(DG JRC/IPTS) - agrilife - Europa

• Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance www.lrql.lv
In order to ensure the competitiveness of Latvian enterprises, besides compulsory safety
requirements, often certification of the compliance to the voluntary quality requirements
in needed. Such certification schemes as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are widely used in
Latvia, still the awareness of the enterprises regarding application of these and other
means for strengthening their competitiveness remains low. In the first half of 2003,
there were 273 Latvian enterprises certified according to the standard ISO 9001. One of
the main problems hampering more rapid introduction of ISO 9001 standards are the
high costs arising from introduction, certification and maintenance of the quality
systems, especially for SMEs, as well as lack of awareness among the entrepreneurs
about the advantages application of quality systems, product certification and
standardisation offers for operations in the market of EU [9; 57; 58; 59; 60].
No accreditation by third party subjects
The certification institutions (third party) should be accreditated or non-accredited for
auditing the corresponding standards or systems in Latvia. The principle of audit did not
distinguish for actions of accredited auditing company. In Latvia, if companies choose
non-accredited institutions for certification of standards or systems, it would be cheaper
and obtained certificate did not prestige.
Self referential schemes
Checks and inspection of the final product must therefore remain the responsibility of
the competent authorities, even though the food operator may have HACCP and shelfchecks
procedures in place. The competent authorities are also responsible for putting
the correct legislation into effect and for ensuring that this legislation is faithfully
implemented.
Standard routines for suppliers
Food safety is also a priority in the Baltic countries. Governmental authorities are
setting stringent demands on how long a product may keep on display stories. In 2003
RIMI (one of largest wholesalers) in Latvia added a rider to its annual agreements with
suppliers containing detailed product quality demands. In Latvia RIMI has established a
database of suppliers’ quality guarantees to improve safety and quality control and
facilitate product traceability.
In store quality
Each store is responsible for guaranteeing food safety by maintaining appropriate
sanitary conditions and inspecting its food preparation routines and storage
temperatures. In Latvia and Lithuania ICA Baltic complies with HACCP using an
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