Food suppliers in Latvia face two different types of food-safety requirement. The first is legal compliance under Latvian and European Union food law. The second is voluntary certification used to win supermarket, export, private-label and foodservice business.

Eight systems are especially relevant in the Latvian market: HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS Food Safety, IFS Food, GLOBALG.A.P., EU Organic certification and Latvia’s national food quality scheme, commonly recognised through the Green Spoon and Bordeaux Spoon marks.

These systems do not all do the same job. HACCP-based self-control is part of legal food-hygiene compliance. ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 are management-system frameworks. BRCGS and IFS are heavily used by international retailers. GLOBALG.A.P. is aimed mainly at farm-level assurance. Organic certification supports regulated organic claims. Latvia’s national quality scheme gives products a local quality mark under state-supervised rules.

: a Latvian supplier does not need every certification on this list. The correct combination depends on the product, factory, target retailer and export market. HACCP-based self-control is the legal starting point. International certifications sit on top of that when customers require them.

Top food safety certifications in Latvia

Certification or scheme	Main use	Typical users	Mandatory?
HACCP	Hazard control and legal self-control	Food manufacturers, catering, storage and retail	HACCP-based procedures are legally required
ISO 22000	Food-safety management system	Manufacturers, wholesalers, logistics and food-chain businesses	Voluntary certification
FSSC 22000	GFSI-recognised food-safety certification	Large manufacturers, exporters and packaging suppliers	Voluntary, often customer-driven
BRCGS Food Safety	Retail and private-label supplier assurance	Food factories and exporters	Voluntary, often commercially required
IFS Food	Retailer-focused supplier assurance	Private-label and export manufacturers	Voluntary, often customer-driven
GLOBALG.A.P.	Farm-level assurance	Fresh produce and primary agriculture	Voluntary, often required by buyers
EU Organic	Organic production and labelling	Growers and food manufacturers	Required for regulated organic claims
Green Spoon / Bordeaux Spoon	Latvian national food quality scheme	Latvian food producers meeting scheme rules	Voluntary

Food safety in Latvia: what suppliers need to know first

Latvia is an EU member state, so food businesses operate under European Union hygiene, traceability and food-safety law as well as Latvian national rules.

The Latvian Food and Veterinary Service, or PVD, supervises food businesses across the supply chain.

Food companies involved in production, storage, processing, packaging, retail or catering must be registered or, for certain animal-origin activities, formally approved.

The PVD states clearly that food businesses are responsible for the safety and quality of the food they place on the market.

The legal base therefore comes first.

A certificate cannot replace:

• registration;
• hygiene;
• traceability;
• safe ingredients;
• temperature control;
• legal labelling;
• recall capability;
• HACCP-based self-control.

International certification can strengthen a supplier’s commercial position, but it does not remove legal responsibility.

1. HACCP

HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points.

It is the core risk-control method used across food manufacturing and handling.

Under Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, food businesses must put in place, implement and maintain permanent procedures based on HACCP principles where applicable.

What does HACCP involve?

The system begins by identifying hazards.

These can include:

• pathogenic bacteria;
• allergens;
• chemical residues;
• cleaning chemicals;
• glass or metal contamination;
• temperature failure;
• cross-contamination;
• incorrect labelling.

The business then decides how the risks are controlled.

Is HACCP certification mandatory in Latvia?

No. The legal requirement is to operate an effective HACCP-based self-control system where required.

A commercial third-party certificate is separate.

This distinction is important.

Latvian certification and training organisations also explain that HACCP-based self-control is mandatory while management-system certification itself remains voluntary.

Who needs HACCP?

It is especially relevant to:

• food manufacturers;
• meat and dairy processors;
• bakeries;
• catering;
• ready-meal production;
• food storage;
• retailers with food preparation;
• food distributors.

For suppliers working with supermarket private label, strong HACCP controls are the minimum technical expectation.

2. ISO 22000

ISO 22000 is an international standard for food-safety management systems.

It combines HACCP principles with wider management-system requirements.

The standard covers planning, leadership, communication, operations, performance monitoring and continual improvement.

Is ISO 22000 used in Latvia?

Yes.

Certification bodies operating in Latvia offer ISO 22000 certification, and Latvian food businesses use the standard across manufacturing, wholesale and logistics.

Reaton Food, for example, states that it was the first food wholesaler in Latvia to obtain ISO 22000 certification for food logistics and wholesale distribution.

Who should consider ISO 22000?

The standard can be useful for:

• food manufacturers;
• ingredient suppliers;
• wholesalers;
• logistics companies;
• packaging businesses in the food chain;
• retail operations;
• foodservice businesses.

Does ISO 22000 guarantee supermarket approval?

No.

Some retailers may accept it as useful evidence. Others may insist on a GFSI-recognised scheme such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS or IFS.

Suppliers should ask the target customer before paying for certification.

3. FSSC 22000

FSSC 22000 is built around ISO 22000 but adds sector-specific prerequisite programmes and additional scheme requirements.

It is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative.

This makes it especially relevant to manufacturers serving multinational food companies and structured retail supply chains.

Why FSSC 22000 matters in Latvia

Bureau Veritas Latvia lists FSSC 22000 as a key food-sector certification and also offers a specific FSSC 22000 Packaging route.

This matters because Latvia has significant food manufacturing and packaging activity.

Who should use it?

FSSC 22000 can suit:

• large food plants;
• beverage factories;
• dairy processors;
• food-packaging manufacturers;
• ingredient businesses;
• export-focused factories.

ISO 22000 versus FSSC 22000

ISO 22000 gives a recognised management-system framework.

FSSC 22000 goes further and has GFSI recognition.

If a customer’s supplier policy says “GFSI-recognised certification”, ISO 22000 alone may not satisfy it.

4. BRCGS Food Safety

BRCGS Food Safety is one of the most widely used third-party food manufacturing standards in international grocery supply chains.

It is especially common in private label and branded manufacturing for large retailers.

Is BRCGS available in Latvia?

Yes.

SGS Latvia and Bureau Veritas Latvia both provide BRCGS-related certification services.

Bureau Veritas states that BRCGS and IFS certification is required by many leading European and global retail chains when starting or continuing supplier relationships.

What does BRCGS assess?

The standard covers areas including:

• senior management commitment;
• HACCP;
• food-safety culture;
• site standards;
• product control;
• process control;
• personnel;
• traceability;
• food defence.

Who needs BRCGS most?

It is particularly relevant to Latvian factories supplying:

• UK supermarkets;
• international private label;
• multinational food companies;
• retailers with GFSI-based supplier policies.

Is it mandatory?

No. BRCGS is a commercial certification.

But if a supermarket refuses to list a supplier without it, the certification becomes commercially necessary for that contract.

5. IFS Food

IFS Food is another major retailer-focused food manufacturing standard.

It is heavily used in continental Europe, particularly by retailers and private-label supply chains.

Why IFS matters in Latvia

Latvia exports food to many EU markets.

Manufacturers selling to German, French, Italian and other European retail customers may encounter IFS requirements.

Bureau Veritas Latvia specifically lists IFS alongside BRCGS as a standard widely required by major retail chains.

What does IFS Food assess?

IFS examines:

• food safety;
• quality management;
• product specifications;
• traceability;
• process control;
• food defence;
• food fraud;
• customer requirements.

BRCGS or IFS?

Neither is automatically better.

The correct choice depends on customer requirements.

A Latvian manufacturer should ask its target retailer which standards and certification bodies it accepts.

6. GLOBALG.A.P.

GLOBALG.A.P. is a farm-level assurance standard used across international fresh produce and agriculture.

It is especially relevant to growers supplying modern supermarket programmes.

What does GLOBALG.A.P. cover?

Areas include:

• traceability;
• crop protection;
• fertiliser use;
• water management;
• worker health and safety;
• hygiene;
• harvest controls;
• record keeping.

Why does it matter in Latvia?

Bureau Veritas Latvia offers GLOBALG.A.P. certification and describes it as a route to new markets in Latvia and abroad.

For growers supplying supermarket fresh produce, farm-level assurance can be a major commercial requirement.

Latvia’s fresh produce companies compete not only on price but also on traceability, consistency and buyer confidence.

Is GLOBALG.A.P. mandatory?

It is normally voluntary.

However, many supermarket sourcing programmes will only buy certain produce from approved certified farms.

7. EU Organic certification

Organic certification is different from a conventional food-safety management certificate.

It verifies compliance with organic-production rules and allows regulated organic claims and labelling.

What does organic certification cover?

It covers areas such as:

• permitted inputs;
• production methods;
• segregation;
• traceability;
• labelling;
• inspection;
• certified supply chains.

Does organic mean safer?

No.

Organic certification does not replace HACCP, hygiene or microbiological controls.

An organic food can still be unsafe if the food-safety system fails.

Why it matters commercially

Organic products serve a distinct grocery segment and can attract higher retail prices.

Latvian suppliers selling organic food into EU supermarkets need valid certification and correct EU organic labelling.

8. Latvia’s Green Spoon and Bordeaux Spoon quality scheme

Latvia has a national food quality scheme supervised by the Food and Veterinary Service.

Products that meet the scheme’s criteria can use recognised national quality references including the Green Spoon and Bordeaux Spoon.

Why this scheme is different

This is not an international food-safety management standard like FSSC 22000.

It is a Latvian national quality scheme.

The PVD checks both documentation and the food business operator before granting certification.

How does certification work?

The process includes:

1. application;
2. raw-material information;
3. document review;
4. operator inspection;
5. supplier checks where needed;
6. corrective action if required;
7. certificate decision.

The PVD says the scheme is open to food businesses able to meet the criteria defined in Latvian regulation.

Why does it matter?

For domestic supermarket shoppers, a national quality mark can provide quick recognition.

For producers, it can differentiate products based on local quality criteria and origin-related requirements.

Does it replace BRCGS or IFS?

No.

A retailer may value the national quality mark for consumer positioning while still requiring BRCGS, IFS or FSSC 22000 for technical supplier approval.

Which food certification is legally required in Latvia?

The most important legal point is HACCP-based self-control.

Food businesses must comply with EU hygiene law and Latvian food legislation.

ISO, BRCGS, IFS and FSSC certification are generally voluntary unless a customer contract makes them a condition of supply.

Which certification is best for Latvian supermarket suppliers?

There is no one answer.

A practical guide is:

Supplier type	Most relevant systems
Local food manufacturer	HACCP plus ISO 22000 or another customer-required scheme
Private-label factory	BRCGS, IFS or FSSC 22000
Fresh produce grower	GLOBALG.A.P. plus legal compliance
Organic producer	EU Organic plus food-safety controls
Latvian quality-positioned product	Green Spoon or Bordeaux Spoon where eligible
Food packaging manufacturer	FSSC 22000 Packaging or BRCGS Packaging Materials depending on customer

How should a supplier choose a certification body?

Check accreditation first.

The certification body should be accredited for the specific standard and scope.

Also check whether the target retailer accepts it.

A cheap certificate has little value if the buyer rejects the certifier.

How much does certification cost in Latvia?

There is no standard price.

Cost depends on:

• company size;
• number of employees;
• number of sites;
• product complexity;
• audit duration;
• certification standard;
• travel;
• laboratory testing;
• consultancy;
• corrective work.

The audit fee can be a small part of the real cost.

A company may need to improve floors, drainage, zoning, allergen controls, temperature monitoring or traceability before it is ready.

How long does certification take?

A mature food business may be ready quickly.

A company starting from weak systems may need several months of preparation.

The normal sequence is:

1. gap analysis;
2. system development;
3. staff training;
4. implementation;
5. internal audit;
6. management review;
7. certification audit;
8. corrective actions;
9. certificate decision.

Can a certificate replace retailer approval?

No.

Supermarkets can still review:

• product specification;
• factory capacity;
• commercial terms;
• ethical standards;
• packaging;
• delivery performance;
• recall systems;
• traceability;
• financial stability.

Certification supports approval. It does not guarantee a listing.

What should food exporters from Latvia check?

Exporters should start with the destination market and buyer.

Check:

1. legal import requirements;
2. retailer certification policy;
3. accepted certification bodies;
4. product labelling;
5. health certificates where relevant;
6. organic or quality claims;
7. allergen requirements;
8. microbiological limits;
9. residue requirements.

Latvia’s EU membership simplifies trade inside the single market, but supermarket requirements can still be stricter than law.

What do Latvian supermarkets expect?

Large supermarket chains typically want structured evidence of food safety and supplier control.

The exact requirement varies by chain and category.

Fresh produce may focus strongly on farm assurance. Private-label ready meals may require a detailed GFSI-recognised factory standard. Imported premium products may be handled through approved distributors with their own quality systems.

Latvia’s FMCG companies and supermarket suppliers therefore need flexible certification strategies rather than one universal certificate.

ISO 22000 vs FSSC 22000

Both use the ISO 22000 food-safety management framework.

FSSC 22000 adds additional scheme and prerequisite requirements and is GFSI recognised.

If a buyer specifically requires a GFSI scheme, FSSC 22000 is usually the more relevant option.

BRCGS vs IFS in Latvia

Both are strongly relevant to European retail supply.

BRCGS has deep use in UK and international grocery supply chains.

IFS is particularly influential across continental Europe.

Latvian exporters may hold either depending on customer mix.

What certification is best for food packaging?

Food-packaging manufacturers face their own contamination and material-compliance risks.

Relevant schemes include:

• FSSC 22000 Packaging;
• BRCGS Packaging Materials;
• ISO 22000 where appropriate;
• food-contact material compliance.

Latvia’s packaging companies supplying food manufacturers should confirm the exact standard required by the customer.

What is the biggest certification mistake?

The biggest mistake is buying a certificate before understanding the customer’s requirement.

Other common problems include:

• expired certificates;
• wrong site address;
• scope that does not cover the product;
• poor traceability;
• weak allergen controls;
• paper procedures that staff do not follow;
• repeat audit findings.

Which Latvian scheme is unique to the country?

The Green Spoon and Bordeaux Spoon national food quality scheme is the clearest Latvia-specific system in this article.

It is supervised by the PVD and provides a national quality reference for eligible products.

Frequently asked questions

Is HACCP mandatory in Latvia?

Food businesses must operate HACCP-based self-control procedures where required under EU food-hygiene law.

Is ISO 22000 mandatory?

No. ISO 22000 certification is voluntary, although customers can require it contractually.

Is BRCGS used in Latvia?

Yes. Latvian certification bodies provide BRCGS services and it is relevant to factories supplying major international retailers.

Is IFS used in Latvia?

Yes. It is particularly relevant to manufacturers supplying continental European supermarket chains.

Do Latvian farms need GLOBALG.A.P.?

Not as a general legal requirement, but many supermarket produce programmes require it commercially.

Can Latvian companies use the EU Organic logo?

Yes, if the product and operation meet EU organic rules and are covered by valid organic certification.

What are Green Spoon and Bordeaux Spoon?

They are references used within Latvia’s national food quality scheme for products that meet defined regulatory criteria.

Does a certificate guarantee food safety?

No. Certification provides independent assurance, but food safety depends on day-to-day controls, staff behaviour and management.

Can a factory hold more than one certification?

Yes. Many export factories hold several schemes because different customers require different standards.

Which certification should a new supplier get first?

Start with legal HACCP-based self-control, then choose additional certification based on the exact customer and market you want to supply.

Editor’s Note: Requirements were checked against Latvian PVD and current certification-body information.