Peat

Laws and Regulations

The use of peatlands for peat extraction is regulated by legislative acts covering a wide variety of fields, including environmental impact assessment, spatial development planning, the use of subterranean depths, nature protection, pollution and waste control, the use of public property, and construction. National-level regulatory acts binding to the peat industry can be accessed on the official portal https://likumi.lv/. Please be aware that the vast majority of these legislative acts are in Latvian, with only a few available in English. Furthermore, any acts provided in English may be consolidated versions.
The information below provides an insight into the major regulatory acts, however, it only highlights a portion of the complete regulatory framework binding to peat sector in Latvia.

Planning and Policy Documents

  • Guidelines for the Sustainable Use of Peat 2020–2030 These guidelines serve as the primary national policy document aimed at balancing the economic importance of the peat sector with environmental protection and climate goals. To prevent the disproportionate use of natural resources, the guidelines set limits on peat extraction volumes and areas: the total licensed area for peat extraction may not exceed 26 000 ha, with an average annual extraction volume of 1.2 million tonnes (calculated over a 10-year period).
  • Latvian Bioeconomy Strategy 2030 The peat sector advocates for the clear integration of horticultural peat (as a slowly renewable resource) into this strategy.
  • Territorial Just Transition Plan This includes EU support instruments designed to mitigate the social, economic and environmental consequences of the transition to climate neutrality in the regions most affected – including peat extraction territories in Latvia. More information on JTF (Just Transition Fund) activities related to the peat sector can be found here.
  • National Energy and Climate Plan 2021–2030 (NECP) and the Environmental Policy Guidelines 2021–2027  

Regulatory Acts (Laws and Cabinet Regulations)

Use of Subterranean Depths and Extraction of Mineral Resources

The law On Subterranean Depths determines the complex, rational, environmentally conscious and sustainable use of subterranean depths, as well as the requirements for their protection. Related Cabinet regulations include:

Environmental Protection, Nature and Pollution Control

The law On Environmental Impact Assessment stipulates that an initial EIA is required for peat extraction areas starting from 25 ha, while a full EIA is required for areas from 150 ha. It mandates public information and consultation. Related Cabinet regulations include:

Protection Zone Law regulates economic activity within the protection zones and buffer zones of various objects.
Law on Information System of Restricted Territories (ATIS Law) governs the maintenance and availability of restriction data within the ATIS system.
Law on Specially Protected Nature Territories .
Natural Resources Tax Law and related Cabinet Regulation No. 404 (19.06.2007): Procedures for Calculating and Paying Natural Resources Tax, Issuing Permits for the Use of Natural Resources, and Auditing Management Systems.
Law On Pollution sets requirements to prevent soil and water pollution.
Waste Management Law .
Cabinet Regulation No. 353 (20.06.2017), Requirements for Green Public Procurement and Procedures for the Application Thereof currently restricts the peat sector by stating that soil improvers may not contain peat. The industry is advocating for the removal of this ban.

Climate

The Climate Resilience and Economic Sustainability Law defines Latvia's carbon sequestration and GHG emission reduction targets within the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector.

Cabinet Regulation No. 675 (25.10.2022), Procedures for the Establishment and Maintaining the System for Greenhouse Gas Inventories, the Projections System, and the System for Reporting on the Adaptation to Climate Change establishes the procedure for collecting data for national GHG inventories and projections in Latvia. It includes the collection and reporting of peat sector data, such as peat extraction volumes and forecasts, as well as land reclamation types and their future projections.

Spatial Planning and Public Participation

Spatial Development Planning Law: Peat extraction is possible only in accordance with the local municipality's spatial plan.

Land Amelioration, Construction and Forest Management

Land Amelioration Law and related Cabinet Regulations :

Construction Law and related Cabinet Regulations:

Forest Law and related Cabinet Regulation No. 889 (18.12.2012): Regulations Regarding the Criteria for Determining Compensation for Deforestation and the Procedures for Calculation and Reimbursement.

Labour Law and Occupational Safety

Labour Law and related Cabinet Regulations regarding seasonal work, open-ended contracts, and the classification of occupations:

Labour Protection Law and Cabinet Regulation No. 150 (21.02.2006): Labour Protection Requirements for Extraction of Minerals.

Fire Safety

Law on Fire Safety, Firefighting and Rescue Operations and related Cabinet Regulation No. 238 (19.04.2016): Fire Safety Regulations (On 2 nd of January of 2027 expected a new Regulation).

Machinery and Equipment

Others

The Civil Law, PART THREE: Property Law : Regulates servitudes (the right to use a neighbor's land to build or use access roads) and the general principles of land lease, building rights, and ownership.

Cabinet Regulation No. 1019 (27.12.2011): Regulations Regarding Cadastral Surveying of Land.

National Data Systems

Further insight into the regulatory framework governing peat extraction is provided by Priede A., Gancone A. (eds.) in their 2019 monograph Sustainable and responsible after-use of peat extraction areas (Baltijas krasti, Riga., pp. 153 - 161.)

Latvian Peat Association has entered contract No. SKV[1]TL-2022/26 with the Latvian Investment and Development Agency for support of the measure “International promotion of competitiveness” program co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.