(DG JRC/IPTS) - agrilife - Europa

The project introduced EMS in accordance with ISO 14001. The methodology was
based on “train the trainer” principle, and on integration of both theoretical training and
practical implementation at the enterprise level.
Between training sessions, the companies were working with development and
implementation o f their own EMS, beginning with establishment of an environmental
review and continued through the EMS cycle from environmental policy, objectives,
targets, action plans to the EMS handbook with all the required procedures and
documentation.
With the Danish Agency for Trade and Industry and the Latvian Ministry of Economy
as initiators, 7 companies within the Latvian agricultural industry participated in a pilot
project of introduction of environmental management in accordance with ISO 14001.
The companies are Piebalgas alus(brewery), Putnu fabrika ķekava (chicken factory),
Rīgas Piena kombintās (dairy), Aldaris (brewery), Brīvais Vilnis (fish industry),
Salacgrīva 95 (fish industry), Tervete (brewery).
During the period 1999 – 2001, top management, project managers and key employees
have participated in a number of seminars, educational projects and audits.
All companies have developed management procedures and organisational conditions,
and have allocated responsibility to meet the requirements of ISO 14001. During the
period, Piebalgas alus gained an ISO 14001 certificate via an internationally recognized
certification body.
Traceability system
Once the food has been processed each single unit has to be identified by a lot or batch
number so that each product can be traced back to its origin. Also all food-operators
must be registered and individually identified to allow full traceability.
Another key element of the integrated farm to fork approach is the concept of
traceability, which means that it should be possible to trace and follow a food-producing
animal, food, feed or any substance to be incorporated into a food or feed, through all
stages of production, processing and distribution. Because unsafe food and feed will
have to be withdrawn from the market, food businesses should have systems in place to
identify their suppliers, as well as those they have supplied.
Environmental Impact Assessment legislation
Environmental impact assessment is carried out in accordance with the provisions
stipulated in the Law "On Environmental impact assessment", passed on October 14,
1998.
Initially in the Law "On Environmental impact assessment" had been incorporated legal
provisions resulting from Directives 85/337/EEC, 97/11/EC, Council Directive of 27
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