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

On Pollution

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Terms Used in This Law

(1) The following terms are used in the Law:

1) substantial change - a change in the properties or nature of operation of the installation, or an extension thereof which may have a significant negative impact on human health or the environment, or may have an impact on emission limit values the conformity with which must be ensured by the operator of the relevant installation;

1¹) permit - an administrative act issued by the State Environmental Service allowing to carry out a polluting activity provided that the installation or part thereof operates in conformity with the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations governing environmental protection and in this administrative act;

1²) dangerous substances - substances or mixtures which in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 should be classified in any of the hazard classes listed in this Regulation;

2) change in operation - a change in the functioning of an installation, including extension of operation which may have an impact on the environment;

3) emission - a direct or indirect release of substances, vibrations, heat, non-ionising radiation or noise from individual or diffuse sources into the air, water or land;

3¹) emission allowance - a permit to emit during a specified period one tonne of carbon dioxide or a specified quantity of other greenhouse gases expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents, taking into account the global-warming potential of the relevant greenhouse gas;

3²) aircraft operator - a natural or legal person which performs carriage by air and operates an aircraft at the time when it performs the aviation activity specified in Part II of Annex 2 to this Law or, where such person is not known or is not identified by the owner of the aircraft, the owner of the aircraft;

3³) commercial air transport operator - a natural or legal person which, for remuneration, provides scheduled or non-scheduled air transport services for the carriage of passengers, freight, or mail;

3⁴) auctioning of emission allowances - the sale of emission allowances on the primary market in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2830 of 17 October 2023 supplementing Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down rules on the timing, administration and other aspects of auctioning of greenhouse gas emission allowances;

3⁵) [9 October 2025];

3⁶) shipping company - the shipowner or any other organisation or person (such as the manager or the bareboat charterer) who has assumed responsibility for the operation of the ship from the shipowner and who, when assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over all the duties and responsibilities imposed by the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention specified in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 336/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 February 2006 on the implementation of the International Safety Management Code within the Community and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 3051/95;

3⁷) emission allowance auction instrument - means acquired by auctioning the emission allowances referred to in Section 32.², Paragraph three of this Law;

4) militarily polluted territory - a territory locating explosive items and materials or toxic or otherwise dangerous substances that are used or which were intended to be used for military purposes;

4¹) [9 October 2025];

4²) carbon dioxide stream - a flow of substances that results from carbon dioxide capture processes;

5) operator - a private person, a derived public person, a direct or intermediate administration institution, which performs professional activities or is responsible for the performance of such activities or which has decisive economic power over the technical implementation of the relevant professional activity;

6) polluting activity - the utilisation of soil, subterranean depths, water, air, installations or buildings and other stationary facilities that may result in environmental pollution or risk of accidents, as well as the activities that are performed in polluted sites and that may cause spreading of pollution;

7) pollution - a direct or indirect introduction, as a result of human activity, of substances, vibrations, heat or noise into the air, water or land, which may be harmful to human health or the environment and which may result in damage to material property, or interfere with the use of natural resources and other legitimate uses of the environment;

8) polluted site - soil, subterranean depths, water, sludge, as well as buildings, production facilities, or other facilities containing polluting substances;

9) potentially polluted site - soil, subterranean depths, water, sludge, as well as buildings, production facilities or other facilities, which according to unverified information contain or may contain polluting substances;

10) remediation - treatment and recovery of a polluted site at least to such extent that henceforth human health or the environment are not endangered and it is possible to utilise the relevant territory for a specific economic activity;

10¹) greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃);

10²) greenhouse gas emissions - release of greenhouse gases from the activities and sources referred to in Annex 2 to this Law and Part I of Annex to the Economic Sustainability Law;

10³) other sources of greenhouse gas emissions - greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere from the activities referred to in Part I of Annex 4 to this Law which are not included in the European Union Emissions Trading System and which do not require a greenhouse gas emission permit;

10⁴) removal of carbon dioxide - removal of carbon dioxide which arises from the land use, land-use change, and forestry activities referred to in Part II of Annex 4 to this Law;

10⁵) annual emission allocation - annual maximum permissible amount of greenhouse gas emissions from other sources of greenhouse gas emissions referred to in Part I of Annex 4 to this Law;

11) technology - a set of technical methods and techniques, including the utilisation of patents, trademarks, licences, technical developments, as well as special machinery and equipment in order to attain a specific objective or result;

11¹) storage site - a defined volume area within a geological formation used for the geological storage of carbon dioxide and associated surface and injection facilities;

11²) water column - the vertically continuous mass of water from the surface to the bottom sediments of a water body;

12) substance - any chemical element or a compound of chemical elements;

12¹) noise - disturbing sounds of all kinds, which are undesirable in the air environment and which cause discomfort, affect hearing and hinder acoustic communication;

13) noise mapping - the expression of the level of existing or predicted data characterising environmental noise in terms of noise indicators, which indicate the exceeding of noise limit values in a certain area and the number of people or the number of dwellings upon which in a specific area the noise which is characterised by a specific noise indicator affects;

14) noise indicator - a physical scale with which noise is characterised, which may cause a harmful effect;

15) strategic noise map - a map developed for a specific area in order to evaluate the total effect of the noise caused by various environmental noise sources or to specify a general environmental noise prediction;

16) environmental noise - unwanted or harmful outdoor noise created by human activities, for example, noise emitted by means of transport, road traffic, rail traffic, air traffic, and noise which is caused by industrial activity zones, as well as noise which is caused by the pollution activities (equipment) referred to in Annex 1 to this Law;

17) installation - a stationary technical unit where one or more polluting activities of Category A, B or C are carried out, as well as any other directly associated activities which have a technical connection with the activities carried out on that site and which could have an effect on emissions and pollution;

18) emerging technique - a technique provided for the polluting activities (installations) specified in Annex 1 to this Law that, if commercially developed, could provide either a higher general level of protection of the environment or at least the same level of protection of the environment and higher cost savings than existing best available techniques;

19) conclusions on the best available techniques - a description of the best available techniques specified by the European Commission for the sector of industry or polluting activity, as well as the emission levels related to the best available techniques, consumption levels of raw materials, monitoring of the polluting activity, and the remediation measures of the site applicable to the polluting activity;

20) environmental inspection - all actions, including inspection of installations, monitoring of emissions and control of internal reports and follow-up documents, verification of self-monitoring, inspection of the techniques used and conformity of the environment management of the installation, carried out by the State Environmental Service or a person, if he or she has been assigned such task by the State Environmental Service the purpose of which is to improve the conformity of installations with their permit conditions and, where necessary, to monitor their impact on the environment, as well as ensure the conformity of operation of the installation with the laws and regulations regarding environmental protection;

21) soil - the top layer of the Earth's crust, which is situated between the bedrock and the surface and which is composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms;

22) greenhouse gas emissions of transport energy life cycle - all net emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) which may be attributed to transport energy, including all the relevant stages starting from extraction or growing and production, inter alia, land-use change, transport, bringing in, bringing out, distribution, treatment, and combustion regardless of the country in which they are created;

23) upstream emissions - all greenhouse gas emissions which are generated before raw material enters into a rafinery or processing plant where petrol, diesel fuel, or gas oil, liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, compressed synthetic methane, and compressed hydrogen are produced;

24) greenhouse gas emissions of transport energy per one energy unit - division of the total mass to be attributed to greenhouse gas emission of transport energy (expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents) by the total energy content of transport energy which for fuel is expressed as its lowest thermal capacity;

25) fuel supplier - a person who has an obligation to pay excise duty for fuel in the cases specified in the law On Excise Duties;

26) cargo vapour emission control system - the system specified in Sub-paragraph 1.2.13 of the Circular No 585 of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organisation, Standards for Vapour Emission Control Systems;

27) transport energy - within the meaning of this Law the goods with certain value with which the movement of a vehicle and operation of the installed machinery are ensured;

28) European Union Emission Trading System activities - activities referred to in Parts I, II, and III of Annex 2 to this Law, performed by an operator, a fuel and heating fuel operator, a shipping company, or an aircraft operator, and the activities for fuel and heating fuel consumption referred to in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law;

29) greenhouse gas emission permit - an administrative act that authorises one of the activities referred to in Part I of Annex 2 to this Law and is issued in accordance with Section 32.¹⁸ of this Law or an administrative act that authorises the release of fuel or heating fuel for consumption for the activities referred to in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law, provided that the performer of the activity or part thereof functions in accordance with the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations governing environmental protection and taxes and in the relevant administrative act;

30) fuel and heating fuel operator - any natural or legal person, except for final consumers of fuel and heating fuel, who meets at least one of the following conditions:

a) the person has obtained a special permit (licence) for activities with petroleum products or natural gas or pays excise duty for petroleum products or natural gas used as fuel or heating fuel, or for other products sold or intended to be sold, used or intended to be used as fuel or heating fuel for the activities referred to in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law;

b) the person sells, for consumption in Latvia, coal or other types of products that are used as fuel or heating fuel and are not subject to excise duty in accordance with Section 5, Paragraph four of the law On Excise Duties;

31) fuel - petroleum-derived fuel, including blends with biofuel, or other liquid or gaseous substance that may be used as transport energy;

32) verifier - a legal entity within the meaning of Article 3(3) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2067 of 19 December 2018 on the verification of data and on the accreditation of verifiers pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, but for verification of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport - within the meaning of Article 3(f) of Regulation (EU) 2015/757 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on the monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport, and amending Directive 2009/16/EC (hereinafter - Regulation No 2015/757);

33) non-CO₂ effects of aviation - the effects on the climate of the release, during fuel combustion, of oxides of nitrogen, soot particles, oxidised sulphur species, and effects from water vapour, including contrails, from an aircraft performing an aviation activity referred to in Part II of Annex 2 to this Law;

34) port of call - the port where a ship stops to load or unload cargo or to embark or disembark passengers, or the port where an offshore service ship stops to relieve the crew. It does not include stops for the sole purpose of refuelling, obtaining supplies, relieving the crew for ships other than offshore service ships, going into dry-dock to make repairs to the ship or equipment, stops in port because the ship is in need of assistance or in distress, ship-to-ship transfers carried out outside ports, stops for the sole purpose of taking shelter from adverse weather or rendered necessary by search and rescue activities, and stops of containerships in a neighbouring container transhipment port listed in a special list approved by an implementing act of the European Commission;

35) carbon dioxide capture - a process that prevents the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere after the generation of greenhouse gas emission by capturing it;

36) carbon dioxide utilisation - a process where captured carbon dioxide is used as a feedstock for producing industrial products or energy resources;

37) carbon dioxide equivalent - a metric measure to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases on the basis of their global-warming potential. The carbon dioxide equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the amount of the gas by the associated global-warming potential;

38) global-warming potential - a metric measure of unit over a 100-year timescale used to quantify the effects of various greenhouse gases on climate change relative to carbon dioxide the global-warming potential of which is equal to 1.

(2) In this Law, the terms "renewable energy resources" and "heating fuel" are used within the meaning of the Energy Law, the term "release for consumption" - within the meaning of the law On Excise Duties, and the term "voyage" - within the meaning of Regulation No 2015/757.

[18 December 2003; 6 April 2006; 25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 14 July 2011; 31 January 2013; 9 June 2016; 1 February 2018; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025 / Paragraph one, Clauses 3.⁴, 10.⁴, and 10.⁵ shall be repealed concurrently with the coming into force of the Economic Sustainability Law. See Paragraph 83 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 2. Purpose of the Law

The purpose of this Law is to prevent or reduce harm caused to human health, property, or the environment due to pollution, to eliminate the consequences of harm caused, as well as:

1) to prevent pollution resulting from polluting activities or, if it is impossible, reduce emission into soil, water, and air;

2) to prevent or, if it is impossible, reduce the use of non-renewable natural resources and energy when performing polluting activities;

3) to prevent or, if it is impossible, reduce the generation of waste;

4) to ensure ascertaining of polluted and potentially polluted sites in the territory of the State and registration thereof;

5) to specify measures for investigation of polluted and potentially polluted sites and remediation of polluted sites;

6) to specify the persons who shall cover expenses related to investigation of polluted and potentially polluted sites and remediation of polluted sites;

7) to prevent or reduce the effects of environmental noise on human beings;

8) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the activities referred to in Annexes 2 and 4 to this Law and to increase removal of carbon dioxide from the activities referred to in Part II of Annex 4 to this Law, taking into account cost efficiency, ensuring participation in the European Union Emissions Trading System, and fulfilling the commitments of Latvia in relation to greenhouse gas emissions reduction and removal of carbon dioxide;

9) to specify the right of each natural person and legal person, as well as the associations, organisations and groups thereof (hereinafter - the public) to participate in the decision-making process in relation to the issuing of permits for the performance of polluting activities or the review of such permits, as well as in relation to the division and allocation of greenhouse gas allowances;

10) to prevent or, where impossible, restrict odours caused by polluting activities.

[18 December 2003; 9 June 2016; 1 February 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 3. Scope of Application of this Law

(1) This Law determines the requirements which shall be taken into account by operators and aircraft operators in the area of pollution prevention and control, and the procedures for the prevention and control of pollution, as well as:

1) the requirements to be taken into account when initiating, performing, and discontinuing polluting activities;

2) the requirements to be taken into account when issuing permits for the performance of polluting activities and the use of water, as well as the procedures for the provision of information regarding polluting activities the performance of which does not require a permit;

3) the procedures for the determination of the environmental quality requirements;

4) the procedures for determining the emission limit value of specific substances, the conditions for a polluting activity, as well as other restrictions referring to the performance of polluting activities;

5) the procedures for ascertaining, registration, investigation, and remediation of polluted sites;

6) the conditions for the supervision of polluting activities, the control and monitoring of polluting activities, as well as the procedures by which the public shall be informed regarding such activities;

7) the requirements to be taken into account upon issuing greenhouse gas emission permits, as well as upon granting and auctioning allowances;

7¹) the requirements to be met by aircraft operators, shipping companies, and fuel and heating fuel operators in the field of greenhouse gas emission control;

8) the requirements in relation to activities with allowances and the conditions for the development of a plan for the allocation of allowances;

9) the procedures for the specification of highly sensitive territories, including the requirements in relation to the treatment of city and other municipal (hereinafter - the city) waste water, as well as the protection of water and soil in the relevant territories;

10) the requirements, specified for equipment and products containing chemical substances.

(2) This Law shall also apply to the mobile sources of pollution stipulated by the Cabinet.

(2¹) This Law determines the objectives for the reduction of emissions of air polluting substances, as well as the procedures for the development of the action programme for the reduction of emissions and recording the emission of air polluting substances.

(3) Activities with radioactive substances, radioactive waste, sources of ionising radiation and genetically modified organisms shall be governed by other laws and regulations.

(4) This Law provides for the conditions:

1) for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from other sources of greenhouse gas emissions and for the fulfilment of the commitments of greenhouse gas emissions reduction referred to in this Law;

2) for the removal of carbon dioxide from the land use, land-use change and forestry activities referred to in Part II of Annex 4 to this Law and for the fulfilment of the commitments referred to in this Law in relation to removal of carbon dioxide.

(5) This Law determines the requirements for the monitoring, reporting, and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport carried out in accordance with Regulation No 2015/757.

[18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 10 December 2009; 14 July 2011; 9 June 2016; 1 February 2018; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Chapter II
Requirements and Conditions for Performance of Polluting Activities

Section 4. Requirements for Performance of Polluting Activities

(1) An operator, when performing a polluting activity, shall conform to the specific nature thereof and fulfil the following requirements:

1) take measures to prevent the occurrence of pollution or to reduce the emission thereof;

2) ensure the observance of environmental quality requirements;

3) carry out the monitoring of the polluting activity;

4) provide environmental protection and other State institutions, local governments and the public with the information provided for by this Law and other laws and regulations;

5) conform to the requirements in respect of the site of a polluting activity;

6) compile and provide the employees performing the polluting activity with the necessary information regarding the probable effect of the polluting activity on human health and the environment;

7) conform to the conditions referred to in Section 11 of this Law;

8) obtain a Category A or B permit for the performance of polluting activities or notify regarding the performance of Category C polluting activities and, in the cases specified in this Law, obtain a greenhouse gas emission permit;

8¹) conform to the conditions included in the permit for Category A or B polluting activity and greenhouse gas emission permit;

9) after complete cessation of the operation of the installation, perform the measures which are necessary to prevent the risk of pollution and to tidy up the location of the installation to an appropriate condition;

10) rationally use energy.

(2) [9 October 2025]

[18 December 2003; 25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 11 June 2020; 9 October 2025]

Section 5. Precautionary Measures

An operator, as well as the responsible State and local government institutions shall take the necessary precautionary measures to prevent or, if it is impossible, reduce the environmental pollution or the risk thereof, as well as the risk of accidents. Precautionary measures shall include:

1) the use of the available technical means and taking of organisational measures at all stages and processes of a polluting activity;

2) the restriction or suspension of production or other activities for a definite time period if it is required due to unfavourable meteorological or other circumstances;

3) the avoidance of the use of non-renewable natural resources and energy or restriction of the use thereof, as well as the avoidance of the generation of waste or restriction of the generation thereof by using such methods as recycling and processing of substances and materials or other methods during the whole circulation cycle of substances and materials;

4) the avoidance of the use of such mixtures instead of which it is possible to use substitutes which are less dangerous to human life, health, or the environment;

5) the assessment of the risk of accidents and the measures required to avoid accidents, but in the event of an accident to mitigate its consequences;

6) the suspension of a polluting activity and emergency remediation of the polluted site, if necessary;

7) the measures required to prevent spreading of pollution; investigation and remediation of the polluted site, as well as monitoring of the polluting activity;

8) the requirement for the operators performing the polluting activities referred to in Annex 1 to this Law to use the best available techniques.

[18 December 2003; 12 April 2018]

Section 6. Provision of Operators and Employees with the Necessary Knowledge and the Duty to Provide Information

(1) An operator, prior to the initiation of a polluting activity or a substantial change, shall ascertain information regarding the possible impact thereof on human health and the environment.

(2) The operator shall provide employees performing a polluting activity with the necessary information regarding the procedures by which such activity is to be performed and its possible impact on human health and the environment, the precautionary measures to reduce such impact, as well as the actions in emergency situations.

(3) The operator has an obligation to provide information to environmental protection institutions which are responsible for the issue and control of permits in accordance with this Law, as well as to inform the public and the relevant local government regarding the results of the monitoring specified in a permit and the impact of a polluting activity on human health and the environment.

(3¹) The operator shall ensure the possibility for the State Environmental Service to carry out activities which are necessary for the control of the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations of environmental protection and the conditions defined in the permit.

(4) If the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations of environmental protection or the conditions of the permit are infringed, or further conformity with them are jeopardised, the operator shall immediately notify the State Environmental Service thereof and act so as to ensure that normal operation of the installation is renewed as soon as possible or the possible threat of conformity with the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations of environmental protection or the conditions of the permit is prevented accordingly. The State Environmental Service shall assign the operator to perform the necessary measures in order to renew normal operation of the installation and conformity with the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations of environmental protection and the conditions defined in the permit.

(5) If pollution dangerous to human life, health, or the environment has occurred or there is a serious threat of occurrence of such pollution, the operator shall notify the State Environmental Service thereof.

[18 December 2003; 10 December 2009; 31 January 2013; 12 April 2018]

Section 7. Monitoring of Polluting Activities

An operator shall ensure the monitoring of a polluting activity, especially for such processes that are directly related to the environmental pollution or the risk thereof. In order to detect changes in the environment in good time, the operator shall ensure the monitoring of the environment in the territory which may be affected by the polluting activity.

[20 June 2002]

Section 8. Requirements for the Site of Polluting Activity

(1) Prior to commencing a polluting activity which requires a permit in accordance with this Law, an operator shall assess the possible alternative sites for performance of such activity. This requirement shall apply to the activity as a whole, separate processes thereof, as well as to the sites of emission. The site for the polluting activity or separate processes thereof shall be chosen such where the activity shall have the least negative impact on human health and the environment.

(2) The requirements of Paragraph one of this Section shall not apply to polluting activities the possible performance sites, techniques, and technologies of which, as well as the impact thereof on the environment have been assessed in accordance with the law On the Environmental Impact Assessment.

Section 8.¹ Storage of Carbon Dioxide

[1 January 2013 / See Paragraph 32 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 8.² Storage of Carbon Dioxide

Storage of carbon dioxide in the water column is prohibited in the territory of Latvia, the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf thereof.

[31 January 2013; 9 October 2025]

Section 9. Cost-effectiveness

An operator shall implement the measures and requirements specified in Sections 5, 6, 7, and 8 of this Law, making sure that the total costs of implementing such measures and requirements conform to the foreseeable positive effect on the environment and that the conformity with the environmental quality requirements is ensured.

Section 10. Emission Limit Values, Level and Limit

(1) An emission limit value is the maximum quantity of a substance emitted or other factors (concentration or level of emission) expressed as definite parameters that may not be exceeded within a specified period or periods of time or that may not be exceeded under normal conditions of operation of an installation. The emission limit value shall be determined for specific substances or groups of substances.

(2) An emission limit value shall be determined on the site where pollution is discharged from an installation. The reduction in concentration which is formed as a result of dilution need not be taken into account at the time of determining the limit value.

(3) Upon determining the emission limit value for the discharge into water of indirect pollution of an installation, the operation of water treatment installations may be taken into account if for the environment as a whole an equivalent level of protection is ensured and the environmental pollution level does not increase.

(4) An emission limit is an quantity of the emitted substance specified in a permit or other factors (the concentration or level of emission) expressed as definite parameters that may not be exceeded during a specified period or periods of time, or the quantity or concentration of the emitted substance that may not be exceeded under normal conditions of operation of an installation and which does not exceed the relevant emission limit value.

(5) An emission level related to the best available techniques shall be such emission level which is reached under standard circumstances of use of the installation by using the best available techniques which are included in the conclusions on the best available techniques, and which is expressed as the average indicator in a particular period of time in conformity with the reference conditions specified appropriately.

[25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 12 April 2018]

Section 11. Conditions for Performance of a Polluting Activity

(1) When performing a polluting activity, an operator shall abide by:

1) the prohibition in respect of emission of specific polluting substances into the environment;

2) the emission limit values and limits of certain types of pollution, as well as emission levels related to the best available techniques;

3) the procedures for the reduction, prevention, or control of emission in specific fields of economic activity or in respect of a specific type of installations or substances;

4) the procedures for the conformity assessment of installations or groups of installations related to a specific emission.

(2) In order to ensure conformity with the conditions referred to in Paragraph one of this Section, the Cabinet shall regulate:

1) the regulations regarding the development of draft emission limits of stationary pollution sources;

2) the emission limit values for sewage and prohibition in respect of emission of polluting substances into water;

3) the regulations regarding the protection of water and soil from pollution with nitrates caused by agricultural activity;

4) the regulations regarding the emission of noise from installations used outdoors;

5) the regulations regarding the emission of polluting substances into the air from the combustion engines of mobile mechanisms not used for transport;

6) the regulations regarding the environmental pollution resulting from the production of asbestos and asbestos-based products;

7) the regulations regarding the requirements to be set for incineration of waste and for the operation of waste incineration facilities;

8) the procedures for the restriction of the spread of the smell caused by polluting activity and the methods for specifying such smells;

9) the environmental protection requirements for petrol stations, oil depots, and tank containers;

10) the regulations regarding the emission of polluting substances into the air caused by combustion engines used in particular railway and river traffic;

11) the regulations regarding sewerage sludge and the use, monitoring, and control of the compost thereof;

12) the procedures by which the emission of polluting substances from certain products is limited;

13) the requirements for the use and labelling of equipment and products containing particular dangerous chemical substances and environmentally harmful goods list;

14) the types of liquid fuel with increased sulphur content which are prohibited to be released for free circulation or sold;

15) the environmental quality rules for equipment and specific types of vessels which use liquid fuel containing sulphur;

16) the use of experimental and innovative emission reduction technologies in vessels;

17) [9 October 2025];

18) the procedures by which transportation of carbon dioxide stream by pipelines to the storage sites shall be ensured, as well as the criteria for the purity of carbon dioxide stream and the procedures by which disputes regarding access to transport networks and storage sites shall be examined;

19) the procedures by which emission of air polluting substances from incineration installations shall be prevented, limited, and controlled;

20) the procedures by which emission of volatile organic compounds from installations in which organic solvents are used shall be limited;

21) the requirements for the restriction, control, and monitoring of the emissions generated by the installations of the titanium dioxide industry.

(3) [12 April 2018]

(4) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which the association "Latvijas Antīko automobiļu klubs" [Latvian Antique Automobile Club] shall be issued a certification regarding the fact that the means of transport conforms to the status of antique means of transport in order to acquire products with an increased volatile organic compound content.

(5) The Cabinet shall determine the quality requirements for bio-oils and the use and control procedures for bio-oils to be used for oiling cutting tools used in forestry operations.

(6) The Cabinet shall determine the price list for paid services for provision of the information and data necessary for the development of projects on emission limit of stationary sources of pollution.

[20 June 2002; 18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 6 April 2006; 25 October 2007; 7 May 2009; 10 December 2009; 14 July 2011; 31 January 2013; 9 June 2016; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Chapter III
Environmental Quality Requirements and Programmes for Implementation of Environmental Quality Requirements

Section 12. Environmental Quality and Determination of Environmental Quality Requirements

(1) Environmental quality shall be determined in comparison with the desirable quality of air, surface water, underground water, soil, and subterranean depths or quality of other environmental components for the provision of which the environmental quality requirements expressed in quantitative indicators shall be determined.

(2) In order to prevent harm to human health or the environment and ensure the maintenance of biological diversity within a longer period of time, considering the necessary security reserves, the Cabinet shall determine the quality requirements for air, surface water, underground water, and soil, specifying:

1) the time periods for attainment of such rules and the territory to which they apply;

2) the highest and lowest permissible level or characteristics for the presence in the environment of substances, noise, organisms, or other factors affecting the environment;

3) the parameters, monitoring methods, and methods by which the exceeding of the relevant parameters is determined;

4) the measures to be taken in cases where the rules have been exceeded.

(2¹) The cabinet, taking into account the conditions in Paragraph two of this Section, shall determine the quality standards for soil.

(3) The environmental quality requirements laid down in laws and regulations may be attained gradually, during several specific intermediate stages.

[27 January 2005]

Section 13. Limit Values and Target Values

(1) The environmental quality requirements are divided into limit values and target values.

(2) Limit values shall be binding on any operator who performs or has intended to perform a polluting activity the emission arising from which may affect the relevant territory.

(3) Environmental protection institutions, upon taking decisions on the issue of a permit and developing conditions for the use of the best available techniques, as well as upon controlling a polluting activity, shall take into account the target values determined.

(4) Operators, upon performing polluting activities, shall restrict emissions in order that they do not exceed the environmental quality target values, or if they are exceeded - gradually reduce emissions to the relevant guide value.

[20 June 2002]

Section 14. Restrictions on Initiating a Polluting Activity

(1) A polluting activity shall not be initiated if environmental quality standard limit values for a specific type of pollution in a specific territory have been exceeded or may be exceeded and if the emissions caused by the relevant activity may increase the total quantity of the relevant pollution in this territory. In such cases a permit for the performance of a polluting activity is not issued.

(2) If in a specific territory the environmental quality standard limit value for a specific type of pollution is exceeded or may be exceeded, the local government, according to an action programme or short-term action programme developed and approved in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations, may issue binding regulations which in the relevant territory restrict or prohibit the initiation of such polluting activity the emission arising from which may increase the total quantity of relevant pollution in such territory, except for the cases referred to in Section 16 of this Law.

[20 June 2002; 18 December 2003]

Section 15. Restrictions on a Polluting Activity

If environmental quality limit values for a specific type of pollution have been exceeded or may be exceeded in a territory, where a polluting activity is performed according to a permit issued in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations:

1) the operator shall take measures required to gradually reduce emission which may affect human health or the environment in the relevant territory in accordance with the requirements laid down in Chapter II of this Law;

2) a permit for a substantial change in operation shall not be issued, if such change may cause emissions which increase the total quantity of relevant pollution in such territory;

3) in reviewing the already-issued permits, conditions thereof shall be changed or supplemented in accordance with the requirements laid down in Chapter II of this Law.

Section 16. Co-operation of Operators

(1) In cases referred to in Sections 14 and 15 of this Law, an operator may enter into an agreement on measures to be taken in order to reduce the total emissions of the relevant type with another operator who is permitted to emit pollution of the relevant type, and shall notify the State Environmental Service thereof.

(2) If the agreement of operators provides that the total emissions of the relevant type arising from polluting activities to which the agreement applies are to be lower than before entering into the agreement and if, in accordance with this Law and other laws and regulations, other requirements for the reduction of pollution have been conformed to, the State Environmental Service shall accept such agreement.

(3) Operators who have intended to perform polluting activities to which an agreement applies shall submit a submission for obtaining a permit and the State Environmental Service shall issue a permit in conformity with the reduction of the amount of emissions provided for in the agreement.

[27 January 2005; 10 December 2009; 12 April 2018]

Section 16.¹ Recording the Emission of Air Polluting Substances at the National Level

(1) Valsts sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Vides, ģeoloģijas un meteoroloģijas centrs" [State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre] shall carry out the development of total calculations and forecasts of the emission of air polluting substances at the national level, as well as preparation of the emission report in co-operation with relevant sectoral ministries, authorities, and merchants.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the establishment and maintenance of the national system for the preparation of total calculations and forecasts of the emission of the air polluting substances at the national level and the procedures for the assessment of impact of air pollution on ecosystems, as well as the requirements for the information to be provided to the public and the European Commission.

[12 April 2018]

Section 16.² Reduction of Air Pollution at the National Level

(1) In order to reduce the negative impact caused by air pollution on human health and the environment, Latvia shall, during the period of time from 2020 to 2029 and after 2030, reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds (except for methane), and PM_2,5 particles caused by different sectors of the national economy. The Cabinet shall determine the objectives for the reduction of emissions of the abovementioned substances for the period of time from 2020 to 2029 and after 2030.

(2) In order to ensure reduction of air pollution and fulfilment of the targets for the reduction of emissions specified in laws and regulations, the Ministry of Climate and Energy shall organise the development of the action plan for the reduction of air pollution and co-ordinate the implementation thereof. The action plan shall be developed in co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, as well as other authorities, if the decisions taken thereby have direct or subordinate effect on the emission of air polluting substances. The Cabinet shall determine the content of the action plan, as well as the procedures by which the action plan shall be developed and reports on performance thereof shall be provided.

(3) The action plan referred to in Paragraph two of this Section shall be approved by the Cabinet.

(4) The Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, as well as other authorities the decisions taken by which have direct or subordinate effect on the emission of air polluting substances, when organising and planning their activity or sectoral policy, shall take into account the objectives for the reduction of emission of air polluting substances stipulated by the Cabinet and implement the measures specified in the action plan.

[12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 17. Plan for the Implementation of the Environmental Quality Requirements and Action Programmes for Reduction of Air Pollution

(1) If the environmental quality requirements specified for the particular type of pollution are exceeded or are likely to be exceeded as well as in the cases specified in other laws and regulations, the Ministry of Climate and Energy shall develop the action plan for the reduction of pollution. At least objectives and measures to be performed for the reduction of pollution, as well as the source of financing thereof, shall be indicated in the action plan. The abovementioned plan shall be approved by the Cabinet.

(2) [12 April 2018]

(2¹) If the environmental quality requirements specified for air polluting substances are exceeded or are likely to be exceeded in the territory of a local government, the relevant local government shall develop an action programme for the reduction of air pollution in the particular territory in co-operation with the Ministry of Climate and Energy and implement the measures specified therein.

(2²) In order to develop the action programme referred to in Paragraph 2.¹ of this Section, to determine the main sources of pollution and to plan the measures to be implemented, a local government has the right to collect and compile information on the heating equipment located in the territory thereof and the type and volume of fuel used therein. A local government council may issue binding regulations which determine the procedures for collecting information on the heating equipment located in the territory of the local government and the type and volume of fuel used therein.

(3) The content of the action programme for the reduction of air pollution and the procedures for the development thereof and for reporting shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[20 June 2002; 18 December 2003; 7 May 2009; 16 December 2010; 12 April 2018; 10 December 2020; 9 October 2025]

Section 18. Highly Sensitive Territories

(1) Territories where pollution may has an increased effect on human health or the environment and its biological diversity, or the territories that are highly sensitive to pollution load shall be known as highly sensitive territories.

(2) The Cabinet shall govern the criteria for the determination of highly sensitive territories and the procedures for managing thereof, determine the boundaries of the relevant territories, or of the entire State or of the administrative territories of specific local governments as the boundaries of sensitive territories, as well as determine:

1) those highly sensitive territories to which increased requirements for the urban waste water treatment apply;

2) those highly sensitive territories to which increased requirements for the protection of water and soil from pollution with nitrates caused by agricultural activity apply.

(3) The Cabinet shall:

1) [17 June 2010];

2) [18 December 2003].

(4) The Minister for Climate and Energy shall, after agreement with the Minister for Agriculture, establish a consultative council for the co-ordination of management measures for the highly sensitive territories referred to in Paragraph two, Clause 2 of this Section, including in such council representatives from the Ministry of Climate and Energy, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Health, and the authorities subordinate to these ministries, as well as representatives of public organisations, and shall approve the by-laws of such council.

[18 December 2003; 17 June 2010; 16 December 2010; 9 October 2025]

Section 18.¹ Assessment and Reduction of Noise

(1) The noise mapping and development of strategic noise maps for the territory of an agglomeration shall be ensured by the relevant local government, but for objects of the infrastructure outside the territory of the agglomeration - for railway lines, motorways and airports where traffic intensity is more than 50 000 aircraft per year - by the manager of the relevant transport infrastructure object. The local government and the manager of the relevant transport infrastructure object shall co-operate in the carrying out of noise mapping for the territory of the agglomeration.

(2) An action plan for the reduction of noise in the territory of the agglomeration shall be developed and introduced by the relevant local government, but an action plan for the reduction of noise for a transport infrastructure object which is located in the territory of the agglomeration and outside the territory of the agglomeration - by the manager of the relevant transport infrastructure object. The local government and the manager of the relevant transport infrastructure object shall co-operate in development of the action plan, as well as in introduction of the action plan in the territory of the agglomeration.

(3) The Cabinet shall determine:

1) the noise indicators, the procedures for the application thereof, and the assessment methods;

2) the requirements and time periods for the noise mapping, as well as the development of strategic noise maps and action plans for noise reduction;

3) the assessment methods for the harmful consequences of environmental noise;

4) the procedures by which co-operation with neighbouring states in the assessment and reduction of environmental noise shall be implemented (if a transboundary impact has been observed);

5) the information to be issued to the public and the European Commission regarding environmental noise, the procedures for the issuing thereof and time periods, as well as the procedures by which the public shall be involved in the development of action plans for the reduction of noise;

6) the requirements and procedures for the assessment of environmental noise emitted by traffic and industrial objects.

(4) In populated areas, roads, railways, and airports where the relevant indicators are less that those referred to in Paragraph 10 or 11 of the Transitional Provisions of this Law, the institutions referred to in Paragraphs one and two of this Section may perform noise mapping, develop and implement strategic noise maps and action plans for the reduction of noise in conformity with the conditions provided for environmental protection in this Law and other laws and regulations.

[18 December 2003; 10 December 2009; 9 June 2016; 14 July 2022]

Section 18.² Assessment and Restriction of Radiation of Electromagnetic Fields

(1) The requirements for the assessment of radiation of electromagnetic fields shall apply to devices - mechanical, electrical or electronic constructions, as well as combinations thereof - which are intended for the fulfilment of special functions:

1) for low frequency devices for the generation of electricity and transmission of electrical current, including transmission of railway track current, with nominal voltage from one kilovolt (kV) and more, including other similar devices within the frequency range from one hertz (Hz) to nine kilohertz (kHz);

2) for direct current distant transmission and redistribution fixed devices, including operation of devices with nominal voltage from two kilovolts (kV);

3) for high frequency or radiofrequency devices, including fixed installations which cause electromagnetic fields in the frequency range from nine kilohertz (kHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz).

(2) The Cabinet shall determine:

1) the limit values and target values of radiation of electromagnetic fields, the procedures for the application and methods for the assessment thereof;

2) the requirements for the assessment or reduction of the risk caused by electromagnetic fields;

3) the competent authority for the control of radiation of electromagnetic fields caused by the devices.

[1 February 2018 / Section shall come into force on 1 November2018. See Paragraph 49 of Transitional Provisions]

Chapter IV
Classification of Polluting Activities and Conditions for Their Performance

Section 19. Classification of Polluting Activities and a Permit for the Performance of Polluting Activities

(1) Polluting activities are classified into Categories A, B, and C, considering the quantity and effect or the risk of pollution caused to human health and the environment.

(2) The requirements specified in Chapter II of this Law shall also apply to such activities which do not conform to Category A, B, or C, but may cause pollution.

(3) In order to initiate Category A or B activity, as well as in the case of substantial changes, an operator shall obtain a permit to perform the polluting activity.

(3¹) The State Environmental Service shall provide information in the permit on the operator, installations, and polluting activity.

(4) It is prohibited to divide a polluting activity among two or more operators in order to avoid the application of the category of permit that conforms to the total capacity of the polluting activity or the volume of production produced. If a polluting activity is divided or the emission from several operator installations which perform the polluting activity impacts on one and the same territory, in determining the category of polluting activity permit, the capacity of the installations or the volume of production produced shall be summed.

(5) [9 October 2025]

[18 December 2003; 25 October 2007; 31 January 2013; 9 June 2016; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 20. Category A Activities

(1) Polluting activities that are performed, using the installations specified in Annex 1 to this Law, are Category A activities. Upon performing Category A activities, an operator shall apply the best available techniques.

(2) Category A permits shall be required for stationary technological installations in which one or several of the polluting activities referred to in Annex 1 to this Law are performed. The conditions regarding the Category A permits shall apply to such installations, in conformity with the quantity of pollution resulting from such installations or the risk to human health and the environment according to the specified parameters, in addition, taking into account also the polluting activities performed by other installations that are technically connected with such installations which also may affect emission and environmental pollution.

(3) The indicators referred to in Annex 1 to this Law shall apply to the production capacity of the installations or the quantity of production produced. An operator who performs several polluting activities referred to in Annex 1 to this Law shall aggregate their capacities if all activities apply to one area of the industrial activity referred to in Annex 1 to this Law and if they are performed in one site or using one installation.

(4) The conditions for Category A permits for installations that are used for the research, development, or testing of emerging techniques are specified in Section 31, Paragraph seven of this Law.

(5) The Cabinet shall issue regulations regarding applying for a Category A polluting activity, the issue of a relevant permit, and the use of the best available techniques, as well as specify:

1) a timetable according to which Category A permits are issued to the installations for which such permits are required;

2) the maximum transition period within which the conformity of the permit conditions in relation to the use of the best available techniques shall be ensured;

3) the information to be included in the submission for obtaining a permit which shall specify the measures to be taken in respect of the protection of human health, air, water, and soil, and also waste management. If the polluting activity is related to water extraction, the permit shall specify the limits for the use of water;

4) the procedures for requesting and issuing of permits;

5) the procedures by which the public may become acquainted with the submission and submit its proposals, as well as become acquainted with the permit conditions, results of monitoring and tests;

6) the procedures by which other states shall be informed, and monitoring of such pollution in cases when a transboundary effect of pollution is likely;

7) the time period for the examination of a submission and the taking of a decision which may not exceed 90 days. The days which are related to requesting of information shall not be included in the time period for taking of a decision.

(6) If a Category A polluting activity is planned to be implemented outside the territory of Latvia and it has a possible transboundary impact, the State Environmental Service shall:

1) within 14 days after information has been received from the competent authority of the relevant state regarding a submission for the performance of a polluting activity, post a notification regarding the received information on its website and publish the notification in at least one newspaper;

2) indicate in the notification the place where the public and interested authorities may acquire information on the intended activity and its transboundary impact as well as on a reasonable period up to which written proposals may be submitted to the State Environmental Service;

3) compile the proposals submitted by the public and interested institutions and send them to the competent authority of the relevant state.

[18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 16 December 2010; 31 January 2013; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 21. Best Available Techniques and Choice Thereof in Respect of Category A Polluting Activities

(1) The best available techniques are applicable to the most effective and progressive technological and operational methods development stage in which is shown the actual applicability of specific methods in order to prevent and - in cases where prevention is impossible - reduce emissions and the impact on the environment as a whole, and they are intended in order to specify the basic principle for the calculation of emission limits.

(2) The concept "techniques" shall include the technology used and the way in which the installation is designed, built, maintained, operated, or decommissioned.

(3) Techniques are available if they are economically and technologically substantiated and, irrespective of whether they have previously been used or introduced in production in Latvia, it is possible to implement them in a specific industrial sector, taking into account the relevant costs and advantages.

(4) Techniques are the best if they include such technologies and methods by the application of which it is possible to ensure the highest level of environmental protection at large.

(5) Upon choosing the best available techniques and taking into account the potential costs of their implementation and use, as well as the environmental protection principles specified in the Environmental Protection Law and the specific nature of a particular polluting activity, an operator shall:

1) use technology which ensures generation of the least possible quantity of waste;

2) use technology which ensures conformity with the requirements of Section 5 of this Law;

3) use substances which are less dangerous to human life, health, and the environment;

4) promote reuse of substances produced and used in the manufacturing process and waste processing;

5) use processes, installations, and operational methods that have already been tested and found to be successful;

6) follow the development of technologies and how knowledge and understanding in respect of the new technologies expands;

7) take into account the nature, impact, and quantity of emission;

8) take into account the expected time periods for suspension or closure of an installation;

9) take into account the time required for the implementation of the best available techniques;

10) take into account the consumption of raw materials, including water, used during the manufacturing process and energy efficiency of the technology;

11) prevent or reduce to a minimum emission risks and its impact on human health or the environment;

12) prevent accidents, but if an accident has occurred - reduce its consequences;

13) use the conclusions regarding the best available techniques as the basis. Upon performing the activities for which there are no applicable conclusions on the best available techniques at the time when the permit is issued or reviewed, the guideline document of the best available techniques developed by the European Commission or information regarding the best available techniques which has been published by international organisations shall be used;

14) ensure that the emission caused by the installation does not exceed the emission level related to the best available techniques.

[25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 31 January 2013; 12 April 2018]

Section 22. Category B Activities

(1) Polluting activities for the initiation or substantial change of which a Category B permit is required are Category B activities.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine Category B activities by taking into account the quantity, effect, or risk of pollution caused by it to human health or the environment, approve the information to be included in the submission for obtaining a permit, and also determine the procedures by which a permit shall be requested and issued. If the polluting activity is related to the water extraction, the Category B permit shall specify the limits for the use of water.

(2¹) The Cabinet shall determine the time period for the examination of a submission and the taking of a decision, which may not exceed 60 days. If the procedure of hearing the public opinion is applied to a polluting activity in accordance with Section 27 of this Law, the time period for examination of a submission and taking of a decision may not exceed 90 days. The days which are related to requesting of information shall not be included in the time period for taking of a decision.

(3) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which the public may become acquainted with the conditions of a permit for Category B activity, as well as the results of monitoring and tests.

[18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 10 December 2009; 16 December 2010; 12 April 2018 / Amendment to Paragraph two on the replacement of the words "the submission form and the permit form for a Category B activity" with the words "the information to be included in the submission for obtaining the permit" shall come into force on 1 April 2020. See Paragraph 62 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 23. Category C Activities

(1) Polluting activities the performance of which does not require a permit, but before the initiation or substantial change of which a submission should be submitted to environmental protection institutions are Category C activities.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine Category C activities by taking into account the quantity, effect, or risk of pollution caused by it to human health or the environment, and also the content of a submission and procedures for the lodging thereof, and the procedures by which the State Environmental Service registers Category C activities.

[27 January 2005; 12 April 2018 / Amendment regarding the supplementation of Paragraph two with the words "and the procedures by which the State Environmental Service registers Category C activities" shall come into force on 1 April 2020. See Paragraph 63 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 24. Notification Regarding Category C Activities

(1) An operator shall, not later than 30 days prior to the initiation of a Category C activity, submit a submission to the State Environmental Service.

(2) An operator shall, not later than 30 days prior to a substantial change in a Category C activity, submit a submission to the State Environmental Service.

(3) [20 June 2002]

[20 June 2002; 27 January 2005; 12 April 2018]

Section 24.¹ Activities for which a Greenhouse Gas Emission Permit is Necessary

[9 October 2025]

Section 24.² Special Requirements in Relation to Polluting Activities

(1) Special requirements may be specified for the performance of such polluting activities which conform to a specific industrial sector and which are characterised by a specific effect on the environment by the relevant sector. Upon specifying special requirements applicable to the polluting activities (installations) referred to in Annex 1 to this Law, conclusions regarding the best available techniques shall be taken into account.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine the special requirements in relation to the individual performance of the polluting activities referred to in Paragraph one of this Section.

(3) In order to restrict emission of volatile organic compounds, including spread of odours caused by a polluting activity which are generated by carrying out loading of petroleum products and hazardous chemical substances and mixtures into tankers, local governments shall issue binding regulations in which the requirements for the installation, operation, and monitoring of the freight evaporation emission control systems are laid down for the operators of polluting activity which in the port territories reload petroleum products and hazardous chemical substances and mixtures the vapour pressure of which is 27.6 kilopascals (kPa) or more by measuring according to Reid technique, or mazut, crude oil, or benzol if total turnover of the polluting activity specified in the permit for a polluting activity is 200 000 tons per year or more in the port territory owned or used by the operator.

(4) Local governments are entitled to determine a time limit which is less than 168 hours per calendar year for exceeding the odour target value in the binding regulations of the local government which have been taken in accordance with Paragraph three of this Section, and provide therein that the conformity with the odour target value should be ensured on the border of the territory in use or owned by the operator, as well as to determine the procedures by which the authority which controls protection of the port territory against pollution shall be informed regarding the results of measurements.

(5) The operator of polluting activity who reloads petroleum products and hazardous chemical substances in the port territory the vapour pressure of which is 27.6 kilopascals (kPa) or more by measuring according to Reid technique, or mazut, crude oil or benzol, and if the turnover of such products and substances in the port territory owned or used by it is more than 200 000 tons per year shall install the freight evaporation emission control systems by 31 December 2021 if the local government has not issued binding regulations in accordance with Paragraph three of this Section or has issued binding regulations, however, it has not specified another, sooner time period for the installation of freight evaporation emission control system in the port territory. After installation of freight evaporation emission control systems, the operator of polluting activity shall ensure their operation and monitoring, as well as carry out measurements of odour target values on the border of the territory used or owned by it.

[18 December 2003; 31 January 2013; 1 February 2018]

Section 24.³ Information System of the State Environmental Service

(1) The information system of the State Environmental Service (hereinafter - the information system) is a State information system which includes the information and documents necessary for the fulfilment and control of the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations regarding environmental protection and ensures the circulation of information among public administration and control authorities and merchants, and also involvement of the society in decision-making. The information system shall be created and maintained by the State Environmental Service.

(2) The information system shall include:

1) the issued Category A and B permits and decisions taken in relation thereof, and also the registered Category C activities;

2) the baseline reports on the quality of soil and groundwater in the territory of the installation;

3) the information on environmental inspections carried out in Category A installation;

4) other information necessary for the enforcement of this Law.

(3) In the information system:

1) the operator shall submit the submission for obtaining Category A or B permit and for registering Category C activity;

2) [9 October 2025];

3) the State Environmental Service shall issue a Category A or B permit, and also shall register Category C activities.

(4) The documents referred to in Paragraph three of this Section which are submitted in the information system shall have legal effect also if they do not contain the detail "signature".

(5) The information referred to in Paragraph two, Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of this Section shall be accessible to the public in the information system free of charge.

[12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Chapter V
Submission for, Issue, Review and Revocation of Permits

[18 December 2003; 10 December 2009]

Section 25. Preconditions in Respect of Issue of Permits for Initiation or Substantial Change of Polluting Activities

(1) A permit for the initiation or substantial change of a polluting activity shall be issued if an operator has submitted a submission in accordance with the requirements laid down in this Law and other laws and regulations.

(2) Category A or B permits for the initiation or substantial change of a polluting activity shall be issued if in addition to the conditions in Paragraph one of this Section, the following conditions are also conformed to:

1) the operator has assessed the environmental impact of such activity and has received an opinion on the acceptance of intended activity - in cases where in accordance with laws and regulations the polluting activity requires an environmental impact assessment;

2) a programme for the prevention of industrial accidents or a safety report, as well as an installation emergency readiness plan and a plan of civil defence measures has been developed - in cases where it is required in accordance with laws and regulations;

3) information has been provided to the public and a sufficiently long time period has been given for the submission of proposals by the public regarding the initiation or substantial change of a polluting activity - in cases where in accordance with laws and regulations the participation of the public in the taking of decisions has been specified.

(3) [9 October 2025]

[18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 10 December 2009; 31 January 2013; 9 June 2016; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 26. Consultations with Other State Institutions and Local Governments

Prior to the issuing of a permit, the State Environmental Service shall send to the relevant local government (prior to the issuing of a permit for Category A or B polluting activities - also to the Health Inspectorate) the information required for submitting proposals on the conditions for submissions and permits, and examine the proposals submitted by such institutions.

[20 June 2002; 27 January 2005; 10 December 2009; 12 April 2018]

Section 27. Public Participation

(1) A submission for the receipt of a Category A permit, but in the cases stipulated by the Cabinet - also for the receipt of a Category B permit, shall be available to the public in order that it may submit proposals regarding matters related to the issue of the permit.

(1¹) The hearing of the public opinion if the decision-taking process has been commenced shall be ensured at the very least when the decision relates to:

1) obtaining the permit referred to in Paragraph one of this Section, except for the case specified in Section 28, Paragraph eight of this Law;

2) substantial changes in Category A polluting activities and in specific cases also in Category B polluting activities;

3) the review of the conditions of a permit in accordance with Section 32, Paragraph three, Clause 8 of this Law;

4) a Category B polluting activity where the State Environmental Service or the relevant local government, in addition to the cases specified in this Section, has taken a decision to hear the public opinion.

(2) The public shall have access to the information necessary for participation in decision-making, including the essence of the possible decisions or, if only one decision is possible, the draft decision, as well as all decisions which relate to the issuing of Category A or B permits, the conditions of the issued permits, and the information on monitoring and control results.

(2¹) The public shall have access to the information related to the issuing of a permit which is at the disposal of the State Environmental Service.

(3) If a submission or a permit contains information which is to be considered restricted access information in accordance with laws and regulations, the State Environmental Service, on the basis of a submission from the operator, shall take a decision on restricted access to certain sections of the submission or the permit. This provision shall not apply to information regarding emission and the risk of accidents.

[18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 25 October 2007; 7 May 2009; 10 December 2009; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 28. Submission for, Issue and Revocation of Category A or B Permits

(1) A submission for a permit shall be prepared by an operator, inviting experts, if necessary. The operator shall be responsible for the veracity of the information indicated in the submission.

(1¹) The submission for obtaining a permit shall be submitted electronically in the information system, using a special online form if a person has been electronically identified by the personal identification shared use module under the supervision of the State Regional Development Agency.

(2) The submission shall contain the following information:

1) the installation and its activities;

2) the raw materials and auxiliary materials, other substances and energy used or generated by the relevant installation;

3) the sources of emission from the installation, including the sources of emission causing noise, vibration, and conducting heat into the environment;

4) the environmental conditions on the site of operation of the installation;

5) the nature and quantities of the substances which may be emitted from the installation into water, air (except for greenhouse gas emissions) or soil, as well as the substantial impact of the emission on the environment;

5¹) the quantity of such substances, which may be emitted, as a result of uncharacteristic activity of the installation, into water, air (except for greenhouse gas emission) or soil;

6) the technology and other techniques intended to be used in order to prevent or, if it is impossible, reduce emission from the relevant installation;

7) the best available techniques which the operator performing Category A activities uses or has intended to use to prevent or restrict the occurrence of pollution;

8) the measures to be taken in order to prevent or reduce generation of waste and recover the waste generated by the installation;

9) other measures which will be taken to ensure the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Chapters II and III of this Law;

10) the procedures by which the monitoring of the polluting activity is intended to be carried out.

(2¹) The following shall be appended to a submission:

1) the information summary referred to in Paragraph two of this Section in which specific technical descriptions and terminology are not used in order for it to be easily understandable to the public;

2) a baseline report on the quality of soil and groundwater in the territory of the installation (hereinafter - the baseline report), if it is necessary for the performance of Category A activities in accordance with Section 29, Paragraph six of this Law.

(3) A submission shall include possible alternatives to the polluting activity and justify why the relevant variant has been chosen. If the abovementioned alternatives have already been examined upon assessing the environmental impact, the operator shall append the report on the environmental impact assessment and the opinion on the acceptance of the intended activity to the submission.

(4) When issuing a permit for the performance of a polluting activity for which, in accordance with laws and regulations, an environmental impact assessment is required, the State Environmental Service shall assess and take into account the report on the environmental impact assessment and meet the requirements brought forward in the opinion of the State Environmental Service on the report on the environmental impact assessment.

(5) A permit shall be issued by the State Environmental Service according to the place of operation of an installation. If necessary, the State Environmental Service shall invite experts, except for those who have participated in the preparation of the submission.

(6) Prior to issuing a permit, the State Environmental Service shall evaluate the proposals submitted during the public participation process and, by posting them on its website, shall also make information regarding such opinions and recommendations accessible to the public which have been received prior to the public discussion of the permit.

(7) The State Environmental Service may revoke the issued permit, decide to refuse to issue a permit or to amend the conditions of the issued permit if it is established that the operator:

1) does not provide the information requested by the State Environmental Service which is necessary for taking the decision to issue a permit, to issue a permit or to amend the conditions of the permit, upon commencing a new Category A or B activity or making substantial changes in the existing Category A or B activity;

2) has not commenced the polluting activity within three years from the day of entering into effect of the Category A or B permit.

(8) [12 April 2018]

(9) [12 April 2018]

(10) [12 April 2018]

[20 June 2002; 18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 16 December 2010; 31 January 2013; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 28.¹ Submission for, Issuing, Amending and Revocation of a Greenhouse Gas Emission Permit

[9 October 2025]

Section 28.² State Fee for a Category A or B Permit

A State fee shall be paid for the issuance of a permit for a Category A or B polluting activity and the review thereof. The amount of the fee and the procedures for payment thereof, as well as reliefs shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[16 December 2010 / Section shall come into force on 1 March 2011. See Paragraph 32 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 29. Permits for Continuation of Existing Polluting Activities and for Initiation of New Polluting Activities

(1) Existing Category A and Category B activities are the same polluting activities for the performance of which a Category A or Category B permit is required and the permits specified in other laws and regulations in respect of pollution emission have been obtained.

(2) [12 April 2018]

(3) [12 April 2018]

(4) [12 April 2018]

(5) [12 April 2018]

(6) If a Category A activity includes the use, production, or emission of such hazardous chemical substances which may cause soil and groundwater pollution in the territory of the installation, the operator shall develop a baseline report and submit it to the State Environmental Service together with the submission for obtaining a permit for a Category A polluting activity and the information summary referred to in Paragraph 2.¹, Clause 1 of this Section appended thereto. The baseline report, which is necessary for the performance of the existing polluting activities, shall be submitted to the regional environmental board before the polluting activity permit is reviewed for the first time in accordance with Section 32, Paragraph 3.² of this Law. The State Environmental Service shall use the information included in the baseline report, bringing forward the conditions of the permit for the operation of the installation or, if operation of the installation is discontinued, for returning the territory of the installation to the satisfactory state in accordance with Section 30 of this Law. The development of a baseline report shall not be required for Category A activities for which the assessment of soil and groundwater quality has been carried out during the environmental impact assessment, if the submission for the receipt of a permit for the performance thereof has been submitted not more than three years after receipt of an opinion on the environmental impact assessment.

(7) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the development of a baseline report and the content thereof.

(8) If the information included in the baseline report points to a level of pollution which causes risk to human health or the environment, the State Environmental Service, upon reviewing a permit for Category A activity, shall bring forward conditions to the operator for performing of such measures which are necessary in order to ensure returning the site of the installation to satisfactory state. The State Environmental Service shall justify the conditions with the requirements of the laws and regulations regarding the quality standards of soil and ground, as well as regarding the quality of groundwater.

[27 January 2005; 31 January 2013; 12 April 2018]

Section 30. Notification of Change in Operation, Change of Installation Operator and Complete Cessation of Installation Operation

(1) Before a change in operation an operator shall notify the State Environmental Service thereof within the time period stipulated by the Cabinet. The State Environmental Service shall assess whether such change should be regarded as a substantial change and whether it is necessary to make amendments to the conditions of a permit, and inform the operator thereof. A change in operation as a result of which the operational indicators of the installation exceed the indicators specified in Annexes to this Law is a substantial change.

(2) If an operator has introduced a change in operation due to which the category of the polluting activity changes, the State Environmental Service shall consider the matter on the issue of a permit of another category or take a decision that henceforth a permit for the relevant polluting activity shall not be required.

(3) If there is a change of operator, the State Environmental Service shall, on the basis of a submission by the operator, correct the permit by writing therein data regarding the new operator, without changing however the conditions of the permit.

(4) Not later than 30 days prior to the complete cessation of the operation of the installation, the operator shall submit to the State Environmental Service a relevant submission, indicating measures which will be performed for the arrangement of the site of operation according to the conditions of the permit. Within 30 days after information has been received from the operator on the arrangement of the site in appropriate condition, the State Environmental Service shall revoke the Category A or B permit. The State Environmental Service shall post the information on its website on the measures performed by the operator and indicated in the baseline report for the arrangement of the territory in appropriate condition.

(5) In case if the operation of a Category A activity is discontinued the operator shall ensure an assessment of the soil and groundwater condition in relation to such hazardous chemical substances which are used in production, have been produced in the installation or released into the environment. Upon submitting a submission to the State Environmental Board on discontinuation of the operation of the installation, the operator shall append an assessment of soil and groundwater pollution in comparison to the information included in the baseline report.

(6) If in comparison to the information included in the baseline report the soil and groundwater pollution indicated in the soil and groundwater assessment is substantial, as well as is hazardous to human health and the environment, the State Environmental Service shall bring forward conditions to the operator for performing such measures which are necessary to return to the initial state of soil and groundwater. The State Environmental Service shall justify the conditions with the requirements of the laws and regulations regarding the quality standards of soil and ground, as well as regarding the quality of groundwater.

(7) If the conditions of a permit do not provide for a requirement to develop a baseline report, in case if the operation of the installation is discontinued the operator shall evaluate the potential soil and groundwater pollution and, where appropriate, perform measures that are necessary for the installation not to be hazardous to soil and groundwater pollution.

[18 December 2003; 25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 31 January 2013; 9 June 2016; 1 February 2018; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 31. Conditions of Category A and B Permits

(1) A permit shall include conditions the conformity with which is required to ensure the protection of human health and to achieve high environmental quality at large - protection of air, surface water, groundwater, soil, and subterranean depths, as well as determine:

1) the emission limit values and limits for polluting substances which are likely to be emitted from an installation in conformity with the nature of the relevant substance and the potential transfer of pollution from one environment to another (water, air, soil), as well as other types of emission limits. The emission levels related to the best available techniques shall be included in the permit for Category A activities;

2) the requirements ensuring protection of soil and groundwater against pollution, the conditions for the monitoring of emissions generated by an installation, as well as the methodology, frequency, and evaluation of monitoring measurements in order to prove the conformity of operation of Category A installation with the best available techniques;

3) the requirement for an operator to provide an annual report and other necessary information regarding the fulfilment of the conditions of the permit;

4) the requirements to be conformed to by an operator in order to ensure the protection of human health and the environment, as well as waste management, upon using natural resources and energy, as well as upon using chemical substances and mixtures. In order to prevent soil and groundwater pollution, the requirements for installations the operation of which is related to the use, production, or emission of hazardous chemical substances, in relation to the safety control of operation of installations shall be included in the conditions of the permit, including the conditions for monitoring of chemical substances used, produced, or utilised in the installation in accordance with Section 45 of this Law;

5) measures related to conditions other than normal operating conditions for the installation, including start-up (for example, adjustment or testing of the operation of an installation or part thereof after putting into service or after rebuilding thereof according to the technical documentation of the installation), likely leaks, malfunctions, momentary stoppages and cessation of operations of an installation;

6) environmental quality targets in a particular territory or the measures to be performed according to the river basin district management plan and the time periods for implementation thereof;

7) the requirements in relation to the energy performance of an installation which an operator of the installations referred to in Annex 2 to this Law need not apply in cases where it is not otherwise possible to conform to the conditions specified in the greenhouse gas emission permit;

7¹) the requirements in conformity with the conditions brought forward in the opinion on the environmental impact assessment for those polluting activities in respect of which the environmental impact assessment has been carried out and acceptance of the intended activity has been received;

8) other measures to be performed to ensure the fulfilment of the requirements referred to in Chapter II of this Law.

(2) The conditions of a Category A permit, including emission limit values or characteristics, shall be justified by the use of the best available techniques. Upon specifying the conditions of a permit:

1) the conclusions regarding the best available techniques shall be used for the activities (installations) included in Annex 1 to this Law, without determining the specific type of technology to be used;

2) the technical characteristics, geographical location, and environmental conditions of the relevant installation shall be taken into account.

(3) The emission limits values of polluting substances in a Category A permit shall be determined so that in normal operating mode of the installation they would not exceed the emission level related to the best available techniques. Upon determining the emission limit values, the following considerations shall be taken into account:

1) the emission limit values apply to the same or shorter periods and the same conditions for the operation from which the emission levels related to the best available techniques were derived;

2) the emission limit values do not apply to the circumstances indicated in Clause 1 of this Paragraph, but the operator proves to the State Environmental Service by the results of the annual emission monitoring that, upon operation of the installation in normal operating mode, emission does not exceed the emission levels related to the best available techniques.

(4) If the State Environmental Service includes conditions for the operation of an installation in a Category A permit on the basis of the best available techniques that have not been included in the conclusions on the best available techniques, it shall ensure that the principles referred to in Section 21, Paragraph five of this Law are used for the determination of techniques, as well as the conformity of emissions generated by the installation with the limit values and target values. The State Environmental Service shall conform to such condition also in case if the conclusions on the best available techniques do not apply to an activity performed in the installation or production process or if the abovementioned conclusions do not apply to the potential impact of the activity or process on the environment. In such case the State Environmental Service, upon determining the conditions for the permit, shall find out the opinion of the operator, append it to the permit, and publish on the website of the State Environmental Service as an appendix to the permit.

(5) If the environmental quality standards specified in laws and regulations provide for stricter conditions than it follows from the requirement to use the best available techniques, the Category A permit shall include other conditions to be conformed to in order to achieve the relevant environmental quality standards.

(6) The State Environmental Service may grant derogations from the emission level related to the best available techniques for Category A activities. Derogations shall be granted if an operator, on the basis of the environment quality standard specified in laws and regulations, as well as the geographical location of the installation and the results of the research of technical characteristics thereof, proves that application of the abovementioned emission levels causes costs that are incommensurately high in comparison to the threat to the environment. Derogations shall be granted if an operator, on the basis of the environment quality standard specified in laws and regulations, as well as the geographical location of the installation and the results of the research of technical characteristics thereof, proves that application of the abovementioned emission levels causes costs that are incommensurately high in comparison to the threat to the environment. The emission limit values applied as a result of derogation shall not exceed the emission limit values generated by installations, which have been specified in accordance with the procedures referred to in Section 11, Paragraph two or Section 24.² of this Law.

(7) For installations which are used for the research, development, or testing of new products or production processes, the State Environmental Service shall determine a transitional period in a Category A permit for derogations from the emission limit values and the use of the best available techniques, as well as measures restricting the occurrence of pollution for a period of time that does not exceed nine months. After the specified transitional period, the operator shall ensure that the operation of such installations which are used for the research, development, or testing of new products or production processes conforms to the emission level related to the best available techniques. The operation of the abovementioned installations shall be discontinued if after the specified transitional period the operator fails to ensure conformity with the specified emission level.

(8) The State Environmental Service shall justify the monitoring conditions of a Category A permit with the monitoring conditions referred to in the conclusions on the best available techniques.

(9) The conditions of a Category B permit shall be justified by the characteristics, geographical location, and environmental conditions of the relevant polluting activity. If the emission limit generated by the installation does not have applicable emission limits values, the Category B permit shall include technical characteristics of the specific installation.

(10) A permit shall include conditions which provide for the reduction of the transfer of pollution for long distances, as well as transboundary transfer.

(11) If a polluting activity is performed or it is intended to be performed on a polluted or potentially polluted site, the State Environmental Service shall include the requirement for an operator in the permit conditions to perform an investigation of the polluted or potentially polluted site or remediation of the polluted site. A decision to include an investigation or remediation in the permit conditions shall be taken in accordance with Chapter VII of this Law.

[31 January 2013; 12 April 2018]

Section 31.¹ Greenhouse Gas Emission Permit Conditions

[9 October 2025]

Section 32. Review and Renewal of Category A and B Permits

(1) Category A and B permits shall be issued for the whole period of operation of the relevant installation.

(1¹) If the State Environmental Service cannot assess and anticipate, with sufficient precision, the impact of polluting activity on human health or the environment at the time of issue of the permit, upon issuing the permit, the State Environmental Service may determine the time period for review thereof which does not exceed three years.

(2) The State Environmental Service shall, in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet, review the permit conditions and, if necessary, renew or supplement them.

(3) The matter regarding the issue of a permit or permit conditions shall be reviewed in the following cases:

1) when information regarding the negative effects of pollution on human health or the environment has been received, the limit values of environmental quality requirements have been exceeded, or amendments to the laws and regulations determining the environmental quality requirements have been made;

2) the European Commission has issued new conclusions regarding the best available techniques for the polluting activities (installations) indicated in Annex 1 to this Law. The conditions of the permit shall be reviewed within four years from the day of issue of the conclusions of the European Commission;

3) when according to an opinion of State institutions the use of another technology is required in order to guarantee the safety of the process;

3¹) in order to ensure the issuance of the permit in accordance with the conditions referred to in Section 31, Paragraph seven of this Law;

4) when it is determined by other laws and regulations;

5) prior to changes in the polluting activity;

6) if it is provided for in the conditions of the permit;

7) in the cases specified in Sections 50 and 51 of this Law;

8) if the pollution created by the installation is so substantial that it is necessary to review the conditions of the permit or the emission limits specified therein, or to specify new emission limits in the permit.

(3¹) The conditions in the permits in the cases referred to in Paragraph three, Clauses 1-6 and 8 of this Section and in Section 50, Paragraph three of this Law may be reviewed, renewed or added to during the whole period of validity of the permit.

(3²) [12 April 2018]

(4) An operator shall lodge a submission for the receipt of a new permit or for the implementation of substantial changes in the polluting activity to the relevant regional environmental board in the time periods and in accordance with the procedures which are provided for in the laws and regulations determining the issuance of permits for the performance of polluting activity, or within one month after discovery of the circumstances referred to in Paragraph three, Clauses 1-4 or Clause 8 of this Section.

(5) [12 April 2018]

[18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 25 October 2007; 7 May 2009; 10 December 2009; 31 January 2013; 12 April 2018]

Chapter V.^I
Emission Allowance Auction Instrument

[9 October 2025 / Chapter shall be repealed concurrently with the coming into force of the Economic Sustainability Law. See Paragraph 83 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 32.¹ Allowance Allocation Plan and List of Installations

(1) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, taking into account also the public opinion, develop and the Cabinet shall approve a national emission allowances allocation plan (hereinafter - the allocation plan) for each of the periods specified in Section 24.¹, Paragraph five, Clauses 1 and 2 of this Law. The allocation plan shall be drawn up in conformity with European Union legislation.

(2) The allocation plan shall determine the total quantity of the allowance to be issued to operators in the relevant period, and a list of the installations that perform the polluting activities referred to in Annex 2 to this Law, as well as the planned allocation of allowances between the operators of the installations shall be appended thereto.

(3) The allocation plan shall be developed, taking into account the following basic provisions:

1) the total quantity of allowances allocated by the State to operators in the relevant period shall be consistent with the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of Latvia specified by the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (hereinafter - the Convention);

2) the total quantity of the allowance shall be determined, taking into account the actual and projected greenhouse gas emissions from the installations referred to in Annex 2 to this Law, as well as the greenhouse gas emissions to which the conditions of this Law do not apply, taking into account also the policy planning documents in the energy industry field;

3) conforms to the requirements of other laws and regulations from which an increase in greenhouse gas emissions arise;

4) conforms to the provision that the number allowances allocated to a relevant installation may not exceed the necessary quantity thereof, taking into account the potential of the installation (including technological potential) for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;

5) the greenhouse gas emission per one as a result of polluting activity produced production unit referred to in Annex 2 to this Law and the achievable progress in the reduction of emissions may be used in the allocation of allowances as a condition;

6) includes information regarding the method for calculating allowances and the base (reference) years to be used in the specification of emissions;

7) includes information regarding the procedures by which an operator receives allowances for an installation for which larger greenhouse gas emissions are planned in relation to changes in activities, if such changes are implemented after submission of the allocation plan to the European Commission, as well as for new installations in relation to which a greenhouse gas emission permit has been obtained after submission of the allocation plan to the European Union and which are not included in the allocation plan;

8) includes information regarding the already implemented greenhouse gas emission reduction measures, also using the best available techniques guidelines for Category A installations;

9) takes into account the impact of clean technologies, also energy efficient technologies on greenhouse gas emissions;

10) includes information regarding the proposals expressed by the public during the course of consultations of this plan, and information regarding as to how the relevant proposals shall be evaluated before a decision to allocate allowances is taken;

11) may include information regarding the observance of competition in relation to such undertaking (companies) which are not companies from the Member States if the European Union;

12) does not include norms which discriminate against undertakings or sectors, as well as conditions which may be acknowledged as State aid that does not conform to laws and regulations;

13) determination of the quantity of the maximum emission reduction unit and certified emission reduction unit which an operator may use in the European Union allowance trade system, as a percentage part of the quantity of allowance allocated to each installation. The emission reduction units shall be allocated in accordance with the Convention Kyoto Protocol. Certified emission reduction units shall be allocated in accordance with Article 12 of the Convention Kyoto Protocol and decisions which are taken in accordance with the Convention or the Convention Kyoto Protocol.

This Clause relates to the allocation plan, which has been developed for the period specified in Section 24.¹, Paragraph five, Clause 2 of this Law.

(4) After the Cabinet has approved the allocation plan, the Ministry of Climate and Energy shall submit it for approval to the European Commission.

(5) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall develop and the Cabinet shall approve a list of installations for the period referred to in Section 24.¹, Paragraph five, Clause 3 of this Law.

(5¹) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall develop and the Cabinet shall approve the list of installations for each period referred to in Section 24.¹, Paragraph five, Clause 4 of this Law once every five years.

(6) The list of installations shall include stationary technological installations performing the polluting activities referred to in Annex 2 to this Law, as well as stationary technological installations to which greenhouse gas emission permits have been issued in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 24.¹, Paragraph three of this Law. The annual distribution of free-of-charge emission allowances among operators shall be determined in the list of installations.

(7) The list of installations shall be developed in accordance with legal acts of the European Union in the field of allocation of allowances, as well as taking into account Cabinet regulations regarding granting of free-of-charge allowances to generation of electricity, if the Cabinet has taken the decision to support allocation of free-of-charge allowances to generation of electricity.

(8) In order to prepare the list of installations for the period referred to in Section 24.¹, Paragraph five, Clause 3 of this Law, the operator shall, according to the request of the Ministry of Climate and Energy, submit to the State Environmental Service complete and verified information which is necessary to calculate the free emission allowances for the installation. Information shall be submitted regarding the operation of the installation during the time period from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2010. The State Environmental Service shall take a decision to approve the submitted information.

(8¹) In order to prepare the list of installations for each five-year period of the ten-year period referred to in Section 24.¹, Paragraph five, Clause 4 of this Law, the operator shall, according to the request of the Ministry of Climate and Energy, submit to the relevant State Environmental Service complete and verified information and data which are necessary to determine the amount of allocation of emission allowances for the relevant installation. Operators shall submit such information in respect of the first five year period of the period of 10 years referred to in Section 24.¹, Paragraph five, Clause 4 of this Law which starts on 1 January 2021 for the period of time from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2018. The State Environmental Service shall take a decision to approve the submitted information. The abovementioned information shall be verified and approved in conformity with the requirements which are laid down in the legal acts of the European Union in the field of allocation of emission allowances and in the regulatory enactments regarding the participation of stationary technological equipment in the European Union Emissions Trading System.

(9) The information referred to in Paragraph eight of this Section shall be examined and approved in conformity with the requirements which have been laid down for examination and approval of annual emission reports on greenhouse gas emissions in the laws and regulations regarding the procedures by which monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions shall be performed, as well as annual emission reports on greenhouse gas emissions shall be examined and approved.

(10) The State Environmental Service shall ensure the submission of the approved information to the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

(11) After the Cabinet has approved the list of installations, the Ministry of Climate and Energy shall submit it to the European Commission for approval.

[27 January 2005; 6 April 2006; 17 June 2010; 16 December 2010; 14 July 2011; 9 June 2016; 1 February 2018; 12 April 2018; 8 March 2023]

Section 32.² Revenues from Auctions of Emission Allowances and the Conditions for the Use Thereof

(1) The Ministry of Climate and Energy, upon evaluating also the public opinion and taking into account the list of installations approved by the European Commission and amendments thereto, shall, not more than within two months after approval of the European Commission regarding the list of installations or amendments thereto, take the decision to allocate allowances to an operator who has obtained a greenhouse gas emission permit. The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall take the decision to allocate allowances to an aircraft operator. The decision of the Ministry of Climate and Energy may be appealed in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law. The appeal of the decision shall not suspend the operation thereof.

(1¹) [9 October 2025]

(2) [9 October 2025]

(3) [9 October 2025]

(3¹) The financial resources obtained by auctioning the emission allowances referred to in Section 32.²⁷ of this Law (hereinafter - the auctioning revenue) shall be transferred into the State basic budget account opened in the Treasury according to the classification of revenue of the State budget.

(3²) Financing in the State basic budget for the current year and in long-term liabilities for subsequent years for the objectives referred to in Paragraph 4.⁴ of this Section shall be provided for as a grant from general revenue in a separate budget programme (sub-programme) of the Ministry of Climate and Energy according to the amount of auctioning revenue obtained in the preceding years and not used.

(3³) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall be the executor of the programme (sub-programme) referred to in Paragraph 3.² of this Section.

(4) [31 January 2013]

(4¹) [31 January 2013]

(4²) [31 January 2013]

(4³) [31 January 2013]

(4⁴) Auctioning revenue shall be used for reduction climate changes and provision of adaptation to climate changes, including:

1) for reduction or restriction of greenhouse gas emissions in energy, industry, transport, agriculture, forestry and waste management sectors, as well as for the financing of such projects and financial instruments the objective of which is:

a) to improve the energy performance of buildings of technological installations and vehicles;

b) to expand the use of renewable energy resources;

c) to promote adaptation to climate changes on national and regional scale, including for funding of such projects in which implementation of pilot projects for reduction and prevention of the negative impact of extreme weather conditions is intended;

2) for increasing the possibilities of reduction or restriction of greenhouse gas emission, as well the possibilities of adapting to climate changes, also for financing of such projects and financial instruments, the objective of which is:

a) to develop environmental technologies which ensure the increase of energy performance, the use of renewable energy resources, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in technological processes, or adaptation to climate changes;

b) to implement climate policy measures which are directed towards reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate changes, as well as to prepare the necessary study, planning and technical document for integration in different sectors;

c) to implement educating measures which result in improving the understanding and knowledge of the society regarding climate changes and measures to be performed in order to reduce them and to ensure adaptation to climate changes, and which promote changes in habits of consumers, as well as promote the development of low carbon economy in Latvia;

3) for the fulfilment of commitments of the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol thereof, as well as other international commitments in the field of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;

4) for the participation of Latvia in the European Union Emissions Trading System, for the covering of administrative costs of provision of the auctioning process of allowances, and also for expenditures for ensuring the administrative activity of the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

(4⁵) When using auctioning revenue, the impact of measures not only on the quantity of greenhouse gas emission, but also on the quality of the environment at large, including emission of other polluting substances, cross-border air pollution, natural habitats, shall be taken into account.

(4⁶) The use of auctioning revenue for the objectives referred to in Paragraph 4.⁴, Clauses 1 and 2 of this Section shall be ensured by organising open tenders of project applications. The Cabinet shall issue by-laws of open tenders of project applications in which the criteria for assessment of project applications, the procedures for the submission, examination, and approval of project applications and granting of financing, as well as the procedures for the implementation of projects, submission and examination of reports shall be determined. Auctioning revenue from the European Union Emission Trading System may be continued to be granted for the purposes referred to in Paragraph 4.⁴, Clauses 1 and 2 of this Section for five years after the end of the time period of operation of the European Union Emissions Trading System.

(4⁷) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall prepare and, commencing from 2013 and by 1 April of the current year, submit an informative report to the Cabinet on the use of auctioning revenue in the previous year, including information on the financed measures, on the achieved reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, on what achievements have been had when ensuring adaptation to the climate change, and also on the improvement of the environmental quality at large.

(4⁸) The funds obtained from the auctioning of the allowances referred to in Paragraph three of this Section may be used for a one-off measure to reduce the costs of electricity final customers for the electricity used and to compensate them for the costs of the electricity system service.

(5) [9 October 2025]

(6) [9 October 2025]

(7) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which the auctioning of greenhouse gas allowances allocated to Latvia shall be ensured.

(8) [9 October 2025]

[27 January 2005; 6 April 2006; 25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 17 June 2010; 16 December 2010; 14 July 2011; 31 January 2013; 9 June 2016; 1 February 2018; 10 December 2020; 22 December 2021; 8 March 2023; 9 October 2025]

Section 32.³ Activities with Allowances

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.⁴ Register for Kyoto Units and Allowances

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.⁵ Provision of Surrender of Allowances

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.⁶ Advisory Council of the Emission Allowance Auction Instrument

(1) The objective of operation of the Advisory Council (hereinafter - the Advisory Council) of the Emission Allowance Auction Instrument (hereinafter - the EAAI) is to promote transparency of the utilisation of the EAAI funds and conformity thereof with the objectives and requirements referred to in Section 32.², Paragraphs 4.⁴, 4.⁵, and 4.⁶ of this Law, as well as to involve the representatives of the public in the supervision of the management and implementation of the EAAI.

(2) In order to improve the efficiency of introduction of the EAAI, the Advisory Council shall examine the financial and work plan of the current year and provide proposals to the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

(3) The Advisory Council shall also examine other issues related to the management or implementation of the EAAI upon its own initiative or that of the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

(4) The Chair of the Advisory Council shall be the Minister for Climate and Energy or a representative appointed by the Minister for Climate and Energy. The following persons shall be included in the Advisory Council:

1) one representative from the Ministry of Climate and Energy, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Education and Science each;

2) two representatives who are delegated by associations and foundations which are operating in the sectors referred to in Section 32.², Paragraph 4.⁴ of this Law for one year according to the rotation procedures;

3) two representatives of such associations or foundations delegated by the Environmental Advisory Council the objective of which is environmental protection according to the articles of association.

(5) Members of the Advisory Council shall not receive remuneration for the work in this Council.

(6) The personnel of the Advisory Council shall be approved by the Minister for Climate and Energy. The functions of the Secretariat of the Advisory Council shall be ensured by the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

(7) The Cabinet shall approve the by-laws of the Advisory Council.

[1 February 2018; 8 March 2023; 9 October 2025]

Section 32.⁷ Informing the Public and Public Participation in the Allocation of Allowances

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.⁸ Information to the European Commission

[9 October 2025]

Chapter V.²
Suspension of Installation Operation

[25 October 2007 / Chapter shall come into force on 1 January 2008. See Transitional Provisions]

Section 32.⁹ Conditions for the Suspension of Installation Operation

(1) The operation of an installation shall be suspended if the required permit for Category A or B polluting activity has not been obtained or a submission for the performance of Category C activity has not been submitted. This shall not be applicable to cases where the Category A or B polluting activities permit or the greenhouse gas emission permit has been revoked within the scope of the dispute procedures.

(2) The operation of an installation shall be suspended if the necessary permit or a submission regarding Category C activity has been received, but:

1) due to the unlawful acts of the operator the installation has caused or may cause environmental pollution which incurs or may incur significant harm to the environment or human health;

2) in operating the installation, repeatedly is violated environmental protection laws and regulations or the administrative acts of environment protection State institutions are not implemented.

(3) It is prohibited to commence the operation of an installation or it may be suspended if the responsible person of the operator has not submitted a safety report or an industrial accident prevention programme within a specified time period.

(4) It is prohibited to commence the operation of an installation or it is suspended if the measures performed by the responsible person of the operator for industrial accident risk and the reduction of the seriousness of the consequences of accidents have significant deficiencies.

(5) If the pollution is caused not by the whole installation, but only one of its parts, only the operation of such part which causes pollution or industrial accident risk shall be suspended.

(5¹) If violation of the conditions of a permit or requirements of the laws and regulations of environmental protection causes direct threat to human health or may cause irreversible harm to the environment, the board shall suspend the operation on an installation or part thereof until the time when renewal of operation of the installation is permissible in accordance with Section 32.¹¹ of this Law.

(5²) If failing to conform to the requirements of Section 24.², Paragraph three or five of this Law is established in accordance with the procedures of Section 49, Paragraph five of this Law and it causes direct threat to human health or may cause irreversible harm to the environment, the board shall suspend the operation on an installation or a part thereof until the time when renewal of operation of the installation is permissible in accordance with Section 32.¹¹ of this Law.

(6) The operation of an installation or the parts thereof shall not be suspended if the suspension may cause the environment, human health or animal welfare greater harm than the pollution caused by the installation. After receipt of the opinion of the Health Inspectorate or the Food and Veterinary Service, the State Environmental Service shall take a written decision. The decision shall determine binding restrictive conditions on the operator in relation to the continued operation of the installation.

[10 December 2009; 31 January 2013; 1 February 2018; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 32.¹⁰ Procedures for the Suspension of Installation Operation

(1) Before suspending operation of an installation the general-director of the State Environmental Service shall issue a warning regarding suspending operation of an installation if the violations referred to in the warning are not rectified. The warning is not disputable and cannot be appealed.

(2) The warning shall indicate the violations committed by the operator and other circumstances which may be the basis for the suspension of operation of the installation, and shall determine a time period from three days up to three months for rectification of the violations referred to in the warning. If the operator, within one month, develops and submits for acceptance by the State Environmental Service a plan of measures for rectification of the violations, the official of the State Environmental Service who issued the warning shall extend the time period for rectification of the violations up to nine months if only it is not possible to rectify the violations sooner and the pollution does not cause significant harm or risk to the environment or human health.

(3) If within the time period specified in the warning, the violations are not rectified or the measures specified in the plan of measures are not performed, the general-director of the State Environmental Service shall take a decision to suspend operation of the installation.

(4) If the operator commences or performs operation without the necessary permit for Category A or B polluting activities or has not submitted a submission for the performance of Category C activity, the decision to suspend the operation of the installation shall be taken without warning the operator in advance.

(5) The decision to suspend operation of the installation shall enter into effect and shall implemented without delay. The decision may be contested to the State Environmental Service in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 50, Paragraph ten of this Law. The decision of the State Environmental Service may be appealed in court. The appeal of the decision shall not suspend the operation thereof.

(6) The suspension of operation of the installation shall be ensured by the operator of the installation so that its suspension shall cause as little harm to the environment as possible. The general-director of the State Environmental Service has the right to instruct the operator to seal or restrict access to technological devices or premises which lead to the devices for the operation of the installation in order to ensure that the decision to suspend operation of the installation is implemented. Access to the technological devices or the abovementioned premises shall be sealed or access restricted by the operator in the presence of a representative of the environmental protection authority which had expressed the warning regarding the suspension of operation of the installation.

[12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 32.¹¹ Renewal of Installation Operation

(1) An operator shall submit to the State Environmental Service a submission indicating that the violations indicated in the decision to suspend operation of the installation have been rectified and the tasks imposed have been fulfilled. Documents which certify the facts referred to therein shall be appended to the submission.

(2) The State Environmental Service shall, within five working days, examine the rectification of the violations indicated in the decision to suspend operation of the installation and the fulfilment of the tasks imposed. The general-director of the State Environmental Service shall take a decision on full or partial renewal of the operation of the installation or a refusal to renew the operation of the installation. The decision of the general-director of the State Environmental Service may be contested to the State Environmental Service in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 50, Paragraph ten of this Law. The decision of the State Environmental Service may be appealed in court. The appeal of the decision shall not suspend the operation thereof.

[9 October 2025]

Chapter V.³
Modernisation Fund

[14 July 2022 / Chapter shall be repealed concurrently with the coming into force of the Economic Sustainability Law. See Paragraph 83 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 32.¹² Framework and Financing of the Modernisation Fund

(1) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, by 31 December 2030 each year, submit investment proposals in accordance with the multiannual operational programme of the Modernisation Fund referred to in Paragraph five of this Section and the calls for project applications referred to in Section 32.¹³, Paragraph four of this Law to the European Investment Bank and the Investment Committee established under the Modernisation Fund in order to receive the financing of the Modernisation Fund available to Latvia and held by the European Investment Bank in accordance with the period of operation of the Modernisation Fund.

(2) After the European Commission has taken the decision to disburse financing, the financing of the Modernisation Fund shall be transferred into the State basic budget revenue account opened in the Treasury according to the classification of the State budget revenue.

(3) Financing in the State basic budget for the current year and in long-term liabilities for subsequent years for the directions of use referred to in Section 32.¹³, Paragraph one of this Law shall be provided for as a grant from general revenue in a separate budget programme (sub-programme) of the Ministry of Climate and Energy according to the conditions for the implementation of projects, the procedures for the approval thereof, and the schedules for the implementation, without exceeding the maximum amount of the financing of the Modernisation Fund received.

(4) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall be the executor of the programme (sub-programme) referred to in Paragraph three of this Section.

(5) The Cabinet shall issue the rules of procedure for the operation of the Modernisation Fund and approve the multiannual operational programme of the Modernisation Fund. State administration tasks arising from the investment functions of financing of the Modernisation Fund shall be delegated to a private individual or public entity.

(6) When performing the delegated tasks, the private individual or public entity specified in laws and regulations issued in accordance with Paragraph five of this Section shall be subordinated to the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

[14 July 2022; 8 March 2023]

Section 32.¹³ Use of the Financing of the Modernisation Fund

(1) In order to provide an additional contribution to Latvia in paving the way towards climate neutrality, the financing of the Modernisation Fund shall be used to implement the measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including at least 70 per cent of the total financing from the Modernisation Fund available to Latvia shall be used to support investments:

1) in generation of electricity from renewable energy resources and use of such electricity;

2) in improvement of energy performance (except for measures for the improvement of energy efficiency related to the generation of energy from solid fossil energy resources), including in the fields of transport, agriculture, waste management and in the sector of buildings;

3) in energy storage, including in the purchase and installation of electricity storage facilities;

4) in modernisation of centralised heating supply networks and also modernisation of electricity transmission and distribution networks, including introduction of smart solutions;

5) in expanding, modernising of interconnections of electricity transmission networks between the Member States of the European Union or increasing the capacity thereof;

6) in measures related to the relocation, retraining, improving qualification, and education of employees, job search initiatives, and start-up companies within the framework of a just transition to a climate-neutral economy.

(2) Financing of the Modernisation Fund shall not be granted to combustion plants using solid fossil energy resources.

(3) Prior to granting financing for the measures referred to in Paragraph one of this Section, the Ministry of Climate and Energy shall coordinate it with the Investment Committee and the European Investment Bank.

(4) The use of the financing of the Modernisation Fund shall be ensured by organising calls for project applications. The Cabinet shall issue by-laws of calls for project applications determining therein the criteria for the assessment of project applications, the conditions for granting aid for commercial activity, the procedures for the submission, examination, and approval of project applications and for the granting of financing, the procedures for the implementation of projects, and also the procedures for the submission and examination of reports.

[14 July 2022; 8 March 2023]

Section 32.¹⁴ Reporting Procedures Related to the Modernisation Fund

(1) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, each year in accordance with Article 3 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1001 of 9 July 2020 laying down detailed rules for the application of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the operation of the Modernisation Fund supporting investments to modernise the energy systems and to improve energy efficiency of certain Member States (hereinafter - Regulation No 2020/1001), prepare and submit, by 30 November, an overview of investments to the European Investment Bank and the Investment Committee.

(2) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, every year in co-operation with the private individual or public entity referred to in Section 32.¹², Paragraph six of this Law (if applicable), prepare and submit, by 31 March, the informative report to the Cabinet on the use of the Modernisation Fund financing in the previous year, including information on the measures financed and the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved.

(3) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, each year in accordance with Article 13 of and Annex 2 to Regulation No 2020/1001, prepare and submit, by 30 April, an annual report to the European Commission on the activities of the Modernisation Fund in the previous year.

[14 July 2022; 8 March 2023]

Chapter V.⁴
European Union Emissions Trading System

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.¹⁵ Conditions for Carrying Out the Activities of the European Union Emissions Trading System

The operator, aircraft operator, and shipping company that carries out the activities referred to in Parts I, II, and III of Annex 2 to this Law, or the fuel and heating fuel operator that releases fuel and heating fuel for consumption for the activities referred to in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law shall meet the following requirements:

1) implement measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;

2) supervise and control the activity data and the generated amount of greenhouse gases by performing monitoring in accordance with the conditions of Sections 32.¹⁷, 32.²¹, and 32.²³ of this Law;

3) comply with the compulsory requirement to surrender the emission allowances;

4) use the financial resources from transactions involving free emission allowances allocated thereto, where such allowances are received, solely in accordance with the conditions of Section 32.²⁸ of this Law;

5) provide the information specified in this Law and the laws and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, including information on greenhouse gas emissions, to the authorities administering the European Union Emissions Trading System in Latvia.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.¹⁶ Activities of Operators in the European Union Emissions Trading System

(1) For an installation in which one or several activities referred to in Part I of Annex 2 to this Law are carried out, the operator shall obtain the greenhouse gas emission permit specified in Section 32.¹⁸ of this Law.

(2) If the operator has not been issued a corresponding greenhouse gas emission permit, it shall not commence or continue the activities referred to in Part I of Annex 2 to this Law.

(3) The limit values specified in Part I of Annex 2 to this Law shall apply to production capacity or output. The operator that carries out several of the activities referred to in Part I of Annex 2 to this Law in the same installation shall add together the capacities of such activities.

(4) If the production capacity limit values for the activities referred to in Part I of Annex 2 to this Law are exceeded in an installation, the greenhouse gas emission permit shall, in accordance with the conditions of Part I of Annex 2 to this Law, include all technical units in which heating fuel is combusted, other than technical units for the incineration of hazardous or municipal waste.

(5) If a technical unit serves an activity for which the limit value is not expressed as total rated thermal input, the limit value of this activity shall take precedence for the decision on the inclusion in the installation in the European Union Emissions Trading System.

(6) Installations or parts of installations used for research, development, or testing of new products or production processes shall not be included in the European Union Emissions Trading System.

(7) If, due to changes made in the production processes to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, the total rated thermal input of the technical units of a heating fuel combustion installation covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System no longer reaches 20 megawatts, the operator of the relevant installation may decide that the installation is to remain within the scope of the European Union Emissions Trading System until the end of the five-year cycle of the current period referred to in Section 32.¹⁸, Paragraph four of this Law, or until the end of the next five-year cycle.

(8) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall notify the European Commission of any changes to the list developed in accordance with Section 32.²⁴, Paragraph one of this Law.

(9) If the operator carries out an activity without the permission specified in Paragraph one of this Section, the State Environmental Service shall take the decision to suspend that activity.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.¹⁷ Activities of Fuel and Heating Fuel Operators in the European Union Emissions Trading System for Buildings, Road Transport, and Additional Sectors

(1) A fuel and heating fuel operator that carries out one or several of the activities referred to in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law and releases fuel or heating fuel for consumption for one or several of the activities referred to in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law shall obtain the greenhouse gas emission permit at the State Environmental Service.

(2) A fuel and heating fuel operator that has not obtained the permit referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall not commence or continue the release of fuel and heating fuel for consumption for the activities referred to in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law.

(3) The fuel and heating fuel operator has the obligation to regularly control the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, to ensure continuous participation in the European Union Emissions Trading System, and also the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from its activities, and to provide information to the issuer of the permit and the competent authorities.

(4) In order to commence or continue an activity covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System for buildings, road transport, and additional sectors, the fuel and heating fuel operator shall prepare a plan for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions it has generated and submit it to the State Environmental Service for approval.

(5) The greenhouse gas emissions data and the monitoring plan shall be available to the issuer of the greenhouse gas emission permit, the competent authorities, and the public.

(6) The fuel and heating fuel operator shall, by 31 May each year, surrender an amount of emission allowances which is equal to the total emissions of the fuel and heating fuel operator, corresponding to the quantities of fuel and heating fuel released for consumption during the preceding calendar year, and which corresponds to the activity referred to in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law.

(7) The fuel and heating fuel operator shall, by 15 April each year, prepare the annual emission report on the activities carried out in the European Union Emissions Trading System for buildings, road transport, and additional sectors and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from those activities during the preceding calendar year, and also ensure the verification of that report.

(8) The fuel and heating fuel operator shall, by 15 April each year, submit the verified reports referred to in Paragraph seven of this Section and the verifier's report to the State Environmental Service for assessment and for approval or rejection of the reports.

(9) The fuel and heating fuel operator for which the report referred to in Paragraph seven of this Section has not been approved or has been found non-compliant by 30 April of the relevant year is prohibited from conducting transactions involving emission allowances. These transactions shall be conducted following approval of that report.

(10) The State Environmental Service shall verify and approve or reject the report referred to in Paragraph seven of this Section.

(11) [Paragraph shall come into force on 1 January 2028 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2028. / Paragraph shall be repealed on 1 January 2031. See Paragraph 74 of Transitional Provisions]

(12) Section 32.¹⁹, Section 32.²⁷, Paragraphs one, two, three, and six, Sections 32.²⁹, 32.³⁰, and 32.³¹, Section 32.³³, Paragraphs one, three, and four, and Section 32.³⁴ of this Law shall apply to the European Union Emissions Trading System for buildings, road transport, and additional sectors.

(13) The Cabinet shall determine the following:

1) the procedures for issuing, amending, and revoking the greenhouse gas emission permit for carrying out an activity covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System for buildings, road transport, and additional sectors;

2) the conditions for monitoring and reporting on the quantities of fuel and heating fuel released for consumption;

3) the conditions for monitoring, reporting, and verification in cases where the fuel and heating fuel operator releases fuel or heating fuel for consumption for the activities referred to in Parts I and II of Annex 2 to this Law or where fuel or heating fuel is released for consumption for activities other than those included in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law;

4) the conditions for the calculation and disbursement of compensation in the cases of consumption referred to in Clause 3 of this Paragraph following verification thereof;

5) the procedures for assessing the compliance of potential fuel and heating fuel operators with Section 1, Paragraph one, Clause 30 of this Law and the requirements of this Section;

6) information to be included in the submission for obtaining the greenhouse gas emission permit and in the permit itself.

(14) The obligations of fuel and heating fuel operators in the European Union Emissions Trading System for buildings, road transport, and additional sectors shall apply to fuel and heating fuel referred to in Section 1, Paragraph one, Clause 31 and Paragraph two of this Law, except for peat, and also other energy products referred to in Annex to the law On Excise Duties which are combusted when carrying out the activities referred to in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law.

(15) The requirements included in this Section shall not apply to merchants that release for consumption solely sustainable renewable fuel and heating fuel for which the carbon dioxide emission factor is zero.

(16) If the fuel and heating fuel operator releases fuel and heating fuel for carrying out one or several of the activities referred to in Part IV, Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 to this Law without the permission referred to in Paragraph one of this Section, the State Environmental Service shall take the decision requiring the fuel and heating fuel operator to suspend those activities.

[9 October 2025 / Paragraph six shall not be applied until 31 December 2027. See Paragraphs 72, 73 and 74 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 32.¹⁸ Issuance, Amendment, and Revocation of a Greenhouse Gas Emission Permit

(1) When carrying out the activities of the European Union Emission Trading System, the operator shall meet the monitoring conditions and requirements specified in the greenhouse gas emission permit.

(2) The greenhouse gas emission permit for the operation of the installation shall be issued, amended, and revoked by the State Environmental Service.

(3) The operator shall inform the State Environmental Service of any planned changes ib the nature or operation of the installation, or any extension or reduction of its capacity, which may require amendments to the greenhouse gas emission permit issued to the operator.

(4) The greenhouse gas emission permit shall be issued to the operator for each period of the European Union Emission Trading System:

1) the fourth period - from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2030;

2) the fifth and subsequent periods - 10 calendar years starting from 1 January 2031.

(5) During the first five-year phase of the period specified in Paragraph four, Clause 1 of this Section, the greenhouse gas emission permit may also be obtained for activities the limit values of which do not exceed the limit values for the activities referred to in Part I of Annex 2 to this Law.

(6) The State Environmental Service shall align the conditions of the greenhouse gas emission permit with those of the permit for Category A or B polluting activities issued in accordance with the procedures laid down in the corresponding laws and regulations governing polluting activities.

(7) The Cabinet shall determine the following:

1) the procedures for issuing, amending, and revoking the greenhouse gas emission permit for carrying out the activities of the European Union Emissions Trading System;

2) information to be included in the submission for obtaining the greenhouse gas emission permit and in the greenhouse gas emission permit itself;

3) the procedures for assessing the eligibility of potential operators for obtaining the permit in accordance with Section 32.¹⁶, Paragraph one of this Law and the requirements outlined in this Section.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.¹⁹ State Fee for the Greenhouse Gas Emission Permit

(1) A State fee shall be paid for issuing and amending the greenhouse gas emission permit.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for paying the State fee, the amount of the State fee, and the cases in which it shall not be refunded.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.²⁰ Activities of Aircraft Operators in the European Union Emissions Trading System

(1) The European Union Emissions Trading System shall include aircraft operator flights to and from aerodromes located in the territory of a Member State of the European Union Emissions Trading System and specified in Part II of Annex 2 to this Law.

(2) Latvia shall be the administering Member State of an aircraft operator if:

1) the aircraft operator holds a valid operating licence issued in Latvia in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community;

2) the aircraft operator holds a valid operating licence issued in a country other than a Member State of the European Union Emissions Trading System, and Latvia is the Member State with the greatest estimated attributed aviation emissions from flights performed by that aircraft operator in the base year (the calendar year starting on 1 January 2006 or the first calendar year of operation for aircraft operators that started the aviation activity after 1 January 2006).

[9 October 2025 / See Paragraph 38 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 32.²¹ Monitoring and Reporting Performed by Operators and Aircraft Operators

(1) The operator and the aircraft operator have the obligation to regularly control the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, to ensure continuous participation in the European Union Emissions Trading System and the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from its activities, and to provide information to the competent authorities.

(2) In order to commence or continue an activity covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System, the operator or aircraft operator shall prepare a plan for monitoring the European Union Emissions Trading System activities and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions. The operator shall submit this plan for approval to the State Environmental Service, but the aircraft operator - to valsts aģentūra "Civilās aviācijas aģentūra" [State agency Civil Aviation Agency] (hereinafter - the Civil Aviation Agency).

(3) The monitoring of flights performed by the aircraft operator shall include non-CO₂ effects of aviation.

(4) If the plan for monitoring the greenhouse gas emissions prepared by the aircraft operator has not been approved, the aircraft operator shall not commence or continue the European Union Emissions Trading System activities.

(5) The monitoring plan and the annual emission report shall be available to the issuer of the greenhouse gas emission permit, control authorities, the relevant local government, and the public.

(6) The operator and the aircraft operator shall, by 15 March each year, prepare and ensure the verification of the following reports:

1) the annual emission report on the performed European Union Emissions Trading System activities and the resulting amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the preceding calendar year;

2) the report on the implemented measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the use of financial resources from transactions involving free emission allowances allocated thereto.

(7) The operator shall, by 15 March each year, prepare the annual activity level report on activity data of the installation in the preceding year, taking into account the monitoring plan referred to in Paragraph two of this Section and the results of the annual data monitoring.

(8) The verified reports referred to in Paragraph six and, where applicable, Paragraph seven of this Section and the verifier's reports shall, by 15 March each year, be submitted for evaluation and approval or rejection:

1) to the State Environmental Service by the operator;

2) to the Civil Aviation Agency by the aircraft operator.

(9) The operator or aircraft operator whose report referred to in Paragraph six and, where applicable, Paragraph seven of this Section has not been approved by 31 March of the relevant year or has been rejected is prohibited from conducting transactions involving emission allowances until the report is approved.

(10) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures, by which:

1) the operator monitors the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the European Union Emissions Trading System activities, and also prepares and, in accordance with the procedures for exchanging information within the European Union Emissions Trading System, submits a verified annual emission and activity level report on the implemented measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the use of financial resources from transactions involving free emission allowances allocated thereto;

2) the State Environmental Service reviews and approves the reports referred to in Clause 1 of this Paragraph;

3) the aircraft operator monitors the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the European Union Emissions Trading System activities, develops the emission monitoring plan, prepares and, in accordance with the procedures for exchanging information within the European Union Emissions Trading System, submits a verified annual emission report, provides information on the implemented measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the use of financial resources from transactions involving free emission allowances allocated thereto, and also receives free emission allowances resulting from the use of eligible aviation fuel;

4) the aircraft operator provides the Civil Aviation Agency with information on the performed monitoring referred to in Clause 3 of this Paragraph and Paragraph three of this Section;

5) the Civil Aviation Agency reviews and approves the reports and information referred to in Clauses 3 and 4 of this Paragraph;

6) the verifiers ensure the verification of the reports referred to in Paragraphs six and seven of this Section, and the procedures for evaluating the eligibility of the verifier for performing verification.

(11) If the operator or aircraft operator carries out an activity in the European Union Emissions Trading System but has not fulfilled the obligations specified in Paragraph two of this Section, the State Environmental Service shall, in respect of the operator, and the Civil Aviation Agency shall, in respect of the aircraft operator, take the decision to suspend the abovementioned activity.

[9 October 2025 / See Paragraph 38 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 32.²² European Union Emissions Trading System Activities in the Field of Maritime Transport

(1) The European Union Emissions Trading System shall be applied to the activities and greenhouse gases referred to in Part III of Annex 2 to this Law.

(2) The European Union Emissions Trading System, the allocation of allowances, and the application of surrender requirements in respect of maritime transport activities shall apply in respect of:

1) 50 per cent of the emissions from ships departing from a port of call under the jurisdiction of a Member State of the European Union Emissions Trading System and arriving at a port of call outside the jurisdiction of a Member State of the European Union Emissions Trading System;

2) 50 per cent of the emissions from ships departing from a port of call outside the jurisdiction of a Member State of the European Union Emissions Trading System and arriving at a port of call under the jurisdiction of a Member State of the European Union Emissions Trading System;

3) 100 per cent of emissions from ships departing from a port of call under the jurisdiction of a Member State of the European Union Emissions Trading System and arriving at a port of call under the jurisdiction of a Member State of the European Union Emissions Trading System;

4) 100 per cent of emissions from ships within a port of call under the jurisdiction of a Member State of the European Union Emissions Trading System.

(3) Latvia shall be the administering Member State of a shipping company if:

1) the shipping company is registered in Latvia;

2) the shipping company is not registered in Latvia but its ships account for the greatest number of port calls in Latvia from voyages performed in the past four years and corresponding to the voyages referred to in Paragraph two of this Section;

3) the shipping company is not registered in a European Union Member State, and its ships did not carry out any voyage falling within the scope set out in Paragraph one of this Section in the preceding four monitoring years, and the ship of the shipping company has started or ended in Latvia its first voyage falling within the scope referred to in Paragraph one of this Section;

4) the shipping company has been included in the Commission Implementing Decision on the list of shipping companies specifying the administering Member States of the shipping companies.

(4) If the ultimate responsibility for the purchase of the fuel or the operation of the ship, or both, is assumed by an entity other than the shipping company according to a contractual arrangement, the shipping company is entitled to reimbursement from that entity for the costs arising from the surrender of allowances.

(5) The Cabinet shall determine the amount of emission allowances to be surrendered and the derogations from the surrender obligation of shipping companies in accordance with Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph four of this Law.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.²³ Monitoring and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Maritime Transport

(1) A shipping company has the obligation to regularly control the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, while a shipping company that is subject to Section 32.²², Paragraph one of this Law additionally has the obligation to ensure continuous participation in the European Union Emissions Trading System and the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from its activities, and also provide information to the competent authorities.

(2) The shipping company shall submit the documents and information to the State Environmental Service in accordance with Article 6(6) and (7), Article 7(4), Article 11(1)(2), Article 11(2), and Article 11a(2) of Regulation No 2015/757.

(3) The State Environmental Service shall approve the monitoring plan submitted by the shipping company or the modifications thereof in accordance with the procedures laid down in Regulation No 2015/757.

(4) The verifier shall, in accordance with Article 17(4) of Regulation No 2015/757, inform the State Environmental Service and valsts sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Jūras administrācija" [State limited liability company Latvian Maritime Administration] of the issuance of a document of compliance.

(5) The Ministry of Climate and Energy, the State limited liability company Latvian Maritime Administration, and the State Environmental Service shall, within the scope of their competence, supervise and control the compliance with the requirements laid down for the shipping company in Regulation No 2015/757.

(6) The Cabinet shall provide for the conditions and procedures by which it approves aggregated emissions data at the shipping company level which are submitted to the State Environmental Service in accordance with Paragraph two of this Section.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.²⁴ List of Installations Covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System for the Free Allocation of Emission Allowances

(1) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall develop a list of installations covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System for each five-year cycle of the ten-year period of the European Union Emissions Trading System referred to in Section 32.¹⁸, Paragraph four of this Law. The list of installations covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System shall be approved by the Cabinet after agreement with the European Commission.

(2) The list of installations shall include installations for which a greenhouse gas emission permit has been issued. The list of installations shall include information on the activities of installations, the transfer of heat and gasses, electricity production, and greenhouse gas emissions at the sub-installation level for five consecutive calendar years preceding the submission of the list of installations to the European Commission. The annual free allocation of emission allowances to the operators shall be determined in the list of installations.

(3) The list of installations shall be developed in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/331 of 19 December 2018 determining transitional Union-wide rules for harmonised free allocation of emission allowances pursuant to Article 10a of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.

(4) In order to prepare the list of installations for each five-year cycle of the ten-year period referred to in Section 32.¹⁸, Paragraph four of this Law, the operator shall, in accordance with the request of the Ministry of Climate and Energy and the directly applicable European Union legal acts governing the allocation of emission allowances, submit to the State Environmental Service complete and verified information and data which are necessary to determine the amount of free allocation of emission allowances to the relevant installation.

(5) The State Environmental Service shall take the decision to approve the submitted information referred to in Paragraph four of this Section.

(6) The State Environmental Service shall submit the approved information to the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

(7) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, every five years, submit to the European Commission the list of installations covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System which has been approved by the Cabinet.

(8) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures, by which:

1) the operators prepare and submit information for the development of the list of installations;

2) the operators whose have the obligation to conduct the initial or regular energy audit of the company or to implement a certified or re-certified energy management system or an enhanced environmental management system submit information on the implementation of recommendations for energy-efficiency improvement;

3) the operators submit a climate-neutrality plan for the activities of an installation;

4) free emission allowances are to be allocated to the installations in sectors and subsectors, insofar as they are covered by measures aimed at preventing carbon leakage, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/956 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism (hereinafter - Regulation No 2023/956);

5) the list of installations shall be developed, the amount of free emission allowances to be allocated to the operator shall be calculated, and the allocation and return of those free emission allowances shall be ensured;

6) the amount of free emission allowances to be allocated to the aircraft operator shall be calculated, and the allocation and return of those free emission allowances shall be ensured;

7) the list of installations covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System shall be approved for each five-year cycle of the ten-year period of the European Union Emissions Trading System referred to in Section 32.¹⁸, Paragraph four of this Law;

8) the Ministry of Climate and Energy takes the decision to revoke the free allocation of emission allowances to the operator and exclude the installation from the European Union Emissions Trading System;

9) exchange of information within the European Union Emissions Trading System takes place, i.e. submissions for the free allocation of emission allowances are submitted and information is submitted to the European Commission.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.²⁵ Aviation Allocation Table and Free Allocation of Aviation Emission Allowances

(1) Each aircraft operator whose administering Member State is Latvia and who performs the flights referred to in Section 32.²⁰, Paragraph two of this Section may apply for the free allocation of emission allowances.

(2) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, after assessing public opinion and taking into account the decision adopted by the European Commission and any amendments thereto regarding the total number of allowances to be allocated to aircraft operators, and not later than within three months after the European Commission has notified the Ministry of Climate and Energy of the decision of the European Commission on the aviation allocation table or amendments thereto, take the decision on the allocation of emission allowances to the aircraft operator whose administering Member State is Latvia.

(3) The State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre shall, by 30 June each year, allocate the emission allowances by the accounts of aircraft operators in the Emissions Unit Register in conformity with the aviation allocation table approved by the European Commission, the decisions of the Ministry of Climate and Energy, and the directly applicable legal acts of the European Union governing the allocation and auctions of emission allowances.

(4) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures, by which:

1) the aircraft operator prepares and submits information to the Civil Aviation Agency for the development of the aviation allocation table;

2) the amount of emission allowances for all aircraft operators is to be determined.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.²⁶ Free Allocation of Emission Allowances to the Operators

(1) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, taking into account the list of installations approved by the European Commission, the amendments thereto, and the laws and regulations governing the allocation of emission allowances, and also assessing public opinion, and not later than within two months after the European Commission has notified the Ministry of Climate and Energy of the decision of the European Commission on the list of installations or amendments thereto, take the decision on the free allocation of emission allowances to the operator included in the list of installations covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System.

(2) The State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre shall, by 30 June each year, allocate the emission allowances by the accounts of operators in the Emissions Unit Register in conformity with the list of installations approved by the European Commission, the decisions of the Ministry of Climate and Energy, and the directly applicable legal acts of the European Union governing the allocation and auctioning of emission allowances.

(3) The Cabinet shall determine the following:

1) the procedures by which the operator of a new installation prepares and submits a submission for the free allocation of emission allowances;

2) the conditions for adjusting the amount of free emission allowances to be allocated to the operator and for taking decisions.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.²⁷ Activities with Allowances

(1) The holder of an emission allowance may be any natural or legal person (hereinafter - the person). The person holding an emission allowance may, without restriction, transfer it to another person and perform other operations involving emission allowances, as specified in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1122 of 12 March 2019 supplementing Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the functioning of the Union Registry.

(2) The validity of an emission allowance shall depend on its issuance period:

1) emission allowances issued from 1 January 2013 onwards shall be valid indefinitely;

2) emission allowances issued within the period specified in Section 32.¹⁸, Paragraph four of this Law shall be valid indefinitely, and they shall include an indication showing in which ten-year period of the European Union Emissions Trading System they have been issued. Such emission allowances shall be valid for the surrendering of emission allowances for such amount of emissions which has been generated starting from the first year of the abovementioned period.

(3) Emission allowances issued by the competent authority of a Member State of the European Union or another country shall also be valid for surrendering the emission allowances in Latvia, if the emission allowances issued by the relevant country have been recognised by the European Commission.

(4) The operator or aircraft operator who is subject to Section 32.²¹, Paragraph one of this Law or the shipping company shall, by 31 March every year, enter data on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the installation, aircraft, or the shipping company in the preceding calender year in the Emissions Unit Register and shall, by 30 September each year, surrender the emission allowances corresponding to the amount of entered emission data by transferring them from its account in the Emissions Unit Register to the Union allowance deletion account and concurrently ensuring the deletion of those emission allowances from the Emissions Unit Register.

(5) The obligation to surrender emission allowances shall not apply to the amount of carbon dioxide which is captured and:

1) chemically bound in the product, preventing the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere during the usual product service life, meaning any way in which the end user, taking into account the product properties, would usually use it, including after any usual product recycling or storage process that takes place after the product service life; or

2) transported to a permanent storage site the operator of which holds a licence in accordance with the law On Subterranean Depths.

(6) Upon request of the owner of emission allowances, the State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, as the national administrator, shall delete the relevant number of allowances in the Emissions Unit Register.

(7) Latvia shall auction emission allowances that are not subject to free allocation operators, aircraft operators, and shipping companies and are not placed in the market stability reserve.

(8) [Paragraph shall come into force on 1 January 2027 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2027 / See Paragraph 77 of Transitional Provisions]

[9 October 2025 / Paragraphs seven and eight shall be repealed concurrently with the coming into force of the Economic Sustainability Law. See Paragraph 83 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 32.²⁸ Use of Financial Resources from Transactions Involving Free Emission Allowances

(1) The free allocation of emission allowances, and also the activities performed with emission allowances shall be recorded in accordance with the laws and regulations governing accounting.

(2) An operator or an aircraft operator which obtains financial resources from transactions involving free emission allowances allocated thereto shall use the relevant financial resources to compensate for the measures previously taken or planned for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including the following measures for:

1) replacing the installation or parts thereof used in its operation so that the installation could use renewable energy resources, electricity, or such raw materials that reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions of the relevant operator;

2) upgrading an aircraft used for the operation of the installation or replacing the aircraft with a more effective one, including one capable of using fuel produced from renewable energy resources;

3) improving energy efficiency of the installation or building used in its operation;

4) improving energy efficiency of heating supply and power supply systems used in its operation and energy efficiency of end users, expanding the centralised heating supply systems, and connecting new end users to the centralised heating supply system;

5) installing and using a new installation that uses renewable energy resources to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions of the country;

6) implementing nature-based solutions to achieve climate targets.

(3) The State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre shall, upon request, provide the Ministry of Climate and Energy with information on transactions performed by the operator and the aircraft operator involving emission allowances other than the surrender of emission allowances referred to in Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph four of this Law.

(4) At the end of the five-year cycle of the ten-year period of the European Union Emissions Trading System referred to in Section 32.¹⁸, Paragraph four of this Law, the Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, taking into account the information provided by the operator and the aircraft operator, verify the measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions implemented by the operator and the aircraft operator which have been financed from the financial resources obtained by the operator and the aircraft operator from transactions involving free emission allowances allocated thereto, and also the compliance of the use of those financial resources with the conditions referred to in Paragraph two of this Section.

(5) If, during the verification referred to in Paragraph four of this Section, it is established that the financial resources have not been used in accordance with the conditions of this Law, the Ministry of Climate and Energy shall take the decision on the obligation of the operator and the aircraft operator to implement the measures referred to in Paragraph two of this Section within three years in such financial amount which corresponds to the income from transactions involving the allocated free emission allowances.

(6) If the decision referred to in Paragraph five of this Section is not implemented or is implemented only partially, the Ministry of Climate and Energy shall take the decision on the obligation of the operator and the aircraft operator to return the financial resources that have been obtained from transactions of the operator and the aircraft operator involving free emission allowances allocated thereto and have not been used in accordance with the conditions of this Law and to transfer them into the State basic budget account opened in the Treasury according to the classification of revenue of the State budget. The abovementioned financial resources shall be used within the scope of the Emission Allowance Auction Instrument in accordance with the Economic Sustainability Law.

(7) The requirements laid down in this Law regarding the use of financial resources obtained from transactions shall also apply to an operator and an aircraft operator that withdraws from the European Union Emissions Trading System.

(8) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for calculating the unused financial resources referred to in Paragraph six of this Section.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.²⁹ Emissions Unit Register

(1) In the Emissions Unit Register emission allowances, annual emission allocation units, removal units, managed forest land flexibility units, Kyoto units, and units under the Paris Agreement shall be recorded, their transfer, surrender, replacement, revocation, and deletion procedures shall be carried out, and information on the ownership of emission allowances held in electronic accounts shall be registered.

(2) Latvian State accounts, Latvian operator accounts, Latvian aircraft operator accounts, Latvian shipping company accounts, and Emissions Unit Register accounts under Latvian jurisdiction shall be administered by the State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre as the national administrator.

(3) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures, by which:

1) activities in the Emissions Unit Register, including activities with Emissions Unit Register accounts, activities with emission allowances and Kyoto units are performed and an account holder, authorised representative, or additional authorised representative of the account is determined;

2) activities in the Emissions Unit Register are supervised, the Emissions Unit Register is accessed, and co-operation with other institutions for ensuring supervision and control is ensured;

3) other institutions and the public are provided with information on activities in the Emissions Unit Register, including on transfers carried out;

4) the fee for the service provided by the State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre as the national administrator, i.e. the administration of Emissions Unit Register accounts, is approved.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.³⁰ Failure to Comply with the Obligation to Surrender the Emission Allowances

(1) The State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre shall, by 10 October each year, aggregate information on operators, aircraft operators, and shipping companies which have not surrendered the emission allowances referred to in Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph four of this Law within the specified period or have not surrendered them in the specified quantity.

(2) The State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre shall, by 1 December each year:

1) inform the State Environmental Service of operators, aircraft operators, or shipping companies which have not surrendered the emission allowances within the specified period or have not surrendered them in the specified quantity, and also indicate the number of emission allowances not surrendered by each operator, aircraft operator, or shipping company;

2) publish the list of those operators, aircraft operators, or shipping companies on its website which have not surrendered the emission allowances within the specified period or have not surrendered them in the specified quantity.

(3) If, after receiving the information referred to in Paragraph two of this Section, the State Environmental Service establishes that the operator, aircraft operator, or shipping company has not surrendered the emission allowances referred to in Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph four of this Law within the specified period or has not surrendered them in the specified quantity, it shall take the decision imposing the following obligations on the operator, aircraft operator, or shipping company:

1) to surrender such quantity of allowances which covers the quantity of allowances not surrendered;

2) to make a payment for not surrendering the allowances referred to in Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph four of this Law within the specified time period or in the specified quantity.

(4) The State Environmental Service shall, by 1 September each year, publish the rate of the payment referred to in Paragraph three, Clause 2 of this Section per emitted tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent. Upon calculating the abovementioned rate, the following conditions shall be conformed to:

1) the base rate of the payment shall be EUR 100 per each emitted tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent for which no emission allowances have been surrendered;

2) the payment rate is increased, taking into account the information on the European Consumer Price Index available on the website of the Statistical Office of the European Union.

(5) After receiving the decision of the State Environmental Service, the operator, aircraft operator, or shipping company referred to in Paragraph three of this Section shall, by 15 February of the following year, pay the amount calculated in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Section into the budget account indicated by the State Environmental Service. If the payment is not made within that period or is not made in full, the State Environmental Service has the right to recover the relevant amount.

(6) The operator, aircraft operator, or shipping company may contest the decision of the State Environmental Service referred to in Paragraph three of this Section in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law by submitting the relevant submission to the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

[9 October 2025 / Section in relation to a fuel and heating fuel operator shall be applied from 1 January 2028. See Paragraph 76 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 32.³¹ Report on the Implementation of the Conditions of the European Union Emissions Trading System

The State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre shall, in respect of reporting on the implementation of the conditions of the European Union Emissions Trading System:

1) co-ordinate the collection of the necessary information for the report on the introduction and implementation of the European Union Emissions Trading System in accordance with the directly applicable European Union legal acts governing emission allowances;

2) taking into account the information referred to in Clause 1 of this Section, prepare the report, harmonise it with the Ministry of Climate and Energy, the State Environmental Service, the State Revenue Service, the Civil Aviation Agency, and the Latvian National Accreditation Institution and shall, by 30 June each year, upload it to the central data repository of the European Environmental Agency, and also publish it on its website.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.³² Public Participation in the Monitoring and Reporting of the European Union Emissions Trading System Activities and the Free Allocation of Emission Allowances

(1) Prior to issuing the greenhouse gas emission permit, the State Environmental Service shall electronically send to the relevant local government, the Ministry of Climate and Energy, and the State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre as the national administrator the address of the website on which the submission for obtaining or amending the greenhouse gas emission permit is available and shall review the proposals submitted by them.

(2) The State Environmental Service shall ensure that the information in its possession is available to the public. The information shall be necessary for participation in decision-making relating to the issuance of the greenhouse gas emission permit, the conditions of the issued greenhouse gas emission permit, and the information on monitoring and control results.

(3) If the submission for obtaining or amending the greenhouse gas emission permit or the greenhouse gas emission permit itself contains information which, in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the access to information, is classified as restricted access information, the State Environmental Service shall not publish the relevant information. This provision shall not apply to information on greenhouse gas emission.

(4) Information on greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the European Union Emissions Trading System activities carried out by the operator and the aircraft operator shall be made available to the public. The annual activity level report shall be available to the control authorities.

(5) The list of installations and the decisions and draft decisions of the Ministry of Climate and Energy on the free allocation of emission allowances or amendment of the allocation of emission allowances to operators and aircraft operators shall be available to the public on the website of the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

(6) Decisions on the free allocation of emission allowances to aircraft operators shall also be published on the website of the Civil Aviation Agency.

(7) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall ascertain the public opinion on the developed draft plan for the free allocation of emission allowances and the draft decision on the allocation of emission allowances, providing the opportunity to submit proposals for not less than 30 days after the relevant draft has been published on the website of the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

(8) The conditions of greenhouse gas emission permits, as well as information regarding the results of monitoring and inspection shall be available for the public.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.³³ Contesting of a Greenhouse Gas Emission Permit, a Decision on a Greenhouse Gas Emission Permit, and Reports

(1) A person who may be affected by a decision of the State Environmental Service on a greenhouse gas emission permit, the amendments thereto, and classification of information may contest that decision in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law by submitting a relevant submission to the State Environmental Service.

(2) Any person may apply to the State Environmental Service with a submission also when the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations in relation to the right of public participation or the right to environmental information have not been conformed to. The submission may be submitted during the whole of the decision-making process or within one month from the day the decision of the State Environmental Service enters into effect.

(3) The decision of the State Environmental Service on the annual emission report or annual activity level report submitted by an operator may be contested in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law by submitting a relevant submission to the State Environmental Service.

(4) The decision of the Civil Aviation Agency on the annual emission report submitted by an aircraft operator may be contested in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law by submitting a relevant submission to the Ministry of Transport.

(5) The decision taken by the State Environmental Service and the Ministry of Transport may be contested to a court in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law.

(6) Contesting and appeal of the decisions referred to in Paragraphs one, three, four, and five of this Section shall not suspend their operation.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.³⁴ Additional Activities of the Civil Aviation Agency in Respect of Aircraft Operators

If an aircraft operator fails to fulfil the obligations specified in this Law, the Civil Aviation Agency may submit to the European Commission or the Ministry of Transport (if the aircraft operator holds an operating licence issued by the Ministry of Transport) a request to take the decision prohibiting the operation of the relevant aircraft operator. If the European Commission has taken the decision upon request of Latvia or any other European Union Member State, the Civil Aviation Agency shall inform the European Commission of all measures performed in order to implement such decision.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.³⁵ Additional Sanctions for Shipping Companies

(1) If a shipping company has failed to surrender the emission allowances referred to in Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph four of this Law within the specified period for two or more consecutive years and the enforcement measures referred to in Section 32.³⁰, Paragraphs two, three, and four of this Law have failed to ensure the fulfilment of these obligations, the State Environmental Service may, after giving the opportunity to the shipping company to provide explanations, issue an order for the expulsion of the shipping company from a Latvian port or anchorage until the shipping company has surrendered the emission allowances referred to in Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph four of this Law. The State Environmental Service shall, within one working day, send a notification of the decision taken to the Latvian Naval Flotilla Coast Guard Service of the National Armed Forces, the Maritime Safety Inspectorate of State limited liability company Latvian Maritime Administration (hereinafter - the Maritime Safety Inspectorate), the European Commission, the European Maritime Safety Agency, other European Union Member States, and the flag State of the relevant ship.

(2) If a ship has been expelled from a Latvian port or anchorage or a port or anchorage of another European Union Member State for failing to meet the requirements regarding the surrender of greenhouse gas emission allowances, the ship is prohibited from entering Latvian ports and anchorages. The decision on the expulsion and detention of ships shall be enforced by the Naval Units of the National Armed Forces which perform coast guard functions in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

(3) If a shipping company which manages ships flying the flag of Latvia and whose ships enter or are found in one of Latvian ports has failed to surrender the emission allowances referred to in Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph four of this Law within the specified period for two or more consecutive years and the enforcement measures referred to in Section 32.³⁰, Paragraphs two, three, and four of this Law have failed to ensure the fulfilment of these obligations, the State Environmental Service may, after giving the opportunity to the shipping company to provide explanations and after agreement with the Maritime Safety Inspectorate, take the decision on the detention of the ship until the shipping company has surrendered the emission allowances referred to in Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph four of this Law. The State Environmental Service shall, within one working day, notify the Maritime Safety Inspectorate of the decision taken, requesting to issue a flag State ship detention order until the shipping company has surrendered the allowances. The Maritime Safety Inspectorate shall, within one working day, communicate the issued flag State ship detention order to the ship master and its shipping company, the State Environmental Service, the Latvian Naval Flotilla Coast Guard Service of the National Armed Forces, the European Commission, the European Maritime Safety Agency, and other European Union Member States.

(4) The provisions referred o in this Section shall be without prejudice to international maritime rules applicable in the case of ships in distress.

(5) A shipping company may contest the decision on the expulsion of a ship from a Latvian port or anchorage and the decision on the detention of the ship taken by the State Environmental Service in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law by submitting a relevant submission to the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

(6) Contesting of the decision referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall not suspend its operation.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.³⁶ Implementation of a Global Market-based Measure of the International Civil Aviation Organisation

(1) Aircraft operators who meet the conditions of Article 1 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1603 of 18 July 2019 supplementing Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards measures adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation for the monitoring, reporting and verification of aviation emissions for the purpose of implementing a global market-based measure shall, by 15 March each year and in accordance with the requirements laid down in this Regulation, carry out monitoring, reporting, and verification and report on emissions from the flights referred to in Article 2 of this Regulation, including flights between aerodromes located in two different third countries.

(2) The aircraft operator shall submit the verified report referred to in Paragraph one of this Section to the Civil Aviation Agency for assessment and for taking a decision on the approval or rejection of the report.

(3) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for ensuring participation in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.

[9 October 2025]

Section 32.³⁷ Competent Authority under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

(1) The State Revenue Service shall be the competent authority within the meaning of Article 11(1) of Regulation No 2023/956/EU.

(2) The State Revenue Service shall impose the payments specified in Article 26 of Regulation No 2023/956 and Article 16 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1773 of 17 August 2023 laying down the rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2023/956 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards reporting obligations for the purposes of the carbon border adjustment mechanism during the transitional period by issuing an administrative act.

(3) The rate specified in Article 26 of Regulation No 2023/956 shall be calculated in accordance with Section 32.³⁰, Paragraph four of this Law.

[9 October 2025]

Chapter VI
Ascertaining and Registration of Polluted and Potentially Polluted Sites

Section 33. Ascertaining and Initial Assessment of Polluted and Potentially Polluted Sites

(1) Polluted and potentially polluted sites in the relevant administrative territory shall be ascertained and initially assessed by the local government in co-operation with the State Environmental Service.

(2) The Ministry of Defence shall ascertain and initially assess the polluted territories in its possession and notify the relevant local government and the State Environmental Service thereof.

(3) The methods and procedures for the ascertaining of polluted and potentially polluted sites, as well as the procedures for financing, the conditions for data collection and use shall be governed by the Cabinet.

(4) The results of ascertaining and initial assessment of polluted and potentially polluted sites shall be freely available to the public.

[12 April 2018]

Section 34. Registration of Polluted and Potentially Polluted Sites and Restrictions on Use of the Territories

(1) Polluted and potentially polluted sites shall be registered by the State Environmental Service in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet. The State Environmental Service shall register militarily polluted territories according to the opinion of the Ministry of Defence.

(2) After registration of a polluted site and receipt of an opinion of the State Environmental Service, the local government shall determine the restrictions on territorial planning, as well as the restrictions in respect of living in such territory and other use of such territory if it is necessary in order to protect human health or the environment. The Health Inspectorate shall determine the restrictions required to ensure human health protection.

(3) Restrictions shall be determined, taking into account the level of danger of polluting substances, the possible effect on people living in the surrounding territories, the environmental quality of such territories, and the necessity to take remediation measures in the future.

(4) The Ministry of Defence shall submit proposals on determination of relevant restrictions on militarily polluted territories which are not in its possession and determine the restrictions on territories which are in its possession.

(5) The institution which has determined the restrictions shall revoke them if such restrictions are no longer necessary for the protection of human health or the environment and an opinion from the responsible institution has been received.

(6) The institution which has determined the restrictions referred to in this Section shall notify other institutions and natural persons and legal persons to whom such restrictions apply regarding the restrictions or regarding the revocation thereof.

[20 June 2002; 18 December 2003; 25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 12 April 2018]

Section 35. Information Regarding Polluted or Potentially Polluted Sites

(1) The owner or user of land which contains a polluted site, the operator and other natural persons or legal persons, if they have information at their disposal regarding polluted or potentially polluted sites that have not been ascertained and registered in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law and other laws and regulations must submit such information to the State Environmental Service or local government.

(2) If a polluted or potentially polluted site may pose a threat to human health or the environment, the State Environmental Service shall notify the relevant local government, other institutions, as well as natural persons and legal persons, taking into account the specific circumstances of each case.

(3) If explosive items, materials, or toxic or otherwise hazardous substances used for military purposes are located or, according to unverified information, may be located in a polluted or potentially polluted site, the local government or the State Environmental Service shall notify the Ministry of Defence thereof to receive an opinion.

(4) The owner or user of land has an obligation to inform the possible successors in interest or obligations regarding the polluted or potentially polluted sites in the relevant property or territory in use, and its vicinity.

(5) The State Environmental Service shall compile data on polluted and potentially polluted sites in the State.

[27 January 2005; 10 December 2009; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Chapter VII
Investigation of Polluted and Potentially Polluted Sites and Remediation of Polluted Sites

Section 36. Objective of and Preconditions for an Investigation

(1) The objective of an investigation is to determine whether environmental quality requirements have been exceeded and whether the pollution endangers or may endanger human health or the environment.

(2) Before the State Environmental Service commences an investigation, it must have information at its disposal that the relevant territory is polluted or potentially polluted.

[12 April 2018]

Section 37. Preconditions and Measures for Remediation of Polluted Sites

(1) Remediation of polluted sites shall be performed if:

1) the limit values of the environmental quality requirements have been exceeded;

2) the pollution may endanger human health or the environment.

(2) Remediation shall include measures to be performed in order to:

1) prevent the spreading of the pollution or its penetration into underground waters;

2) restore or improve the environmental quality in a polluted site.

Section 38. Persons who Cover Expenses Related to Investigation and Remediation Measures

(1) Expenses related to investigation and remediation measures shall be covered by:

1) the operator who has performed a polluting activity due to which a polluted or potentially polluted site has been created;

2) the operator who performs or has intended to perform a polluting activity at a polluted or potentially polluted site;

3) the land owner who has had a decisive influence in an undertaking which has performed a polluting activity due to which a polluted or potentially polluted territory in the land property owned by such owner has been created;

3¹) the land owner if the land has been acquired in ownership after the registration of the polluted site;

4) the owner or the user of the relevant land or installation who voluntarily undertakes to fully or partially cover such expenses.

(2) A land owner, if the conditions referred to in Paragraph one of this Section do not apply to him or her, shall cover the expenses related to remediation measures, if such measures are performed with his or her consent and the land value after implementation thereof increases and if the persons referred to in Paragraph one of this Section cannot cover the remediation measures in full.

[18 December 2003; 25 October 2007 / See Transitional Provisions]

Section 39. Joint-Responsibility of Persons in Covering Expenses Related to Investigation and Remediation

(1) If expenses related to the investigation or remediation are covered by several of the persons referred to in Section 38, Paragraph one, Clause 1 of this Law, the expenses shall be distributed in proportion to the harm caused to the environment by each person. Expenses shall be distributed, taking into account the quantity and type of emission, as well as the time when the polluting activity was performed. If it is impossible to distribute expenses, the persons referred to in Section 38, Paragraph one, Clause 1 of this Law shall be jointly and severally liable.

(2) The distribution of expenses shall be assessed by the State Environmental Service.

[12 April 2018]

Section 40. Institutions Responsible for Investigation and Remediation

(1) The State Environmental Service shall supervise and control the investigation and remediation of polluted or potentially polluted sites, except for the polluted and potentially polluted sites in the possession of the Ministry of Defence.

(2) The Ministry of Defence or its authorised institution shall supervise and control the investigation and remediation of polluted or potentially polluted sites in the possession of the Ministry of Defence.

(3) The State Environmental Service, the Ministry of Defence or its authorised institution (hereinafter - the responsible institution) shall co-operate with local governments, the State Land Service, the Ministry of Health, and other institutions involved in investigation and remediation.

[18 December 2003; 12 April 2018]

Section 41. Decision to Initiate an Investigation

(1) If information regarding a polluted or potentially polluted site which causes or may cause a threat to human health or the environment is at the disposal of the responsible institution, but there is not sufficient information for the assessment of such a threat, the responsible institution shall take a decision on the necessity of an investigation.

(2) If a decision on the necessity of an investigation has been taken, the responsible institution shall determine, in accordance with Section 38 of this Law, the persons who shall cover the expenses related to the investigation.

(3) If it is not possible to specify the persons who shall cover the expenses related to the investigation or to obtain the funds required for the investigation, the responsible authority shall determine the quantity of funds required and notify the Ministry of Climate and Energy or the Ministry of Defence of the territories in their possession.

(4) The Ministry of Climate and Energy or the Ministry of Defence shall consider the possibility of attracting funds from the State budget or other funds for the performance of an investigation.

(5) Upon determining the investigation and remediation methods, the pollution spreading risk shall be taken into account, moreover, the method chosen shall be economically substantiated so that its implementation does not cost more than it is necessary to reach the objective.

(6) If the funds required for an investigation have been provided, the responsible institution shall take a decision on initiation of the investigation.

[18 December 2003; 16 December 2010; 9 October 2025]

Section 42. Management of Investigation Process

(1) The responsible institution shall formulate the tasks of the investigation. The investigation shall be conducted by qualified natural or legal persons according to an agreement with the person who covers the expenses related to the investigation, or with the responsible institution and on the basis of the tasks of the investigation.

(2) The tasks of the investigation shall indicate the possible investigation methods, parameters to be determined, precautionary measures to be conformed to in conducting the investigation, the timetable, monitoring, and the procedures by which information regarding the investigation shall be provided.

(3) The responsible institution shall instruct the performer of the investigation to develop an investigation programme in which the objective of the investigation, methods and precautionary measures to be conformed to in performing the investigation are indicated. The investigation programme shall be approved by the responsible institution.

Section 43. Decision to Initiate Remediation

(1) If information regarding a polluted site which causes or may cause a threat to human health or the environment is at the disposal of the responsible institution, the responsible institution shall take a decision on the necessity of remediation.

(2) If a decision on the necessity of remediation has been taken, the responsible institution shall, in accordance with Section 38 of this Law, determine the persons who shall cover the expenses related to remediation and the degree of liability of such persons.

(3) If it is not possible to specify the persons who shall cover the expenses related to remediation or to obtain the funds required for remediation, the responsible institution shall determine the quantity of funds required and notify the Ministry of Climate and Energy or the Ministry of Defence of the territories in their possession.

(4) The Ministry of Climate and Energy or the Ministry of Defence shall consider the possibility of attracting funds from the State budget or other funds for the performance of remediation.

(5) If the funds required for remediation have been provided, the responsible institution shall take a decision to initiate remediation.

[18 December 2003; 16 December 2010; 9 October 2025]

Section 44. Management of Remediation Process

(1) The responsible institution shall formulate the tasks of remediation (for each specific case). Remediation shall be performed by qualified natural persons or legal persons according to an agreement with the person covering the expenses related to remediation, or with the responsible institution, and on the basis of the tasks of remediation.

(2) The desirable results, possible remediation methods, the timetable, monitoring, and the procedures by which information regarding the remediation is to be provided shall be indicated in the tasks of remediation.

(3) The responsible institution shall instruct the performer of remediation to develop a remediation programme in which the objective of the remediation, the methods and precautionary measures to be conformed to in performing remediation, the specified time periods in which the performer of remediation shall inform the responsible institution regarding the remediation measures performed are indicated and which includes the intended monitoring after the end of the remediation work. The responsible institution shall approve the remediation programme.

(4) The performer of remediation after performance of the remediation measures shall submit to the responsible institution a report certifying that the remediation measures have been performed in conformity with the remediation tasks and programme.

(5) In order to ensure updating of information in the polluted site register, the responsible institution, on the basis of the report certifying that the remediation measures have been performed in conformity with the remediation tasks and programme, shall inform in writing the holder of the polluted site register specified in laws and regulations regarding the implementation of the remediation measures.

[25 October 2007]

Section 44.¹ Investigation of Territory Potentially Polluted and Polluted with Explosive Articles of Military Nature and with Unexploded Ammunition, as well as Remediation of Polluted Territory

(1) In order to protect the environment, human life and health, as well as the property of natural persons and legal persons from explosive articles of military nature and unexploded ammunition, the Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which investigation of territory potentially polluted and polluted with explosive articles of military nature and with unexploded ammunition shall be conducted, as well as the remediation of the polluted territory.

(2) Investigation of territory potentially polluted and polluted with explosive articles of military nature and with unexploded ammunition and the search, identification, removal, collection, and storage of unexploded ammunition shall be conducted by licensed merchants and certified specialists.

(3) The Ministry of Defence shall certify specialists who conduct the investigation of territories potentially polluted and polluted with explosive articles of military nature and with unexploded ammunition and the search, identification, removal, collection, and storage of unexploded ammunition.

(3¹) A natural person who conforms to the requirements of Paragraph five, Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of this Section and has passed a qualification examination of a specialist who conducts the investigation of territories potentially polluted and polluted with explosive articles of a military nature and with unexploded ammunition and the search, identification, removal, collection and storage of unexploded ammunition, is entitled to receive a certificate. The certificate shall be issued for the time period of five years.

(3²) The Ministry of Defence shall suspend the operation of the certificate if:

1) the person has provided false information for the receipt of the certificate;

2) the person does not comply with at least one of the requirements of Paragraph five, Clause 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 of this Section;

3) economic activity of the person has been suspended;

4) it is determined by another law or court ruling.

(3³) The operation of the certificate shall be cancelled, if a natural person, within four months from the day when the decision on suspension of operation of the certificate was taken, has not rectified the violations referred to in Paragraph 3.², Clauses 1 and 2 of this Section, the restrictions referred to in Paragraph 3.², Clauses 3 and 4 of this Section remain in effect or the violation cannot be rectified.

(3⁴) The Ministry of Defence shall, not less than once in three years, examine the conformity of the certified specialists with the requirements of Paragraph five of this Section.

(3⁵) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures, by which:

1) certificates shall be issued to natural persons who conduct the investigation of territories potentially polluted and polluted with explosive articles of military nature and with unexploded ammunition and the search, identification, removal, collection, and storage of unexploded ammunition, cancelled or their operation shall be suspended;

2) the qualification examination of a specialist who conducts the investigation of territories potentially polluted and polluted with explosive articles of military nature and with unexploded ammunition and the search, identification, removal, collection, and storage of unexploded ammunition shall be taken.

(4) The Ministry of Defence shall issue a licence to merchants for the investigation of territory potentially polluted and polluted with explosive articles of military nature and with unexploded ammunition and for the search, identification, removal, collection, and storage of unexploded ammunition (hereinafter - the licence). The procedures by which the licence shall be issued, cancelled or its operations shall be suspended, as well as regarding the amount of the State fee for payment for the issue of the licence shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(5) Individual merchants or commercial companies are entitled to receive the licence if State security institutions do not have information at their disposal regarding the fact that the activities of the relevant merchant are directed against the security of the Republic of Latvia or such merchant has violated the restrictions included in international agreements binding upon the Republic of Latvia or specified by international organisations, or violations of economic activity or labour law have been detected in relation to a court ruling in relation to the activities thereof which has entered into effect during the last year, or a decision (opinion) of another competent authority, and if the participants of merchants (natural persons), except for stockholders whose participation in the equity capital of a company is less than 10 per cent of the equity capital of the company, proctors, managers, persons who hold positions in administrative institutions, as well as employees (certified specialists) who are directly related to conducting of the abovementioned activities of such merchant comply with the following requirements:

1) are Latvian citizens or European Union Member State citizens, or citizens of the European Economic Area of at least 21 years of age;

2) have not been punished for the committing of a criminal offence;

3) no mental disturbance has been diagnosed for them;

4) no addition to alcohol, narcotic, psychotropic or toxic substances has been diagnosed for them;

5) within the last five years have not been administratively punished for violations committed under the influence of alcohol, narcotic, psychotropic or toxic substances;

6) the office of the public prosecutor or State security institutions do not have information which attests to their membership of prohibited militarised or armed groups, prohibited public organisations, parties or the unions thereof;

7) are not accused in criminal proceedings;

8) have not been released from criminal liability in accordance with Section 58 of The Criminal Law - not sooner than a year after entering into effect of the relevant decision;

9) have not been conditionally released from criminal liability in accordance with Section 58.¹ of the Criminal Law - sooner than expiration of the probationary period;

10) have not been released from punishment in accordance with Section 59 of the Criminal Law - sooner than a year after entering into effect of a ruling regarding release from punishment;

11) they have not been applied the status of a suspect in criminal proceedings for committing of a serious or especially serious crime;

12) the operation of the certificate has not been suspended.

(6) The licence shall be issued after payment of the State fee for an unspecified period of time. It shall be re-registered with the Ministry of Defence not less than once in three years.

(7) The Ministry of Defence shall suspend the operation of the licence if:

1) the merchant has provided false information for receiving of the licence;

2) the merchant in his or her activities has violated the conditions included in the licence or the requirements of this Law or other laws and regulations governing the activities specified in the licence;

3) the merchant or participants of the merchant (natural persons), except for stockholders whose participation in the equity capital of a company is less than 10 per cent of the equity capital of the company, proctors, managers, persons who hold positions in administrative institutions, as well as employees (certified specialists) who are directly related to the performance of the activities referred to in the licence, no longer conform to the requirements of Paragraph five of this Section;

4) the merchant has been declared insolvent by a court judgment or the economic activity thereof has been suspended;

5) on the basis of a court judgment or a decision (opinion) of another competent authority which has entered into effect, it has been detected that the merchant has violated the laws and regulations governing environmental protection, competition, tax or labour law within the last three years until examination of the relevant decision of the Ministry of Defence;

6) it is determined by another law or court ruling.

(8) The licence shall be cancelled, if the merchant has submitted a relevant submission or, within four months from the day when a decision to suspend the licence was taken, the merchant has not rectified the violations referred to in Paragraph seven of this Section, or if the violation cannot be rectified.

[25 October 2007; 14 July 2011; 31 January 2013]

Chapter VIII
Monitoring, Supervision and Control

Section 45. Monitoring Performed by an Operator

(1) An operator has the obligation to control the amount of emissions on a regular basis, to perform monitoring, and to provide information in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

(1¹) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for filling out, submitting, and inspection of the form of a report of monitoring performed by an operator.

(2) [12 April 2018]

(3) An operator shall carry out monitoring according to the permit which specifies the parameters to be determined, the sites of taking samples, the frequency and methods of measurements, the type of compilation and keeping of data. An operator of Category A polluting activity shall carry out monitoring of groundwater at least once every five years and soil monitoring - at least once every 10 years, unless it has been specified in the permit that, on the basis of a pollution hazard assessment, monitoring should be carried out more frequently.

(4) An operator shall inform relevant institutions without delay:

1) if threats to human life, health or the environment have arisen or may arise due to a polluting activity;

2) in the event of an accident or a threat thereof.

(5) Monitoring data and monitoring report shall be available to the issuer of the permit, control institutions, the relevant local government and the public.

(6) [12 April 2018 / See Paragraph 59 of Transitional Provisions]

(7) [9 October 2025]

(7¹) [9 October 2025]

(7²) [9 October 2025]

(8) [9 October 2025]

(9) [9 October 2025]

[18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 6 April 2006; 10 December 2009; 14 July 2011; 31 January 2013; 9 June 2016; 1 February 2018; 12 April 2018; 10 December 2020; 9 October 2025]

Section 45.¹ Monitoring of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Maritime Transport

[9 October 2025]

Section 46. Register of Polluting Substances

(1) Data from the monitoring performed by an operator shall be aggregated in the register of polluting substances.

(2) The State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre shall ensure the establishment of the register of polluting substances and public access to the information in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

[27 January 2005; 10 December 2009]

Section 47. Supervision

(1) The fulfilment of the requirements laid down in this Law shall be supervised by the Ministry of Climate and Energy and the State Environmental Service within the scope of their competence.

(2) The Ministry of Defence shall supervise the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in this Law in the militarily polluted and potentially polluted territories in its possession.

[9 October 2025]

Section 48. State Environmental Service

The State Environmental Service shall:

1) examine submissions regarding decisions of the State Environmental Service related to the issuance of permits and permit conditions, the investigation of polluted or potentially polluted sites, and covering or allocation of remediation and investigation or remediation expenditures;

2) in co-ordination with the Ministry of Climate and Energy, inform other states of submissions for obtaining permits in cases where a transfer of transboundary pollution is possible;

3) insert and update on the website thereof the guideline documents of the best available techniques published by the European Commission or the information published by international organisations regarding the best available techniques in the relevant area, the conclusions on the best available techniques, inform the State Environmental Service thereof, as well as provide consultations to operators in respect of this issue;

4) create, maintain, and update on the website thereof the information on the permits issued.

[18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 10 December 2009; 16 December 2010; 31 January 2013; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 49. Control of the Implementation of this Law

(1) In order to ensure the fulfilment and control of the requirements laid down in this Law, the State Environmental Service shall develop and the Director-general of the State Environmental Service shall approve an environmental inspection plan. Controls according to the environmental inspection plan shall be carried out by State environment inspectors. The State environment inspectors shall verify:

1) whether an operator has obtained the necessary permit, but if a Category C activity is performed - submitted a submission regarding such activity;

2) the conformity of a polluting activity with the requirements laid down in Chapter II of this Law;

3) the conformity with the permit conditions;

4) the conformity with the environmental quality requirements and the Cabinet regulations;

5) the fulfilment of the task of an investigation of polluted or potentially polluted sites, and tasks and programmes of remediation of polluted sites.

(1¹) The State Environmental Service shall publish the environmental inspection plan on the website thereof. The environmental inspection plan shall be updated not less than once every six months.

(1²) The environmental inspection plan shall cover:

1) a general assessment of the significant environmental issues;

2) a reference to the geographical area covered by the plan;

3) a register of installations covered by the plan;

4) the procedures for drawing up programmes for routine environmental inspections which provide for the time period between two inspections of an installation according to the environmental risk created by the installation: for installations posing the highest risks annual inspections shall be carried out, for installations posing the lowest risks inspections shall be carried out not less than once every three years;

5) extraordinary environmental inspection procedures, namely, procedures which are carried out within as short period of time as possible and, where necessary, before issuance, review, or renewal of a permit if complaints on severe non-conformity with the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations of environmental protection have been received or severe accidents, incidents, or other severe non-conformities in the field of environmental protection have been detected;

6) the provisions on the co-operation between different inspection authorities.

(1³) The State Environmental Service shall, within four months after carrying out of an inspection, post a report on the inspection results of installations on the website thereof.

(1⁴) Upon developing the environmental inspection plan and selecting installations for which regular inspections should be carried out, the following criteria shall be taken into account:

1) the possible and actual impact of the particular installation on human health and the environment, taking into account the emission caused by installation, the possibility of impact on the local environment, and the possible accident risk;

2) the conformity of the particular installation with the defined permit conditions;

3) participation of the operator in the eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) of the European Union in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), repealing Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Commission Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/EC.

(1⁵) The State Environmental Service shall, after each inspection of a Category A installation, draw up a report on the results of the inspection carried out and send it to the operator within two months after performance of the inspection, as well as post it on the website thereof within four months after performance of the inspection.

(1⁶) If during the inspection it is detected that the operator has failed to comply with the defined permit conditions, the State Environmental Service shall, within six months after performance of the relevant inspection, carry out additional visit on site, assessing whether the deficiencies are duly rectified.

(2) The Health Inspectorate shall control of the conformity with the noise limit values, as well as the relevant local government institutions which have been delegated the abovementioned function by the local government.

(3) [9 October 2025]

(4) [9 October 2025]

(5) If it is established that the requirements included in the binding regulations of the local government issued in accordance with Section 24.², Paragraph three of this Law, or the requirements included in Section 24.², Paragraph five of this Law are not conformed to, the State Environmental Service shall decide on the restriction of smells caused by the polluting activity.

[20 June 2002; 27 January 2005; 27 September 2007; 10 December 2009; 31 January 2013; 9 June 2016; 1 February 2018; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 49.¹ On Distribution of Competences

(1) The State Environmental Service shall fulfil the obligations of the competent authority and the contact person referred to in Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on ship recycling and amending Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 and Directive 2009/16/EC (hereinafter - Regulation No 1257/2013).

(2) The Ship Recycling Council is an advisory body which evaluates the conformity of the ship recycling plans and plans of ship recycling facilities referred to in Regulation No 1257/2013 with the requirements of this Regulation and the decisions of which are of recommendatory nature in the field of ship recycling conforming to the abovementioned Regulation. The Cabinet shall determine the institutions represented in the Ship Recycling Council and approve the by-laws of this Council.

(3) The Minister for Climate and Energy shall approve the personnel of the Ship Recycling Council.

[9 June 2016; 9 October 2025]

Chapter IX
Dispute Procedures

[20 June 2002]

Section 50. Dispute of Decisions

(1) An operator or natural person or legal person, also public organisation may contest to the State Environmental Service a decision taken by the State Environmental Service in relation to Category A or B permits for the performance of polluting activities within one month from the day of the decision entering into effect.

(2) Any person may apply to the State Environmental Service with a submission also when the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations in relation to the right of public participation or the right to environmental information have not been met. The submission may be submitted during the whole of the decision-making process or within one month from the day the decision of the State Environmental Service enters into effect.

(3) If according to the conditions of the Category A or B permit it is possible to initiate or continue such polluting activity which may have a substantial negative impact on human health or the environment, or the environmental quality objectives specified in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the field of environmental protection, as well as other requirements of laws and regulations, the conditions of the permit may be contested at any time while the relevant permit is in effect. Contesting of the decision shall not suspend the operation of the permit.

(4) If the decision is contested to the State Environmental Service within the time period specified in Paragraphs one and two of this Section, the operation of the relevant permit may be suspended until examination of the submission. If the suspension of the operation of the permit may cause a substantial negative environmental impact, the State Environmental Service shall take the decision not to suspend the operation of the permit.

(5) If a decision on operation of such already existing installation which requires the revision of the Category A or B permit or another type of permit is needed, is contested, the operation of the permit shall not be suspended. If as a result of revision of the Category A or B permit the operator is allowed to commence new polluting activity and the decision on commencement of such activity is contested in accordance with Paragraph one of this Section, the dispute of the decision shall suspend the permit as regards the part of the new polluting activity.

(6) A natural person or legal person whose health, security, or property may be affected by the decision taken by the State Environmental Service on the necessity for an investigation or remediation of a polluted or potentially polluted site or on covering the expenses of investigation or remediation may, within one month from the day when he or she became aware of taking the decision, contest such decision to the State Environmental Service.

(7) If, in accordance with Paragraph six of this Section, the decision of the State Environmental Service is contested, its implementation shall be suspended until examination of the submission. If the suspension of the operation of the decision may cause a substantial negative environmental impact, the State Environmental Service shall not suspend the operation of the decision.

(8) [9 October 2025]

(9) The decisions referred to in Paragraph eight of this Section which are taken without conforming to the right to public participation and the right to information specified in this Law, or taken without evaluating the proposals submitted by the public during the decision-making process may be contested by anyone.

(10) The decision to specify binding restrictive conditions on polluting activity, to suspend the operation of the installation, to partially renew the operation of the installation, or to refuse to renew the operation of the installation may be contested to the State Environmental Service within one month after entering into effect thereof. Contesting of the decision shall not suspend the operation thereof.

[18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Section 51. Examination of Submissions

(1) [10 December 2009]

(2) [10 December 2009]

(3) [10 December 2009]

(4) If the State Environmental Service concludes that, according to the Category A or B permit issued, it is possible to perform such polluting activity which may have a significant negative impact on human health or the environment or the requirements laid down in this Law and other laws and regulations have not been taken into account, the State Environmental Service shall take the decision to revoke the decision of the State Environmental Service to issue the relevant permit or to revoke part of the conditions of the permit, or to instruct the State Environmental Service to change part of the conditions of the permit, to supplement the conditions of the permit, or to issue a permit with different content.

(4¹) In the case of a violation of the right of public participation, the State Environmental Service shall require that the violation is rectified within the specified time period and until the violation has been rectified shall suspend the decision-making process of the State Environmental Service or, if the decision has already been taken, shall decide on the necessity to revoke the decision or suspend it until the violation is rectified and send its decision to the submitter, operator, and the State Environmental Service.

(5) A decision taken by the State Environmental Service may be appealed to a court in accordance with the procedures laid down in law. An application to a court shall not suspend the operation of the administrative act.

[20 June 2002; 18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 10 December 2009; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

Chapter X
Conditions in Relation to the Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Latvia and Removal of Carbon Dioxide

[9 June 2016 / Chapter shall be repealed concurrently with the coming into force of the Economic Sustainability Law. See Paragraph 83 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 52. Fulfilment of the Obligations of Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removal of Carbon Dioxide

(1) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, in co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, and other sectoral ministries, develop the policy for the fulfilment of climate change reduction commitments - greenhouse gas emissions reduction and removal of carbon dioxide - according to the commitment fulfilment periods and co-ordinate the implementation of the relevant policy.

(2) In order to ensure the development of the policy referred to in Paragraph one of this Section and co-ordinate its implementation, the Ministry of Climate and Energy shall establish an interinstitutional working group. The working group shall include representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, and other sectoral ministries, as well as of the Interdepartmental Co-ordination Centre.

(3) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, every year in co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, and other sectoral ministries and after submission of the reports referred to in Article 18(1) and Article 26(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, amending Regulations (EC) No 663/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 2009/119/EC and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (hereinafter - Regulation No 2018/1999), prepare and submit to the Cabinet, by 31 December, the informative report on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the fulfilment of the commitments in relation to removal of carbon dioxide. The following shall be included in the abovementioned informative report:

1) evaluation of the fulfilment of the commitments related to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and removal of carbon dioxide;

2) if necessary, proposals regarding additional measures for the fulfilment of the commitments related to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and removal of carbon dioxide, corresponding to the sectoral policy planning documents for the relevant period which are cost-efficient and have been evaluated from the socio-economic point of view.

[14 July 2022; 8 March 2023; 9 October 2025]

Section 53. Monitoring and Control of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removal of Carbon Dioxide, as well as Reporting Thereon

(1) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, in accordance with Regulation No 2018/1999 and the decisions taken by the Parties to the Convention, the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, upon co-operation with the relevant sectoral ministries, institutions, and merchants:

1) monitor greenhouse gas emissions and removal of carbon dioxide for the activities referred to in Annexes 2 and 4 to this Law;

2) prepare and submit regular reports to the European Commission and the Secretariat of the Convention on greenhouse gas emissions and removal of carbon dioxide;

3) prepare and submit other data, information, and reports specified in Regulation No 2018/1999 to the European Commission and the Secretariat of the Convention.

(2) The Cabinet shall:

1) determine the procedures by which reporting systems for the greenhouse gas inventories, projections, and adaptation to climate change are established and maintained;

2) determine the methodology by which a unified estimate of greenhouse gas emissions is to be performed, assessing the impact of measures and projects on climate changes (except for the supervision of greenhouse gas emissions referred to in Section 53, Paragraph one of this Law and for monitoring of the emissions quantity of an operator or aircraft operator referred to in Section 45, Paragraph one of this Law).

[14 July 2022; 8 March 2023]

Section 54. Annual Emission Allocation and Annual Emission Allocation Units

(1) The annual emission allocation to Latvia shall be granted in annual emission allocation units.

(2) The annual emission allocation units and the Kyoto units granted to Latvia may be used for the fulfilment of the greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments.

(3) The annual emission allocation units are the State property the legal possessor of which is the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

(4) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall develop and the Cabinet shall approve a long-term strategy for action with annual emission allocation units and also, if necessary, amend the long-term strategy.

(5) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall, within five months after submitting the approximated greenhouse gas inventories referred to in Article 26(2) of Regulation No 2018/1999 and in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Transport, and other sectoral ministries, prepare information on the possibilities of Latvia to carry out transactions with the annual emission allocation units and Kyoto units owned by the State and submit it to the Cabinet which shall take the decision on actions with the annual emission allocation units and Kyoto units.

(6) The Ministry of Climate and Energy shall conduct negotiations regarding transactions with the annual emission allocation units and Kyoto units and prepare a draft contract.

(7) The financial resources from transactions with annual emission allocation units shall be transferred into the account referred to in Section 32.², Paragraph 3.¹ of this Law and utilised in accordance with the conditions of this Law in relation to the use of revenue from auctions.

[14 July 2022; 8 March 2023]

Chapter XI
Conditions for a Fuel Supplier in Respect of Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Transport Energy

[10 December 2020 / See Paragraph 68 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 55. Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Transport Energy and Submission of a Report of a Fuel Supplier

[10 December 2020 / See Paragraph 68 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 56. Ensuring Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Transport Energy

[10 December 2020 / See Paragraph 68 of Transitional Provisions]

Chapter XII
Administrative Offences in the Field of Pollution and Competence in Administrative Offence Proceedings

[11 June 2020 / Chapter shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 67 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 57. Administrative Liability in the Field of Environmental Noise and Radiation of Electromagnetic Field

For exceeding the permissible limit value of environmental noise or radiation of electromagnetic field, a warning or a fine from six to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from fourteen to one hundred and forty units of fine - on a legal person.

[11 June 2020 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 67 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 58. Administrative Liability for Failure to Notify of an Accident or Threats of an Accident, when Performing a Polluting Activity

For failure to notify of an accident or threats of an accident, when performing a polluting activity, a fine from twenty-eight to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from seventy to one hundred and forty units of fine - on a legal person.

[11 June 2020 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 67 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 59. Administrative Liability in the Field of the Pollution Caused by Agricultural Activities

(1) For failure to conform to the documentation requirements in the use of fertilisers in agricultural activities, a warning or a fine from three to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from six to fifty-six units of fine - on a legal person.

(2) For offences in relation to the use of fertilisers, a fine from six to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from fourteen to two hundred and eighty units of fine - on a legal person.

[11 June 2020 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 67 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 60. Administrative Liability in the Field of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

[9 October 2025]

Section 61. Administrative Liability in the Field of Environmental Pollution

For environmental pollution, a warning or a fine from fourteen to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from seventy to five hundred and eighty units of fine - on a legal person.

[11 June 2020 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 67 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 62. Administrative Liability in the Field of Polluting Activities

(1) For the performance of Category C polluting activity without notification thereof, a warning or a fine from ten to forty units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from fourteen to seventy units of fine - on a legal person.

(2) For the performance of Category C polluting activity without conforming to the requirements laid down in laws and regulations, a warning or a fine from six to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from fourteen to two hundred and eighty units of fine - on a legal person.

(3) For the performance of Category B polluting activity without conforming to the requirements for the prevention or reduction of pollution, or performance of the monitoring of polluting activities, a warning or a fine from twenty-eight to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from fifty-six to two hundred and eighty units of fine - on a legal person.

(4) For the performance of Category A polluting activity without conforming to the requirements for the prevention or reduction of pollution, or performance of the monitoring of polluting activity, a fine from fifty-six to one hundred and one hundred and twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from one hundred and fourteen to four hundred and twenty units of fine - on a legal person.

(5) For the performance of Category B polluting activity without obtaining a permit, a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from one hundred to five hundred and eighty units of fine - on a legal person.

(6) For the performance of Category A polluting activity without obtaining a permit, a fine from seventy to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from one hundred and forty to eight hundred and sixty units of fine - on a legal person.

[11 June 2020 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 67 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 63. Administrative Liability in the Field of the Use and Supply of Marine Fuels

(1) For the offences of the conditions for the use of marine fuels and for failure to conform to the requirements for the use of the methods of the reduction of related emission or new methods in the territorial waters, exclusive economic zone, internal maritime waters of Latvia, including port aquatic waters, quaysides, and inland waterways, a fine from forty to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from four hundred to four thousand units of fine - on a legal person.

(2) For the supply of marine fuels non-conforming to the fuels specified in the accompanying document of the supply of fuels or to the requirements, a fine from forty to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from four hundred to four thousand units of fine - on a legal person.

[11 June 2020 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 67 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 64. Competence in Administrative Offence Proceedings

(1) The administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Section 57 of this Law shall be conducted by the Health Inspectorate.

(2) The administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Section 59 of this Law shall be conducted by the State Plant Protection Service.

(3) The administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Sections 58, 60, 61, 62, and 63, Paragraph one of this Law shall be conducted by the State Environmental Service.

(4) The administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Section 63, Paragraph two of this Law shall be conducted by the State Revenue Service.

[11 June 2020 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 67 of Transitional Provisions]

Transitional Provisions

1. Sections 22, 23, and 24 of this Law, as well as the conditions of Chapter V shall come into force:

1) in respect of the existing Category B activities - according to a timetable stipulated by the Cabinet by 1 January 2007;

2) in respect of new Category B activities - on 1 January 2003.

2. In respect of installations where waste incineration is carried out, such installations for the operation of which the permits prescribed in laws and regulations are obtained by 28 December 2002 and which commence their operation not later than on 28 December 2004 shall be deemed to be existing installations.

3. By 1 January 2002, the Cabinet shall issue the following regulations:

1) regarding Category B and Category C polluting activities, a submission therefor and the issue of Category B permits;

2) regarding the limit values of wastewater emission, the prohibition to emit specific polluting substances into the aquatic environment and regarding highly sensitive territories to which higher requirements for urban wastewater treatment apply;

3) regarding the quality of surface water and underground water;

4) regarding the protection of water and soil against pollution with nitrates caused by agricultural activity and regarding highly sensitive territories to which higher requirements for the protection against pollution with nitrates apply.

4. By 1 January 2003, the Cabinet shall issue the following regulations:

1) regarding the emission of noise from installations used outdoors;

2) regarding the procedures by which the emission of air polluting substances from stationary air pollution sources shall be prevented, restricted and controlled;

3) regarding soil quality requirements;

4) regarding the emission of pollutants caused by the combustion engines of mobile mechanisms not to be utilised in traffic;

5) regarding pollution resulting from the production of asbestos and asbestos-based products;

6) regarding the procedures for monitoring carried out by an operator and the establishment of a register of polluting substances and accessibility of the information therein to the public;

7) regarding the requirements to be made for waste incineration and waste incineration installations.

5. [17 June 2010]

6. Assessment and initial evaluation of polluted and potentially polluted sites shall be performed up to 31 December 2004.

[18 December 2003]

7. Permits for the existing Category A activities shall be requested according to a timetable stipulated by the Cabinet by 1 October 2007.

8. Section 31, Paragraph one, Clause 3.¹ shall come into force simultaneously with the Water Management Law.

[20 June 2002]

9. The regulations referred to in Section 11, Paragraph two, Clause 8; Section 18.¹, Paragraph three and Section 24.², Paragraph two of this Law shall be issued by the Cabinet by 1 June 2004.

[18 December 2003]

10. The strategic noise maps referred to in Section 18.¹, Paragraphs one and two of this Law, which reflect the noise assessments of the previous year in the relevant territories, agglomerations with more than 250 000 inhabitants, roads upon which the traffic intensity is more than six million vehicles per year, railways upon which the traffic intensity is more than 60 000 trains per year, and airports where the traffic intensity is more than 50 000 aircraft per year shall be developed by 30 March 2007, but action plans for the reduction of noise - by 30 April 2008.

[18 December 2003; 6 April 2006]

11. The strategic noise maps referred to in Section 18.¹, Paragraphs one and two of this Law, which reflect the noise assessments of the previous year in the relevant territories, agglomerations with more than 100 000 inhabitants, roads upon which the traffic intensity is more than three million vehicles per year, and railways upon which the traffic intensity is more than 30 000 trains per year shall be developed by 30 June 2012, but action plans for the reduction of noise - by 30 June 2013.

[18 December 2003; 6 April 2006; 14 July 2011]

12. The Cabinet shall, by 30 September 2011, approve the list of installations for the time period from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2020.

[17 June 2010]

13. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall, by 1 December 2004, take a decision on allocation of allowances for the period specified in Section 24.¹, Paragraph five, Clause 1 of this Law.

[18 December 2003; 6 April 2006; 16 December 2010]

14. The implementation Section 32.², Paragraphs five and six of this Law shall be commenced by the State limited liability company "Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre" by 1 January 2005.

[18 December 2003; 27 January 2005; 10 December 2009]

15. The regulations referred to in Section 24.¹, Paragraphs three and seven, Section 32.³, Paragraph nine, Section 32.⁵, Paragraphs seven and Section 45, Paragraph seven of this Law shall be issued by the Cabinet by 1 August 2004.

[18 December 2003]

16. Section 32.¹, Paragraph four, Section 32.⁵, Paragraph six, Section 32.⁶, Paragraph two and Section 32.⁸ of this Law shall come into force on 1 May 2004.

[18 December 2003]

17. The Cabinet shall by 1 November 2005 issue the regulations referred to in Section 11, Paragraph two, Clause 12 of this Law, but by 1 July 2006 - the regulations referred to in Section 11, Paragraph two, Clauses 9, 10, 11 and 13 of this Law.

[27 January 2005]

18. The Cabinet shall, by 1 January 2006, issue the regulations referred to in Section 12, Paragraph 2.¹ of this Law.

[27 January 2005]

19. The Cabinet shall by 11 August 2006 issue the regulations referred to in Section 11, Paragraph two, Clause 14 of this Law.

[6 April 2006]

20. Chapter V.² of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2008.

[25 October 2007]

21. Amendments to Section 38 of this Law in relation to the addition of Clause 3.¹ and the deletion of the second sentence of Paragraph two shall come into force on 1 January 2009.

[25 October 2007]

22. The Cabinet shall by 1 June 2008 issue the regulations referred to in Section 44.¹, Paragraphs one, three and four of this Law.

[25 October 2007]

23. Section 24.¹, Paragraph 2.¹ of this Law and amendment to Section 24.¹, Paragraph four of this Law regarding installations, which use renewable energy resources as fuel, but other fuels - exclusively during start-up or shut-down of installations, shall come into force on 1 January 2013.

[17 June 2010]

24. Aircraft operators shall commence the fulfilment of the conditions of Section 32.³, Paragraph one of this Law from 1 January 2013.

[17 June 2010]

25. The State Environmental Service shall request the data referred to in Section 32.⁸, Paragraph two of this Law in accordance with the legal acts of the European Union in the field of greenhouse gas emission monitoring.

[17 June 2010]

26. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall submit the information referred to in Section 32.⁸, Paragraph four of this Law to the European Commission by 30 June 2010.

[17 June 2010; 16 December 2010]

27. The Cabinet shall by 1 January 2011 issue regulations regarding the protection of water and soil from the pollution with nitrates as a result of agricultural activities and regarding highly sensitive territories to which higher requirements for the protection from pollution with nitrates apply. Until the date of the coming into force of new Cabinet regulations, but not longer than until 1 January 2011, Cabinet Regulation No. 531 of 18 December 2001, Regulations regarding Protection of Water and Soil from Pollution with Nitrates Caused by Agricultural Sources, shall be in force insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law.

[17 June 2010]

28. Section 28.² of this Law shall come into force on 1 March 2011.

[16 December 2010]

29. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations provided for in Section 28.² of this Law by 1 March 2011.

[16 December 2010]

30. The Cabinet shall, by 15 August 2011, take the decision to support the allocation of free-of-charge allowances for the generation of electricity or the decision on refusal of such support. If the Cabinet takes a decision to support the allocation of free-of-charge allowances for the electricity production, it shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 32.¹, Paragraph seven of this Law.

[14 July 2011]

31. The information referred to in Section 32.¹, Paragraph eight of this Law shall be provided by:

1) the operator - until 15 August 2011;

2) the State Environmental Service - until 30 August 2011.

[14 July 2011; 12 April 2018]

32. Section 8.¹ of this Law shall be in force until 31 December 2012.

[14 July 2011]

33. The Cabinet shall, until 31 December 2011, take a decision on selling or cancellation of allowances of the time period specified in Section 24.¹, Paragraph five, Clause 2 of this Law not allocated to operators. If a decision to sell allowances is taken, the Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the selling of allowances and the use of the financing.

[14 July 2011]

34. Amendments to Section 11, Paragraph two, Clause 1 of this Law regarding rewording thereof, as well as Section 11, Paragraph two, Clauses 19 and 20 and Section 29, Paragraph seven shall come into force on 31 March 2013.

[31 January 2013]

35. Section 28, Paragraph 2.¹, Clause 2, Section 29, Paragraph six, Section 30, Paragraphs five, six and seven of this Law, amendments to Section 31 in relation to the new wording of Paragraph one, Clause 4, Paragraph two, Clause 1, Paragraphs three, four, six and eight of this Section, as well as the second sentence of Section 45, Paragraph three shall be applicable according to the following procedures:

1) to polluting activities (installations) for the performance of which a permit for Category A polluting activity has been issued or in relation to which a submission for the receipt of a permit for Category A polluting activity has been accepted until the day when the relevant amendments come into force - starting from 7 January 2014;

2) to polluting activities (installations), which are referred to in Section 1, Paragraph 4, Section 5, Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, Section 5, Paragraphs 3.¹, 4.¹ and 6, Section 6, Paragraph 1, Sub-paragraph "c", Section 6, Paragraph 4, Sub-paragraph "b" and Section 6, Paragraphs 10 and 11 of Annex 1 to this Law and for the performance of which a permit for polluting activity has been issued or in relation to which a submission for the receipt of a permit for polluting activity has been accepted until the day when the relevant amendments come into force - starting from 7 January 2015.

[31 January 2013]

36. Until 30 April 2013 the Cabinet shall issue the regulations provided for in Section 44.¹, Paragraphs 3.⁵ and four of this Law. Until the day when new Cabinet regulations come into force, but not later than until 30 April 2013, Cabinet Regulation No. 671 of 25 August 2008, Procedures for the Certification of Specialists who Conduct the Investigation of Territories Potentially Polluted and Polluted with Explosive Articles of a Military Nature and with Unexploded Ammunition and the Recovery Work, and the Licensing of Merchants, are in force insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law.

[31 January 2013]

37. Until 30 April 2014 the Cabinet shall issue the Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 32.³, Paragraph nine, Clause 1 of this Law. Until the day when new Cabinet regulations come into force Cabinet Regulation No. 661 of 3 August 2004, Procedures for Performance of Activities with Emission Quotas (allowances) and for Establishment of Installation Pools, are in force insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law.

[6 February 2014]

38. Until 31 December 2026, the duties specified for an aircraft operator in Section 32.²⁰ and Section 32.²¹, Paragraph four of this Law shall not apply to flights departing from:

1) an aerodrome located in the territory of Latvia and arriving at an aerodrome located in a state outside the European Economic Area, except for flights to aerodromes located in the United Kingdom and Switzerland;

2) an aerodrome located in a state outside the European Economic Area, except for flights to aerodromes located in the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and arriving at an aerodrome located in the territory of Latvia;

3) in an aerodrome situated in a state outside the European Economic Area and ended in an aerodrome situated outside the European Economic Area.

[9 October 2025]

39. Within the time period - from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2016 - referred to in Article 1(1) of Regulation No 421/2014 the duty laid down in Section 45, Paragraph one of this Law to regularly control the quantity of emissions, to perform monitoring and to provide information (to submit monitoring plans) need not be fulfilled by such aircraft operator which only carries out the flights referred to in Paragraph 38 of these Transitional Provisions.

[9 June 2016]

40. The Cabinet shall by 31 December 2016 issue the regulations referred to in Section 53, Paragraph two of this Law.

[9 June 2016]

41. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall by 31 December 2016 develop the long-term strategy referred to in Section 54, Paragraph four of this Law. The long-term strategy for each time period referred to in Section 52, Paragraph one of this Law for the performance of the particular commitments shall be developed until the end of the first year of the abovementioned commitment period.

[9 June 2016; 1 February 2018]

42. The Cabinet shall by 31 December 2016 issue the By-laws of the Ship Recycling Council referred to in Section 49.¹ Paragraph two of this Law.

[9 June 2016]

43. The Cabinet shall by 31 December 2016 make amendments to the regulations referred to in Section 45, Paragraphs seven and 7.¹ of this Law.

[9 June 2016]

44. The Cabinet shall by 31 December 2016 issue the price list of paid services referred to in Section 11, Paragraph six of this Law.

[9 June 2016]

45. The Cabinet shall by 30 May 2018 issue the regulations referred to in Section 32.⁶, Paragraph seven of this Law.

[1 February 2018]

46. Section 45.¹, Paragraph two of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2019.

[1 February 2018]

47. The Cabinet shall by 30 May 2018 issue the regulations referred to in Section 45.¹, Paragraph three of this Law.

[1 February 2018]

48. The Cabinet shall by 31 May 2018 issue the regulations referred to in Section 55, Paragraph seven of this Law.

[1 February 2018]

49. Section 18.² of this Law shall come into force on 1 November 2018. The Cabinet shall by 30 September 2018 issue the regulations referred to in Section 18.², Paragraph two of this Law.

[1 February 2018]

50. In respect of the 10 year period referred to in Section 32.¹, Paragraph 5.¹ of this Law which starts on 1 January 2021, the Cabinet shall by 31 December 2018 take the decision to support the allocation of free-of-charge allowances for the electricity production or decision not to support such allocation. If the Cabinet takes a decision to support the allocation of free-of-charge allowances for the electricity production, it shall by 30 June 2019 issue the regulations referred to in Section 32.¹, Paragraph seven of this Law by including the by-laws therein where the tender procedure and selection criteria are determined.

[1 February 2018]

51. The information referred to in Section 32.¹, Paragraph 8.¹ of this Law on the period of the first five years of the first 10 year period referred to in Section 24.¹, Paragraph five, Clause 4 of this Law which started on 1 January 2021 shall be submitted by:

1) the operator - until 15 June 2019;

2) the State Environmental Service - until 30 June 2019.

[1 February 2018; 12 April 2018]

52. [9 October 2025]

53. [9 October 2025]

54. [9 October 2025]

55. Section 28.¹, Paragraph 3.¹ and Section 45, Paragraph nine of this Law shall come into force on 1 June 2018.

[1 February 2018]

56. Section 55, Paragraph four of this Law shall come into force on 1 June 2018.

[1 February 2018]

57. The Cabinet shall by 1 September 2018 issue the regulations referred to in Section 11, Paragraph two, Clause 21, Section 16.¹, Paragraph two, Section 16.², Paragraphs one and two of this Law.

[12 April 2018]

58. The Cabinet shall by 1 January 2020 issue the regulations referred to in Section 45, Paragraph 1.¹ of this Law.

[12 April 2018]

59. Amendment regarding deletion of Section 45, Paragraph six shall come into force on 1 January 2020.

[12 April 2018]

60. Amendment to Section 19 of this Law regarding supplementation thereof with Paragraph 3.¹ shall come into force on 1 April 2020.

[12 April 2018]

61. Amendment to Section 20, Paragraph five, Clause 3 of this Law regarding replacement of the words "the submission form and the permit form" with the words "the information to be included in the submission for obtaining the permit" shall come into force on 1 April 2020.

[12 April 2018]

62. Amendment to Section 22, Paragraph two regarding replacement of the words "the Category B submission form and the permit form" with the words "the information to be included in the submission for obtaining the permit" shall come into force on 1 April 2020.

[12 April 2018]

63. Amendment to Section 23 of this Law regarding supplementation of Paragraph two with the words "and the procedures by which the State Environmental Service registers Category C activities" shall come into force on 1 April 2020.

[12 April 2018]

64. Section 24.³ of this Law shall come into force on 1 April 2020.

[12 April 2018]

65. Amendment to Section 28.¹, Paragraph 3.1 of this Law regarding replacement of the words "on the website of the Unified Environment Information System "TULPE"" with the words "in the information system" shall come into force on 1 April 2020.

[12 April 2018]

66. Amendment to Section 28.¹, Paragraph 4.¹ of this Law regarding replacement of the words "Category C certification" with the words "registration of Category C activity is performed" shall come into force on 1 April 2020.

[12 April 2018]

67. Chapter XII of this Law shall come into force concurrently with the Law on Administrative Liability.

[11 June 2020]

68. Amendment to this Law regarding the exclusion of Chapter XI shall come into force on 1 January 2022.

[10 December 2020]

69. During the time period from 1 December 2021 to 30 April 2022, the compensation for electricity final customers provided for in Section 32.², Paragraph 4.⁸ of this Law shall be applied in the amount of 50 per cent of the costs of the electricity system service.

[22 December 2021]

70. Financing not exceeding EUR 77 894 000 for the measure referred to in Paragraph 69 of these Transitional Provisions shall be provided for as a grant from general revenue in the budget sub-programme 29.07.00 "Financing of the Emission Allowance Auction Instrument for Aid to Consumers of Electricity" of the Ministry of Economics, taking into account the revenue obtained from the auctioning of allowances referred to in Section 32.², Paragraph three of this Law.

[22 December 2021]

71. The Cabinet shall, by 30 April 2023, issue the regulations referred to in Section 18.¹, Paragraph three, Clause 6 of this Law.

[14 July 2022]

72. Section 32.¹⁷, Paragraph six of this Law shall not be applicable until 31 December 2027.

[9 October 2025]

73. The fuel and heating fuel operator shall prepare the verified reports referred to in Section 32.¹⁷, Paragraph seven of this Law starting from 2026.

[9 October 2025]

74. Section 32.¹⁷, Paragraph eleven of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2028 and shall be repealed on 1 January 2031.

[9 October 2025 / Section 32.¹⁷, Paragraph eleven shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2028, and the amendment regarding repealing Paragraph eleven shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2031]

75. If the European Commission publishes a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union that one or both conditions referred to in Article 30k(1) of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC has been met, the initial period for the surrender of allowances in respect of total emissions in 2028 shall apply starting from 31 May 2029.

[9 October 2025]

76. Section 32.³⁰ of this Law in relation to a fuel and heating fuel operator shall be applied from 1 January 2028.

[9 October 2025]

77. Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph eight of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2027.

[9 October 2025 / Section 32.²⁷, Paragraph eight shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2027]

78. The Cabinet shall, not later than by 30 April 2026, issue the regulations referred to in Section 32.¹⁷, Paragraph thirteen, Clauses 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, Section 32.¹⁸, Paragraph seven, Section 32.²¹, Paragraph ten, Section 32.²², Paragraph five, Section 32.²³, Paragraph six, Section 32.²⁴, Paragraph eight, Section 32.²⁵, Paragraph four, Section 32.²⁶, Paragraph three, Section 32.²⁸, Paragraph eight, and Section 32.³⁶, Paragraph three of this Law.

[9 October 2025]

79. The Cabinet shall, not later than by 31 October 2026, issue the regulations referred to in Section 32.¹⁹, Paragraph two and Section 32.²⁹, Paragraph three of this Law.

[9 October 2025]

80. The Cabinet shall, not later than by 31 December 2026, issue the regulations referred to in Section 32.¹⁷, Paragraph thirteen, Clause 4 of this Law.

[9 October 2025]

81. Until the coming into force of the regulations referred to in Section 32.¹⁷, Paragraph thirteen, Clauses 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, Section 32.¹⁸, Paragraph seven, Section 32.²¹, Paragraph ten, Section 32.²², Paragraph five, Section 32.²³, Paragraph six, Section 32.²⁴, Paragraph eight, Section 32.²⁵, Paragraph four, Section 32.²⁶, Paragraph three, Section 32.²⁸, Paragraph eight, and Section 32.³⁶, Paragraph three of this Law, the following Cabinet Regulations shall apply insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law:

1) Cabinet Regulation No. 769 of 13 November 2012, Regulations Regarding Participation of Stationary Technological Installations in the Emission Allowance Trading Scheme of the European Union;

2) Cabinet Regulation No. 366 of 9 July 2013, Regulations Regarding Participation of Aviation Activities in the European Union Emissions Trading System;

3) Cabinet Regulation No. 430 of 17 July 2018, Procedures for the Preparation, Verification, and Submission of a Report on Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Maritime Transport;

4) Cabinet Regulation No. 449 of 29 June 2021, Procedures for the Allocation of Emission Allowances to Operators of Stationary Technological Installations.

[9 October 2025]

82. Until the day of coming into force of the regulations referred to in Section 32.¹⁹, Paragraph two and Section 32.²⁹, Paragraph three of this Law, Cabinet Regulation No. 250 of 20 May 2014, Regulations Regarding Activities in the Emission Register, shall be applicable insofar as it is not in contradiction with this Law.

[9 October 2025]

83. Section 1, Paragraph one, Clauses 3.⁴, 10.⁴, and 10.⁵, Section 32.²⁷, Paragraphs seven and eight of this Law, and also Chapters V.¹, V.³, and X, and Annex 4 to this Law shall be repealed concurrently with the coming into force of the Economic Sustainability Law.

[9 October 2025 / The abovementioned amendments will be included in the wording of the Law as of the day of coming into force of the Economic Sustainability Law]

Informative Reference to Directives of the European Union

[27 January 2005; 6 April 2006; 25 October 2007; 10 December 2009; 17 June 2010; 16 December 2010; 31 January 2013; 1 February 2018; 12 April 2018; 14 July 2022; 9 October 2025]

This Law contains legal norms arising from:

1) Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources;

2) Directive 2008/1/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (codified version). (Text with EEA relevance);

3) Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise;

4) Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and amending with regard to public participation and access to justice Council Directives 85/337/EEC and 96/61/EC;

5) Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC;

6) Directive 2004/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community, in respect of the Kyoto Protocol's project mechanisms;

7) Directive 2004/42/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products and amending Directive 1999/13/EC;

8) Council Directive 1999/32/EC of 26 April 1999 relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels and amending Directive 93/12/EEC;

9) Directive 2005/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 amending Directive 1999/32/EC;

10) Council Directive 96/82/EC of 9 December 1996 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances;

11) Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directive 96/82/EC;

12) [12 April 2018];

13) Directive 2009/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme of the Community;

14) Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the geological storage of carbon dioxide and amending Council Directive 85/337/EEC, European Parliament and Council Directives 2000/60/EC, 2001/80/EC, 2004/35/EC, 2006/12/EC, 2008/1/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006. (Text with EEA relevance);

15) Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (Text with EEA relevance);

16) Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (recast) (Text with EEA relevance);

17) Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC;

18) Directive 2009/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending Directive 98/70/EC as regards the specification of petrol, diesel and gas-oil and introducing a mechanism to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and amending Council Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the specification of fuel used by inland waterway vessels and repealing Directive 93/12/EEC;

19) Council Directive (EU) 2015/652 of 20 April 2015 laying down calculation methods and reporting requirements pursuant to Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels;

20) Directive (EU) 2015/2193 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from medium combustion plants;

21) Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC;

22) Directive (EU) 2018/410 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2018 amending Directive 2003/87/EC to enhance cost-effective emission reductions and low-carbon investments, and Decision (EU) 2015/1814;

23) Directive 2008/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community;

24) Directive (EU) 2023/958 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 amending Directive 2003/87/EC as regards aviation's contribution to the Union's economy-wide emission reduction target and the appropriate implementation of a global market-based measure;

25) Directive (EU) 2023/959 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union and Decision (EU) 2015/1814 concerning the establishment and operation of a market stability reserve for the Union greenhouse gas emission trading system.

This Law shall come into force on 1 July 2001.

The Saeima adopted this Law on 15 March 2001.

Acting for the President, Chairperson of the Saeima J. Straume

Rīga, 29 March 2001

Law On Pollution
Annex 1

Polluting Activities (Installations) Requiring a Category A Permit

[31 January 2013; 9 June 2016; 12 April 2018; 9 October 2025]

(1) In energy industries:

1) combustion installations the nominal thermal input of which is 50 megawatts and more and to which the laws and regulations regarding the procedures for preventing, restricting, and control of emissions of air polluting substances from combustion installation apply;

2) mineral oil and gas treatment and refining installations;

3) coke ovens;

4) gasification and liquefaction installations for fuels, in which the following is used:

a) coal;

b) other fuels if the total rated thermal input of the installation is 20 MW or more.

(2) In production and processing of metals:

1) installations for metal ore, including sulphide ore, roasting and sintering;

2) installations for the primary or secondary fusion of pig iron or steel, including continuous casting, with a capacity exceeding 2.5 tonnes per hour;

3) installations for the processing of ferrous metals:

a) hot-rolling mills with a capacity exceeding 20 tonnes of crude steel per hour;

b) smitheries utilising mechanisms (for example, pneumatic or hydraulic hammers, presses) the energy of which exceeds 50 kilojoules per each mechanism, if the calorific power used exceeds 20 megawatts;

c) installations for the application of protective fused metal coats with an input exceeding 2 tonnes of crude steel per hour;

4) ferrous metal foundries with a production capacity exceeding 20 tonnes per day;

5) installations:

a) for the production of non-ferrous crude metals from ore, ore concentrates or secondary raw materials (for example, scrap iron) by metallurgical, chemical or electrolytic processes;

b) for the melting, including the alloyage, of non-ferrous metals, including recovered products, with a melting capacity exceeding 4 tonnes per day for melted lead and cadmium or 20 tonnes per day of any other melted metal;

6) installations for surface treatment of metals or plastic materials using an electrolytic or chemical process where the total volume of the electrolytic or chemical treatment vats exceeds 30 cubic metres.

(3) In production of mineral products:

1) installations for the production of cement clinker in rotary kilns with a production capacity exceeding 500 tonnes per day or in other type of furnaces with a capacity exceeding 50 tonnes per day or installations for the production of lime in rotary kilns with a production capacity exceeding 50 tonnes per day;

2) installations for the production of asbestos and the manufacture of asbestos-based products;

3) installations for the manufacture of glass, including glass fibre, with a melting capacity exceeding 20 tonnes per day;

4) installations for the melting of non-metallic minerals, including the production of non-metallic mineral fibre, with a melting capacity exceeding 20 tonnes per day;

5) installations for the manufacture of ceramic products by firing, including roofing tiles, bricks, refractory bricks, tiles, stoneware or porcelain, with a production capacity exceeding 75 tonnes per day or with a kiln capacity exceeding 4 cubic metres and with a setting density per kiln exceeding 300 kg/m³;

6) installations for the manufacture of magnesium oxide in kilns the manufacture capacity of which exceeds 50 tonnes per day.

(4) In chemical industry in conformity with the condition referred to in Section 7 of this Annex:

1) installations for the production of organic chemicals, such as:

a) for the production of simple hydrocarbons (linear or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic);

b) for the production of oxygen-containing hydrocarbons, such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, acetates, ethers, peroxides, epoxy resins;

c) for the production of sulphurous hydrocarbons;

d) for the production of nitrogenous hydrocarbons, such as amines, amides, nitrous compounds, nitro compounds or nitrate compounds, nitriles, cyanates or isocyanates;

e) for the production of phosphorus-containing hydrocarbons;

f) for the production of halogenic hydrocarbons;

g) for the production of organometallic compounds;

h) for the production of plastic materials - polymers synthetic fibres and cellulose-based fibres;

i) for the production of synthetic rubber or rubber;

j) for the production of dyes and pigments;

k) for the production of surface-active agents;

2) installations for the production of inorganic chemicals, such as:

a) for the production of gases, such as ammonia, chlorine or hydrogen chloride, fluorine or hydrogen fluoride, carbon oxides, sulphur compounds, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen, except for hydrogen produced by water electrolysis, sulphur dioxide, carbonyl chloride;

b) for the production of acids, such as chromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, oleum, sulphurous acid;

c) for the production of bases, such as ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide;

d) for the production of salts, such as ammonium chloride, potassium chlorate, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, perborate, silver nitrate;

e) for the production of non-metals, metal oxides or other inorganic compounds, such as calcium carbide, silicon, silicon carbide;

3) installations for the production of phosphorous-, nitrogen- or potassium-based simple or compound fertilisers;

4) installations for the production of plant protection products or biocides;

5) installations which produce pharmaceutical products, utilising chemical or biological processes;

6) installations for the production of explosives.

(5) In waste management:

1) installations for the disposal or recovery of hazardous waste with a capacity exceeding 10 tonnes per day involving one or more of the following activities:

a) biological treatment;

b) psysico-chemical treatment;

c) blending or mixing prior to submission to any of the other activities referred to in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Section;

d) repackaging prior to submission to any of the other activities referred to in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Section;

e) solvent reclamation and (or) regeneration;

f) recycling and (or) reclamation of inorganic materials other than metals or metal compounds;

g) regeneration of acids or bases;

h) recovery of components used for pollution abatement;

i) recovery of components from catalysts;

j) oil re-refining or other reuses of oil;

k) surface impoundment;

2) installations for the incineration or recovery of waste, as well as installations for the co-incineration of waste to which the laws and regulations regarding the requirements for the incineration of waste and operation of the installations for the incineration of waste apply, with the following capacity:

a) for non-hazardous waste - with a capacity exceeding 3 tonnes per hour;

b) for hazardous waste - with a capacity exceeding 10 tonnes per day;

3) installations for the disposal of non-hazardous waste with a capacity exceeding 50 tonnes per day (excluding activities covered by the regulation of the laws and regulations regarding emission of polluting substances into water) involving one or more of the following activities:

a) biological treatment;

b) psysico-chemical treatment;

c) pre-treatment of waste for incineration or co-incineration;

d) treatment of slags and ashes;

e) treatment in shredders of metal waste, including waste electrical and electronic equipment and end-of-life vehicles and their components;

3¹) installations for the recovery of non-hazardous waste, as well as installations for recovery and disposal of non-hazardous waste with a capacity exceeding 75 tonnes per day (excluding activities covered by the regulation of the regulatory enactments regarding emission of polluting substances into water), conforming with the condition referred to in Section 8 of this Annex and involving one or more of the following activities:

a) biological treatment;

b) pre-treatment of waste for incineration or co-incineration;

c) treatment of slags and ashes;

d) treatment in shredders of metal waste, including waste electrical and electronic equipment and end-of-life vehicles and their components;

4) installations for the landfills in accordance with the Waste Management Law which may accept more than 10 tonnes of waste per day or with a total capacity exceeding 25 000 tonnes, excluding landfills of inert waste;

4¹) areas for temporary storage of hazardous waste, which do not conform to the conditions referred to in Paragraph 4 of this Section and in which hazardous waste with the total amount over 50 tonnes is stored, prior carrying out of the activities referred to in Paragraphs 1, 2, 4 and 6 of this Section involving hazardous waste. This activity does not cover temporary storage of hazardous waste at the generation site thereof (prior to collection thereof);

5) installations for disposal of hazardous waste if polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated terphenyls or waste or devices containing such substances are disposed of;

6) underground storage of hazardous waste with a total capacity exceeding 50 tonnes.

(6) In other sectors:

1) installations:

a) for the production of pulp from timber or other fibrous materials,

b) for the production of paper or card board with a production capacity exceeding 20 tonnes per day;

c) for the production of orientated strand board, particleboard or fibreboard (types of individual boards, or different types of boards together) with a production capacity exceeding 600 m³ per day;

2) installations for the pre-treatment (operations such as washing, bleaching, mercerisation or dying) of textile fibres or textiles where the treatment capacity exceeds 10 tonnes of material per day;

3) installations for the treatment of hides and skins where the treatment capacity exceeds 12 tonnes of finished products per day;

4) installations for the production of food:

a) slaughterhouses with a carcass production capacity greater than 50 tonnes per day;

b) production facilities for food or feed where the following is treated or processed (other than exclusively packaging):

- animal raw materials (other than exclusively milk), with a finished product production capacity greater than 75 tonnes per day,

- vegetable raw materials, with a finished product production capacity greater than 300 tonnes per day or greater than 600 tonnes per day where the installation operates for a period of no more than 90 consecutive days in any year;

- animal and vegetable raw materials, both in combined and separate products (packaging shall not be included in the final weight of the product. These provisions shall not apply to the production where the raw material is milk only), if the finished product production capacity is greater than 75 tonnes per day and the portion of animal material (in per cent of weight) is equal to 10 or more. In all other cases the threshold, taking into account animal raw materials (in per cent of weight) in the finished product, shall be calculated using the following formula:

300 - (22,5 x A), where

A - the portion of animal material in per cent of weight of the finished product, or accordingly thresholds shall be calculated for the diagram in Annex 3 to this Law,

c) milk production facilities in which more than 200 tonnes of milk per day may be accepted (if 200 tonnes per day is an average value on an annual basis);

5) installations for the disposal or recycling of animal carcasses and animal waste with a treatment capacity exceeding 10 tonnes per day;

6) farms for the intensive rearing of pigs and poultry:

a) with more than 40 000 places for poultry;

b) with more than 2000 places for production pigs with weight over 30 kg;

c) with more than 750 places for sows;

7) installations for the surface treatment of substances, objects or products using organic solvents, also for dressing, printing, coating, degreasing, waterproofing, sizing, painting, cleaning or impregnating, with an organic solvent consumption capacity of more than 150 kg per hour or more than 200 tonnes per year;

8) installations for the production of carbon or electrographite by means of incineration at high temperatures or graphitising;

9) carbon dioxide (CO₂) stream capture from activities (installations), which have been indicated in this Annex, in relation to the geological storage of carbon dioxide as specified in Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the geological storage of carbon dioxide and amending Council Directive 85/337/EEC, European Parliament and Council Directives 2000/60/EC, 2001/80/EC, 2004/35/EC, 2006/12/EC, 2008/1/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 (Text with EEA relevance);

10) installations for the preservation of wood and wood products with chemicals with a production capacity exceeding 75 m³ per day, other than exclusively treating against sapstain;

11) installations for the independently operated treatment of waste water which ensure treatment of waste water created by the polluting activities referred to in this Annex, if the installations for treatment of waste water are not covered by the regulation of the laws and regulations regarding emission of polluting substances into water;

12) water electrolysis for the production of hydrogen, with a production capacity exceeding 50 tonnes per day.

(7) The term "production" in relation to the activities referred to in Section 4 of this Annex shall mean industrial production, within the process of which chemical or biological recycling of the substances or groups of substances referred to in Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of this Section is carried out.

(8) When the only waste treatment activity referred to in Section 5, Paragraph 3.¹ of this Annex and carried out is anaerobic digestion, the capacity threshold for this activity shall be 100 tonnes per day.

Law On Pollution
Annex 1.¹

Activities to which the European Union Emissions Trading System Applies in the Field of Aviation

[9 June 2016]

Law On Pollution
Annex 2

[9 October 2025]

Polluting Activities Included in the European Union Emissions Trading System

I. Polluting Activities Included in the European Union Emissions Trading System for which a Greenhouse Gas Emission Permit is Necessary

When the total rated thermal input of the installation is calculated in order to decide upon its inclusion in the European Union Emissions Trading System in accordance with the conditions of this Law, the State Environmental Service shall add together the rated thermal inputs of all technical units of the installation in which fuels are combusted (such as boilers, burners, turbines, heaters, furnaces, incinerators, calciners, kilns, ovens, dryers, engines, fuel cells, chemical looping combustion units, flares, and thermal or catalytic post-combustion units). The following shall not be taken into account in the sum total:

1) technical units with a rated thermal input under three megawatts;

2) technical units in which renewable energy resources meeting the sustainability criteria and greenhouse gas emission saving criteria laid down in laws and regulations are used as heating fuel, while other heating fuels are used only for commencing or terminating the operation of the units (until 31 December 2025).

This Annex shall not cover installations for which the five-year emissions resulting from the combustion of biomass complying with the sustainability criteria and the greenhouse gas emission saving criteria that are used for the development of the abovementioned list of installations referred to in Section 32.²⁴, Paragraph one of this Law, exceed, on average, more than 95 per cent of the total average greenhouse gas emissions defined in accordance with the monitoring and reporting requirements laid down in Section 32.²¹ of this Law.

II. Aviation Activities Included in the European Union Emissions Trading System

The European Union Emissions Trading System shall include aircraft flights which are performed by an aircraft operator from an aerodrome or to an aerodrome situated in the territory of a European Union Member State, including flights performed only for the transport, on official mission, of a reigning Monarch and his immediate family, Heads of State, Heads of Government and Government Ministers of European Union Member States, except:

1) flights performed only for the transport, on official mission, of a reigning Monarch and his immediate family, Heads of State, Heads of Government and Government Ministers, of a country other than a European Union Member State, where this is substantiated by an appropriate status indicator in the flight plan;

2) military flights performed by military aircraft and customs and police flights;

3) flights related to search, rescue and fire-fighting works or provision of emergency medical aid, as well as flights which are performed for the provision of humanitarian aid and which are authorised by the relevant competent authority;

4) flights performed exclusively under visual flight rules in conformity with Annex 2 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention);

5) flights terminating at the aerodrome from which the aircraft has taken off and during which no intermediate landing has been made;

6) training flights performed exclusively for the purpose of obtaining a licence, or a rating in the case of cockpit flight crew where the relevant flight is substantiated by an appropriate remark in the flight plan and the flight does not serve for the transport of passengers or cargo, for the positioning or ferrying of the aircraft;

7) flights performed exclusively for the purpose of scientific research or for the purpose of checking, testing or certifying aircraft or equipment whether airborne or ground-based;

8) flights performed by aircraft with a certified maximum take-off mass of less than 5700 kg;

9) flights performed within the framework of public service obligations laid down in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes on routes within outermost regions, as laid down in Articles 349 and 355 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, or on routes where the capacity offered does not exceed 50 000 seats per year;

10) flights which, but for this point, would fall within this activity, performed by a commercial air transport operator operating either:

a) fewer than 243 flights per period for three consecutive four-month periods; or

b) flights with total annual emissions lower than 10000 tonnes per year;

11) flights which from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2030 are performed by a non-commercial air transport operator operating flights with total annual emissions lower than 1000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

III. European Union Emissions Trading System Activities in the Field of Maritime Transport

The European Union Emissions Trading System shall include maritime transport activities covered by Regulation No 2015/757, except for maritime transport activities covered by Article 2(1)(a) and, until 31 December 2026, by Article 2(1)(b) of that Regulation. The European Union Emissions Trading System shall include the following greenhouse gases resulting from maritime transport activities:

1) carbon dioxide;

2) from 1 January 2026 - methane and nitrous oxide.

IV. Polluting Activities and Categories of Fuel and Heating Fuel Operators Covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System for Buildings, Road Transport, and Additional Sectors

A fuel and heating fuel operator defined in this Law shall require a greenhouse gas emission permit to release fuel and heating fuel for consumption regarding the following activities:

Law On Pollution
Annex 3

Diagram for the Calculation of the Threshold for Animal Material (in Per cent of Weight of the Finished Product)

[31 January 2013]

Law On Pollution
Annex 4

Conditions in Relation to Activities not Included in the European Union Emissions Trading System

[9 June 2016 / Annex shall be repealed concurrently with the coming into force of the Economic Sustainability Law. See Paragraph 83 of Transitional Provisions]

I. Other Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

1. Energy industry:

a) fuel combustion in stationary technological installations in which such activities are performed which are not included in the European Union Emissions Trading System and for which a greenhouse gas emission permit is not necessary,

b) fuel combustion in mobile sources - road, water, air, railway, as well as off-road vehicles,

c) non-combustion activities with fossil liquids and solid fuels from which volatile greenhouse gas emissions emerge.

2. Industrial processes and manufacturing of industrial products in installations which are not included in the European Union Emissions Trading System and for which a greenhouse gas emission permit is not necessary, and in which greenhouse gas emissions emerge from the use of different materials and raw materials (mineral resources) in manufacturing of industrial products, including volatile greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Use of hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.

4. Use of solvents and different chemical substances.

5. Agricultural activities, including:

a) management of the land used in agriculture, including use of different types of fertilisers, liming, urea application, field burning of agricultural residues,

b) livestock farming, including management of manure and internal (intestinal) fermentation processes of farm animals,

c) manufacturing of agricultural products.

6. Land use, land-use change and forestry activities, including:

a) arable land, pasture and meadows, wetland, populated areas and other infrastructure, and other types of land - preservation of land use and changes in the land-use type to another land-use type,

b) burning of biomass,

c) harvested wood products.

7. Agriculture, forestry and wood processing:

a) wastewater management,

b) waste management, including disposal and waste incineration, except burning of waste for production of energy,

c) composting.

8. Other activities not mentioned previously.

II. Activities for Removal of Carbon Dioxide

1. Land use, land-use change activities, including:

a) management of arable land which is any activity performed according to a complex of measures applicable to land on which agricultural cultures are grown, and to land which has been left in fallow or which is temporarily not used for growing crops,

b) management of pastures and meadows which is any activity performed according to a complex of measures applicable to land used in livestock farming, and the purpose of which is to control or influence the quantity and type of vegetation and farm animals,

c) wetland,

d) populated areas and other infrastructure,

e) other types of land - preservation of land use and change in the land-use type to another land-use type.

2. Forestry activities, including:

a) afforestation which within the meaning of the Kyoto Protocol and the legal acts of the European Union is the direct human-induced conversion of land that has not been forest for a period of at least 50 years to forest through planting, seeding and/or the human-induced promotion of natural seed sources, where the conversion has taken place after 31 December 1989,

b) reforestation which within the meaning of the Kyoto Protocol and the legal acts of the European Union is any direct human-induced conversion of land that is not forest to forest through planting, seeding and/or the human-induced promotion of natural seed sources, which is confined to land that was forest but ceased to be forest before 1 January 1990, and which has been reconverted to forest in the period after 31 December 1989,

c) harvested wood products,

d) deforestation which within the meaning of the Kyoto Protocol and the legal acts of the European Union is the direct human-induced conversion of forest to land that is not forest, where the conversion has taken place after 31 December 1989,

e) forest management which within the meaning of the Kyoto Protocol and the legal acts of the European Union is any activity resulting from a system of practices applicable to a forest that influences the ecological, economic or social functions of the forest.

¹The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2025 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)