Regulations Regarding Performance of the Functions of a Reference Soil Laboratory

Issued pursuant to Section 10, Paragraph two, Clause 4
of the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development

I. General Provision

1. The Regulation prescribes the procedures for performing functions of a reference soil laboratory and recognising the right of other laboratories to carry out analyses for the purposes of agrochemical research of soils. 

II. Functions of the Service, Requirements for and Obligations of a Reference Laboratory

2. In performing functions of a reference laboratory in the field of soils, the State Plant Protection Service (hereinafter - the Service) shall:

2.1. publish on its website information on the soil testing methods to be used;

2.2. evaluate and recognise the right of other laboratories to carry out analyses for the purposes of agrochemical research of soils.

3. A reference laboratory shall conform to the following requirements:

3.1. it is a national reference laboratory in the Global Soil Laboratory Network of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations;

3.2. it has been accredited with the national accreditation body in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding assessment, accreditation, and supervision of conformity assessment bodies;

3.3. it has appropriate technical equipment for testing at its disposal;

3.4. it participates, at least once a year, in proficiency tests organised by the national accreditation body in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding assessment, accreditation, and supervision of conformity assessment bodies or organised by another organiser of proficiency tests in the field of soil testing which has been accredited in a European Union Member State or country of the European Economic Area.

4. The reference laboratory shall have the following obligations:

4.1. to maintain and develop soil testing methods and also to develop equations for re-calculating results between methods;

4.2. to test soils, including for the purposes of agrochemical research of soils, by using the methods referred to in Sub-paragraph 2.1 of this Regulation;

4.3. to participate in and carry out testing in soil monitoring programmes;

4.4. to coordinate activities of the recognised laboratories in the field of soil testing;

4.5. to organise inter-laboratory comparative testing in the field of soil testing;

4.6. to organise training in soil testing;

4.7. to cooperate with laboratories of Latvia, European Union, and other countries in the field of soil testing.

5. The reference laboratory shall organise interlaboratory testing and training in the field of soil testing by providing paid services in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding the price list of paid services provided by the Service.

III. Recognition of Laboratories

6. A laboratory can become a recognised laboratory provided that:

6.1. it has been accredited with the national accreditation body in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding assessment, accreditation, and supervision of conformity assessment bodies;

6.2. it uses the methods referred to in Sub-paragraph 2.1 of this Regulation to test the soil pH, soil organic matter content, and phosphorus and potassium content, and such methods are within the scope of accreditation of the laboratory.

7. In order for the Service to take the decision to recognise a laboratory, the laboratory shall submit the following to the Service:

7.1. an application. The application shall include:

7.1.1. the applicant data - the name, registration number, legal address, telephone number, and e-mail address;

7.1.2. the laboratory data - the name, actual address, and accreditation number allocated by the national accreditation body;

7.2. information on the methods used to test the soil pH, soil organic matter content, and phosphorus and potassium content.

8. Any expenses related to the verification of conformity of the laboratory for the performance of analysis for the purposes of agrochemical research of soils shall be covered by the laboratory in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding the price list of paid services provided by the Service.

9. The Service shall, within a month after receipt of the application, examine the submitted documents and conduct all necessary checks to ascertain that the methods referred to in Sub-paragraph 2.1 of this Regulation are used appropriately, and, if the laboratory conforms to the requirements referred to in Paragraph 6 of this Regulation, the Service shall:

9.1. take the decision to recognise the laboratory;

9.2. publish information on the recognised laboratory on its website by indicating its name, legal and actual address, allocated recognition number, date, and also the methods used for testing the soil pH, soil organic matter content, and phosphorus and potassium content.

10. In order for the Service to publish up-to-date and reliable information on its website, the recognised laboratory shall, within three working days, inform the Service if:

10.1. the information to be published and referred to in Sub-paragraph 9.2 of this Regulation has changed;

10.2. the methods referred to in Sub-paragraph 6.2 of this Regulation are not within the scope of its accreditation;

10.3. it has lost the accreditation;

10.4. it terminates its activity.

11. The Service shall, within five working days after receipt of the information referred to in Paragraph 10 of this Regulation, update the information published on the website.

IV. Closing Provision

12. The Service shall publish the methods referred to in Sub-paragraph 2.1 of this Regulation by 30 April 2023. Until the publication of the methods, the reference laboratory shall use the methods specified by the Ministry of Agriculture.

13. Paragraphs 5 and 8 of this Regulation shall come into force on 1 July 2023.

Prime Minister A. K. Kariņš

Minister for Agriculture D. Šmits

Translation © 2023 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)