grouped at a point of sale, each sales unit shall bear marking on its primary packaging;

2) the marking need not be placed for packaging with a surface area of less than 10 square centimetres;

3) cups for beverages containing plastic shall bear marking on the cup.

(3) The marking requirements in accordance with Paragraphs one and two of this Section are laid down in Articles 2 and 3 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151 of 17 December 2020 laying down rules on harmonised marking specifications on single-use plastic products listed in Part D of Annex to Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (hereinafter - the Regulation 2020/2151).

Chapter III
Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme

Section 8. Application of the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme

(1) Irrespective of the marketing method employed, and also irrespective of a distance contract in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding a distance contract, the producer shall apply the extended producer responsibility scheme to the fishing gear containing plastic and the following single-use products containing plastic:

1) food packaging, including food packaging used for fast food or other meal ready for immediate consumption (receptacles with or without a cover) if the food:

a) is intended for immediate consumption on-the-spot or take-away;

b) is typically consumed from the receptacle;

c) is ready to be consumed without any further preparation (cooking, boiling, heating etc.);

2) packages and packaging made of flexible material which are intended for immediate consumption of food from such packaging without any further preparation;

3) beverage packaging with a capacity of up to three litres, for example, packaging containing plastic or composite packaging, caps and lids thereof, except for the beverage packaging made of glass or metal that has corks and lids made of plastic;

4) cups for beverages and lids thereof;

5) lightweight plastic carrier bags conforming to the definition specified in the Packaging Law;

6) wet wipes - pre-wetted personal care and domestic wipes;

7) balloons, except for balloons for industrial or other professional uses and applications which are not distributed to consumers;

8) tobacco products with filters;

9) filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products.

(2) The requirements laid down in this Section for the application of the extended producer responsibility scheme shall not be applicable to such packing, plates, packages, and packaging of beverages in which food is packed and in which food for individual consumption is packed on the production line and then transported to a point of sale which is located outside the production site or warehouse of the producer.

Section 9. Application of the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme to Products Containing Plastic and Packaging Subject to the Natural Resources Tax

(1) The producer which places on the market the packaging containing plastic specified in Section 8, Paragraph one, Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of this Law and the single-use products containing plastic specified in Section 8, Paragraph one, Clauses 4 and 5 of this Law shall, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations regarding the natural resources tax, apply the extended producer responsibility scheme and enter into a contract with the State Environmental Service for the application of the packaging waste or cups for beverages management system.

(2) The producer referred to in Paragraph one of this Section which does not establish the extended producer responsibility scheme itself has an obligation to enter into a contract for participation in the packaging waste or cups for beverages management system with a manager who has entered into a contract with the State Environmental Service for the application of the management system.

(3) In order to ensure operation of the extended producer responsibility scheme in respect of the management of the packaging waste or cups for beverages, the producer shall, in addition to the costs specified in the laws and regulations regarding the natural resources tax, also cover the costs related to the collection of litter in the environment and the management of the collected waste produced by the single-use products containing plastic specified in Section 8, Paragraph one, Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of this Law.

Section 10. Application of the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme to the Tobacco Products and Filters Thereof, Hygiene Products, Balloons, and Fishing Gear

(1) The producer which places on the market the single-use products containing plastic and the fishing gear containing plastic specified in Section 8, Paragraph one, Clauses 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this Law shall meet one of the following conditions in respect of the waste management of such products or fishing gear containing plastic:

1) establish and apply the extended producer responsibility scheme;

2) enter into a contract with a merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme for participation in the extended producer responsibility scheme.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine the following:

1) the procedures by which the producer that applies the extended producer responsibility scheme itself or a merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme with whom the producer has entered into a contract (hereinafter - the merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme) submits to the State Environmental Service the documents which confirm application of the extended producer responsibility scheme in respect of the single-use products containing plastic or fishing gear containing plastic referred to in Paragraph one of this Section, and the content of the documents to be submitted;

2) the procedures by which the State Environmental Service examines the documents which confirm application of the extended producer responsibility scheme of the merchant and takes a decision on the merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme;

3) the requirements for the establishment and application of the merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme, and also the obligations of the merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme;

4) the targets and performance deadlines for the collection of the fishing gear containing plastic which has become waste;

5) the procedures by which the merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme submits to the State Environmental Service a report on implementation of the extended producer responsibility scheme, a model report form, and information to be included in the report;

6) the procedures by which the State Environmental Service examines a report on implementation of the extended producer responsibility scheme.

(3) In order to ensure operation of the extended producer responsibility scheme, the producer of the single-use products containing plastic specified in Section 8, Paragraph one, Clauses 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this Law shall cover at least the following costs which are related to:

1) the information measures specified in Section 13 of this Law;

2) the collection of the litter produced by the abovementioned products and the management of the waste collected;

3) the drawing up of the report referred to in Paragraph two of this Section on implementation of the extended producer responsibility scheme.

(4) The merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme shall:

1) ensure that the costs specified in Paragraph three of this Section do not exceed the costs necessary to ensure the services referred o in Paragraph three of this Section;

2) follow the principle of transparency in its operation and decision-taking, including justify the costs related to the implementation of the extended producer responsibility scheme;

3) cover costs of local governments related to the collection of litter in the environment and attributable only to the activities which are carried out in public places by a local government, a capital company of a local government, or a municipal waste manager with which the local government has entered into a waste management contract in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding waste management, paying the waste management fee specified in the contract;

4) develop a calculation of costs. The Cabinet shall determine the items of costs.

(5) The producer which places on the market tobacco products with filters or filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products shall, in addition to the costs specified in Paragraph three of this Section, also cover the costs related to the collection and management of the abovementioned product waste thrown out in public places, including establishment and maintenance of an infrastructure (placement of waste containers of a specific type in public places, etc.).

(6) Producers of fishing gear containing plastic shall cover the costs related to the following:

1) separate collection and transfer of the waste fishing gear containing plastic to waste reception facilities and equivalent collection facilities at ports, and management of such waste;

2) the information measures specified in Section 13 of this Law.

(7) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for determining the amount of the waste produced by the single-use products containing plastic referred to in Section 8, Paragraph one, Clauses 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this Law and for paying for it in respect of the waste for the collection and management of which the merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme covers the fee referred to in Paragraph four, Clause 3 of this Section for the local government.

Section 11. Rights of a Person Authorised by the Producer of Another European Union Member State

If the producer of another European Union Member State places on the market in the territory of the Republic of Latvia the single-use products containing plastic or fishing gear containing plastic, it may participate in the extended producer responsibility scheme provided that it is registered with the State Revenue Service as a taxpayer or has authorised in writing a person performing commercial activities in the Republic of Latvia to take over the commitment of the product producer of a relevant country in the territory of the Republic of Latvia in respect of the fulfilment of the obligations of the participant in the extended producer responsibility scheme laid down in this Section. The producer of another Member State shall inform the merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme of the abovementioned authorised person.

Chapter IV
Separate Collection of the Products Containing Plastic and Information Measures

Section 12. Separate Collection System

The producer that places on the market beverage in the beverage packaging specified in Section 6, Paragraph one of this Law shall ensure that the abovementioned packaging is collected separately in conformity with the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations regarding the natural resources tax and packaging, including deposit packaging.

Section 13. Obligation to Inform a Consumer

The producer that places on the market the single-use products containing plastic or fishing gear containing plastic specified in Section 8 of this Law shall ensure that a consumer is informed of the following:

1) the available alternatives to the single-use products containing plastic or fishing gear containing plastic which are reusable, including re-use systems, and also the manner in which waste thereof is to be managed, including by publishing information on the points for the acceptance of waste of the single-use products containing plastic or fishing gear containing plastic in the single separate waste collection information system Šķiro viegli [Sort easy] by providing a link from its website to the information system;

2) the negative impact of plastic on the environment, in particular the marine environment, if the environment is littered with products containing plastic or fishing gear containing plastic or they are managed incorrectly, for example, by placing the products in inappropriate waste containers as a result of which the consumer is forced to pay a larger fee for such waste management;

3) the risk posed by the abovementioned single-use products containing plastic to sewerage systems if those products are thrown out in places not intended for them and end up in such systems, for example, if the products obstruct pumps and block pipes, the sewerage networks suffer serious economic harm the remedying of which is an expensive and time-consuming process that can be avoided by throwing the single-use products containing plastic out as instructed by the producer.

Chapter V
Information System, Notification, and Control

Section 14. Reporting Obligation of the Producer, and also of the Packaging and Waste Managers

(1) The producer shall collect data regarding the following:

1) the quantity of the single-use products containing plastic or fishing gear containing plastic placed on the market by unit of weight;

2) the content of recycled plastic in the beverage packaging specified in Section 6, Paragraph one of this Law;

3) the quantity of the tobacco products with filters placed on the market and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products by unit of weight.

(2) A packaging manager and a waste manager shall collect the following data regarding the single-use products containing plastic or fishing gear containing plastic placed on the market:

1) the quantity by unit of weight;

2) the recovered, recycled, and disposed quantities in the territory of Latvia and abroad.

(3) The producer or waste manager shall collect data regarding the quantity of the collected waste of tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products by unit of weight.

(4) The data referred to in Paragraphs one, two, and three of this Section shall be kept for at least three years and provided to the State Environmental Service upon request.

(5) The Cabinet shall determine:

1) the procedures by which the producer shall submit a report to the State Environmental Service on the management of the single-use products containing plastic or fishing gear containing plastic and waste thereof, a sample report form, and the information to be included in the report;

2) the criteria for the classification of the products containing plastic according to single-use and reuse thereof.

Section 15. Reporting Obligation of Responsible Authorities

(1) The State Environmental Service shall, on the basis of reports submitted by producers and by merchants of the extended producer responsibility scheme (Section 10, Paragraph two and Section 14, Paragraphs one, two, and three of this Law), draw up a report each year on the single-use products containing plastic, fishing gear containing plastic, and the management thereof.

(2) Valsts sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Vides, ģeoloģijas un meteoroloģijas centrs" [State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre] shall enter the report referred to in Paragraph one of this Section in the database of the European Commission within 18 months after the end of the reporting year.

Section 16. Controlling Authorities

Conformity with the requirements laid down in this Law shall be controlled by:

1) the State Environmental Service - operation of the merchant of the extended producer responsibility scheme;

2) the Consumer Rights Protection Centre - products according to the competence of the Centre;

3) the Food and Veterinary Service - operation of the producer which brings into or imports, places on the market, and makes available on the market the products intended to come into contact with food and packed food;

3) the Health Inspectorate - conformity with the requirements laid down in Section 7 of this Law according to the competence of the Inspectorate.

Chapter VI
Administrative Offences in the Field of Production and Distribution of Products Containing Plastic and Competence in Administrative Offence Proceedings

Section 17. Administrative Offences in the Field of Production and Distribution of Products Containing Plastic

(1) For the failure to offer alternatives to the single-use products containing plastic if the abovementioned products are subject to the requirements for offering alternatives to such products or for the failure to sell re-usable products containing plastic or products not containing plastic to a consumer, a warning or a fine of up to thirty-five units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a warning or a fine from three to seventy units of fine - on a legal person.

(2) For the failure to inform a consumer of alternatives to the single-use products containing plastic if the abovementioned products are subject to the requirements for informing the consumer of offering of alternatives to such products or informing the consumer of possibilities to use his or her own cups for beverages or food packaging brought along, or for the failure to inform the consumer of possibilities of the consumer to use his or her own cups for beverages or food packaging brought along, a warning or a fine of up to thirty-five units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a warning or a fine from three to seventy units of fine - on a legal person.

(3) For delivery of the single-use products containing plastic to a consumer if the abovementioned products are subject to the requirements for delivery of such products in exchange for a fee, a warning or a fine of up to thirty-five units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a warning or a fine from three to seventy units of fine - on a legal person.

(4) For the failure to comply with the requirements for the content of recycled plastic per beverage packaging which is subject to the requirements for design, a fine from twenty-eight to one thousand and forty units of fine shall be imposed.

(5) For the failure to comply with the requirements for inseparability of plastic caps or lids from such beverage packaging over the entire expected use of the beverage packaging which is subject to the requirements for design, a fine from seventy to five hundred and eighty unit of fine shall be imposed.

(6) For the failure to place marking on the single-use products containing plastic which are subject to the requirements for marking, a fine of up to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from six to one hundred and forty units of fine - on a legal person.

(7) For marking the single-use products containing plastic subject to the requirements for marking with marking which does not conform to the requirements laid down in the Regulation No 2020/2151, a fine of up to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from six to one hundred and forty units of fine - on a legal person.

(8) For the placing on the market the single-use products containing plastic the placing on the market of which is prohibited and the single-use products containing plastic made of oxo-degradable plastic, a fine from seven to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from fifty-six to one thousand and four hundred units of fine - on a legal person.

Section 18. Competence in Administrative Offence Proceedings

(1) The administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Section 17, Paragraphs six, seven, and eight of this Law shall be conducted by the Consumer Rights Protection Centre.

(2) The administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Section 17, Paragraphs one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight of this Law shall be conducted by the Food and Veterinary Service if the offence is related to the products intended to come into contact with food.

(3) The administrative offence proceedings for the offences in respect of tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products, and also biocidal products that are referred to in Section 17, Paragraphs six and seven of this Law shall be conducted by the Health Inspectorate.

Transitional Provisions

1. The prohibition referred to in Section 4, Paragraphs one and two of this Law shall not be applicable if the products are placed on the market before 2 July 2021 and there is documentary evidence, such as product delivery documents or customs declarations drawn up according to customs procedure - release for free circulation - which are stored for 10 years and presented to the competent authorities upon request.

2. The requirement referred to in Section 6, Paragraph one of this Law shall not applicable until 31 December 2029. During the time period from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029, producers may place on the market the beverage packaging the main component of which is polyethylene terephtalate containing at least 25 percent of recycled plastic.

3. Section 6, Paragraph two of this Law shall not be applicable until 2 July 2024.

4. The marking requirements referred to in Section 7, Paragraph one of this Law shall not be applicable to the products placed on the market before 2 July 2021 and there is documentary evidence, such as product delivery documents or customs declarations drawn up according to customs procedure - release for free circulation - which are stored for 10 years and presented to the competent authorities upon request.

5. The requirements laid down in Section 10 of this Law shall not be applicable until 30 December 2024 but the requirements laid down in Section 10 of this Law in respect of tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use in combination with tobacco products and released for consumption from a tax warehouse shall not be applicable until 4 January 2023.

6. The requirement for the collection of data referred to in Section 14, Paragraph one, Clause 1 and Paragraph two of this Law shall not be applicable until 31 December 2021, and the requirement for the collection of data referred to in Section 14, Paragraph one, Clauses 2 and 3 and Paragraph three of this Law shall not be applicable until 31 December 2022.

7. The Cabinet shall:

1) by 1 January 2022, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Paragraph five, Clauses 1 and 2 of this Law;

2) by 1 January 2023, issue the regulations referred to in Section 6, Paragraph five, Section 10, Paragraph two, Paragraph four, Clause 4, and Paragraph seven of this Law.

Informative Reference to the European Union Directives

The Law contains legal norms arising from Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment.

The Law shall come into force on 3 July 2021.

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 27 May 2021.

President E. Levits

Rīga, 4 June 2021

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¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2021 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)