On Thursday, the Saeima supported amendments to the Food Circulation Supervision Law in the second reading, excluding a provision that would require catering establishments to provide customers with accessible drinking water from the tap.
In September of last year, the Saeima postponed the consideration of these amendments twice and removed them from the agenda until further decisions were made by the Committee on Economic Affairs, Agriculture, Environmental and Regional Policy.
The amendments prepared by the deputies of the Progressive Party proposed to establish an obligation for catering establishments to provide customers with accessible drinking water from the tap if there is a connection to the water supply system at the place of service.
As previously discussed in the committee, Saeima deputy Viktoria Pleskane, who is not part of any faction, and deputy from the United List Aiva Viksna proposed to exclude this provision from the amendments. Last year, the committee members did not support these proposals.
However, at the end of July this year, after the proposal by National Alliance (NA) deputy Janis Grosbergs to vote again specifically on these proposals, the majority of deputies supported them. On Thursday, supporting Viksna's proposal, the majority of the Saeima finally excluded the relevant provision from the amendments.
At the same time on Thursday, deputies supported the proposal to establish that food products and food raw materials labeled "Best before..." are prohibited from being distributed after the minimum shelf life has expired, and food raw materials are prohibited from being used in the production of products, except in cases where distribution or use is permitted in accordance with Cabinet of Ministers regulations.
The Cabinet of Ministers will determine the requirements and procedures for using food raw materials in production after their minimum shelf life has expired if they are labeled "Best before...".
The proposal from the Ministry of Agriculture was also supported, stating that the Food and Veterinary Service is a direct state administration institution under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Agriculture.
In addition, deputies supported the proposal to instruct the Cabinet of Ministers to establish the requirements and procedures for border control regarding food products and materials and items intended for contact with food products imported from third countries, in cases where, according to directly applicable EU regulations, official control at the border control point may not be conducted and when enhanced control, emergency measures, or special import conditions are established for such goods.
