If you want to do food home or crafts, you can do two ways:

• to become a merchant by registering an undertaking, or
• register as a natural person - performer of economic activity.

Company registration can be carried out electronically on the portalLatvija.lvusing e-service “Registration of the registers kept by the Enterprise Register”. The registration of the company must be subject to payment of the State fee. You can pay the service only outside the www.latvija.lv portal (including any online bank).

Read more about establishment and business forms and their differences in lifeStarting a business.

An economic activity may be recorded free of charge:

• SRSIn the electronic declaration system(SRS EDS) under the heading “Documents/From Form/Taxpayer Operating Type and Registration Data Changes Form/Taxpayer (Natural Person) Registration Data”;
• on-site in anycustomer Care Centerpresenting a passport or identity card (eID card) and completing the registration sheet of the taxpayer.

For more information on how to perform an economic activity, seeOn the website of the State Revenue Service.

If you want to register a separate business unit that will carry out an economic activity (production site, sales location, Internet shop), you must provide additional information about the departments (read more in the sectionBusiness unit).

If you are submitting an annual income statement, documents supporting eligible expenses can be easily saved and added to the declaration via a mobile appEligible expenditure. Read more in the situationHow do I submit an annual income statement?

A trade mark is a term used to distinguish the goods or services of a person from the goods or services of others. A trademark can serve as a powerful marketing tool by which a company can contribute to the visibility of its goods or services.

Trade marks shall be registered in accordance with the 'Trade mark law”.

In order to register a trade mark in Latvia, a person (natural or legal) must submit an application for registration of a trade mark to the Patent Office. More about trademarks and how to register them, readOn the website of the Patent Board.

Using the e-services of the Patent Office, you may:

• to apply for a trade mark;
• re-register trademark;
• exclude trade mark from register;
• change trademark owner data;
• to object to registration of a trade mark.

Before registration of the trade mark it is desirable to ascertain whether the relevant trade mark is not already protected in Latvia, this can be done by searchingtrade mark databases.

The owner of a trade mark who has already registered his or her mark is entitled to challenge a trade mark registered by another owner if it is identical or too similar to his trade mark, as well as applies to the same or similar goods or services. The acquirer will always be the one who applied for his trademark in the past.

Registration of a trade mark shall be valid for 10 years but may be renewed by appealingOn the Patent Board.

Remember! The trade mark shall be protected only in the country in which it is registered.

In order to register a trade mark outside Latvia, an application must be submitted to the trade mark registration authority of the country or region concerned.

In order to ensure the protection of the trade mark in all Member States of the European Union (EU), it is necessary to submit an applicationAt the EU Intellectual Property Office.

In order to ensure the international registration of a trade mark with a view to obtaining protection in certain countries, it is necessary to submit an application for international registration of the trade mark to the Patent Office. International registration of trade marks shall take place in accordance withguidelines for the international registration of trade marks within the framework of the Madrid systemandRules of procedure of the Madrid Agreement on the International Registration of Marks and the Madrid Protocol.

Additional information on the registration of a trade mark in the EU is available at:Website of the EU Intellectual Property Office, for international registration of a trade mark -Website of the World Intellectual Property OrganizationandOn the website of the Patent Board.

The design may protect the right to the shape of any industrial or craft product, including the colour composition and drawing of the article on the surface, packaging, graphic symbols, drawings and typefaces (types), if they have a new and individual character.

If you want the design you have designed to be used by no one else without permission, and you want to obtain the legal protection of the design in Latvia, not later than 12 months from the time the design has been published, register it.On the Patent Board.

Registration grants an exclusive right to the owner of the design.

Designs shall be registered in accordance with:Design law”. For more about design and registration, readOn the website of the Patent Board.

The owner of a registered design may prohibit others from manufacturing, marketing, importing or exporting products which do not differ significantly from the registered design.

In order to ascertain whether the design is already protected in Latvia, it is recommended to carry out a search for designs on the website of the Patent Office.design databases.

Using the e-services of the Patent Office, you may:

• to apply for a design;
• re-register design;
• to exclude a design from the register;
• change design owner's data.

The design is protected only in the country where it is registered. A design registered in Latvia, the European Union (EU) or outside it provides an exclusive right in the territory concerned, so it is advisable to carefully weigh how much protection the design needs before registration.

Information on registration of a design in the EU territory can be found at:Website of the EU Intellectual Property Officeon the other hand, the international registration of a design can be found outWebsite of the World Intellectual Property Organization, as well asOn the website of the Patent Board.

Registration of a design shall be valid for 5 years from the date of the application. At the end of this period, registration may be renewed for a new period of 5 years up to a maximum protection period of 25 years.

The reduced patent fee is a single fixed payment determined by the State, which includes the payment of personal income tax on the economic activity of a natural person.

The reduced patent fee shall be paid for six calendar months or one calendar year. The reduced patent fee may be paid if:

• the person has been granted an old-age pension (including prematurely) and has the right to apply the non-taxable minimum of the pensioner or the disability of Group 1 or 2 has been determined;
• economic activity shall be carried out in the field for which the reduced patent fee is permitted;
• operating income in the previous year shall not exceed EUR 3000 and, according to the person's own forecast, operating income (calculated for the full year) will not exceed EUR 3000;
• do not employ other persons and do not employ employed employment (not a payroll tax payer).

For more about reduced patent fees and payment terms, read the State Revenue Service (SRS)on the websiteand methodical materialReduced patent fee.

Cabinet Regulations of 14 January 2021N ° 36 Procedures for the Application of Reduced Patent Charges to the Economic Activities of a Natural Person in a Determined Professionsa list of professions which may benefit from reduced patent fees and the arrangements for the application of reduced patent fees shall be determined.

Craftsmen and other professionals listed in the regulations may choose to purchase the SRS patent for six calendar months or one calendar year. It shall amount to EUR 9 in half a year or EUR 17 per year.

A person shall submit a registration application and pay the reduced patent fee not later than seven working days prior to the specific period (calendar half-year or calendar year), when the application of the reduced patent fee is intended to begin. The application may be submitted byVID EDSthe heading “Documents” shall be selected from the form for the income tax document and the submission to the State Revenue Service regarding registration for the performance of the reduced patent fee.

Value Added Tax Lawit is specified that registration in the State Revenue Service in the Register of Value Added Tax Taxable Persons is not necessary if the total value of the taxable supplies of goods and services provided has not exceeded the total value of the previous 12 months.a certain amount.

For more information about paying VAT, readOn the SRS website.

A craftsman or home producer has two options to design his or her activities:

1. to become a merchant by registering an undertaking, or
2. register as a natural person - a performer of economic activity.

If you have established a company, you may receive payment for your work:

1. as a work salary, designing yourself asemployeesin his undertaking with a contract of employment which covers the amount of payment;
2. how the owner of the company receivesdividendsfrom the company's profits.

If you areperformer of economic activitythen your salary is the money withdrawn for personal purposes.

If you are employing another person in your business, please refer to the section for useful information.Recruitment of employees.

Even if you produce food for sale in small quantities, you must make sure that it complies with the safety and quality requirements laid down.

ViewGuidelines for good practice in food craftsandRoadmap for home production developed by the Ministry of Agricultureto learn more about opportunities and requirements for home production.

After registration of an undertaking or economic activity, the manufacturer must register for the purpose of starting production of products at home.Food and veterinary servicestherefore, the company comes under the supervision of the PVD.

In order to register the company PVD, the merchant must prepare an application for registration of the company in the relevant field. The application form is available in the section of the PVD website.The form.

The application or application shall be submitted to the PVD:

• Electronically by signing withsecure electronic signatureand sending toe-address,
• by post, correspondingFor the AFD territorial unit,
• On-siteIn the territorial unit of the PVDthe territory of which the object to be registered is located,
• Electronically by signing withsecure electronic signatureand sending to e-mailpasts@pvd.gov.lvOruard@pvd.gov.lv,
• The procedures for registration can be found in the manual:Registration of an establishment with the Food and Veterinary Service.

In order to guarantee safe and safe food for consumers, food companies need to introduceself-control system, which includes monitoring and analysis of each phase of the food chain, shall define the phases in the food chain which are critical to food safety and safety and introduce effective control and monitoring procedures at these stages.

National supervision of the food chain is one of the main functions of the FVO, so that the inspectors of the PVD ensure a regular regulatory frameworkmonitoring of requirementsat all stages of the food chain, in the procurement, production, marketing and catering of products.

Hygiene requirements for home producers

The general hygiene requirements for all food business food business establishments, including home producers, are laid downRegulation No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Councilon the hygiene of food products. For more informationOn the website of the Ministry of Agriculture.

For the production of food products produced in home conditions, the requirements for preferential production are laid down in Chapter III of Annex II to the Regulation and the other hygiene requirements laid down in Chapters V to XII of the Regulation, which must be complied with in the same way as all production establishments. The focus should be on the cleanliness of the premises and on the safety and traceability of the product produced.

Specific requirements are laid down for the production of sterilized preserves. Chapter X of the Regulation lays down requirements for cleaning of packaging used in the manufacture of preserves, while Chapter XI lays down requirements for sealing, thermal treatment and laboratory testing.

This means that the preparation of sterilized preserves (in metal cases, glass jars or other types of airtight containers) must comply with the International Standard.requirements, each type of product must have available and reasonable closing parameters (for metal cases double-stitch characteristics, glass jars, cap tightening, vacuum) and sterilisation formulae (sterilisation time, temperature, pressure) tested. The company must ensure that the above parameters are controlled during the manufacturing process and that the data obtained must be stored throughout the product's term of validity. In addition to the above, the company must perform laboratory examinations to make sure that each batch of products produced is commercially sterile.

The guidelines “Manufacture of preserved fruit and vegetables” can be used by home producers. Alternative canning methods' and other information materialsOn the website of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Water quality

As defined in Cabinet Regulation No 671 of 14 November 2017The mandatory harmlessness and quality of drinking water requirements, monitoring and control arrangements', food business operators should take care of water quality and carry out inspections (monitoring).

Routine and auditmonitoring should not be carried out:

• retail undertakings which do not produce food and do not carry out its preparation or processing in direct contact with drinking water,
• primary plants of plant origin products which do not use drinking water for the treatment of products,
• for retail producers, which use drinking water only to make hot drinks, such as coffee, tea, and take it from the centralised water supply system.

Routine monitoring of water supplied through the water pipeline, intended for daily use by the population, shall be performed by the water supply company and the auditmonitoring - Health Inspectorate. In food undertakings, both routine monitoring and auditmonitoring shall be organised by the owner or manager of the undertaking.

By 1 January each year, food producers must draw up a monitoring programme to be carried out for the inspection of water intended for human consumption and must coordinate withHealth Inspectorate.

Use e-service to coordinate the drinking water monitoring programme with the Health Inspectorate.Application for authorisation, the Health Inspectorate or the receipt of the opinion of the assessment”. This requirement shall not apply to producers to whom drinking water is supplied via a centralised water supply system.

On the other hand, use e-service to notify the Health Inspectorate of the results of drinking water monitoring.Submission of drinking water testing reports to the Health Inspectorate”.

Food of animal origin

Domestic producers producing products of animal origin (meat, milk and fishery products) may use only raw materials complying with the requirements of the Regulation. Only meat obtained may be usedapproved slaughterhouses. The specific requirements for food of animal origin are given inRegulation No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Read more in the situationLivestock farming.

A natural person may supply vegetables, fruit and berries grown on his farm directly to the final consumer or to a retail undertaking without registering economic activity and without registeringFood and veterinary services, however, official inspectors shall be entitled to request and verify the documentation when carrying out checks at the marketing sites. Legal persons in the serviceregister.

Directly to the final consumer or retail undertaking in onea certain amount of products of plant origin may be supplied in a calendar year.

The manufacturer must keep an inventory of the volume of products delivered directly, documenting the name of the products, the place of production, the quantities of products sold in kilograms (day and total in calendar year), the date of marketing of the product and the place of marketing, as well as the place of distribution of the products, an accounting journal to be presented to the controlling authority must be provided.

Cultivated vegetable products

Producer of cultivated vegetable products:

• equipment, containers and boxes shall be kept clean and, if necessary, clean and disinfected;
• ensure the cleanliness of cultivated plant products during harvesting, storage and transport;
• prevent contamination caused by animals and pests in products of cultured plant origin during the harvesting, storage and transport thereof;
• ensure the correct use of plant protection products and biocidal products;
• waste and hazardous substances shall be stored and handled in such a way as to avoid contamination of cultivated plant products.

Wild berries, fruit, nuts, mushrooms and plants

• Wild berries, fruit, nuts, mushrooms and plants shall be collected in clean packaging and protected from contamination during harvesting, storage and transport.
• Wild berries, fruits, nuts, mushrooms, plants are prohibited from being harvested in areas located in the immediate vicinity of the source of contamination (e.g. protection zones along streets, roads, railways, all types of sanitary protection zones, forests in urban areas) and may pose a risk of food contamination.

Birch and maple juices

Birch and maple juice is fresh unpasteurised juice, which may have added raisins, plant parts, various spices, sugar and honey.

Bulk juice

• Birch and maple juice shall be marketed in the buyer's containers or, at the request of the buyer, in a disposable packaging which conforms to the regulatory enactments regarding mandatory safety requirements for materials and objects coming into contact with food.
• At the place of sale of bulk birch and maple juice, the following indications must be given:
• Birch juice or Maple juice;
• The term of validity of birch and maple juice “Use by …”;
• Name and address of the product manufacturer.

Prepacked juice

• Birch and maple juice shall be prepackaged in disposable packaging or in clean glass containers which comply with the regulatory enactments regarding mandatory safety requirements for materials and objects coming into contact with food.
• For pre-packed birch and maple juice, the trade name “Berch juice” or “Maple juice”, the added ingredients (if any), the volume, the term of validity “Use until …” (fresh birch or maple juice) or “Recommended by …” (for fermented birch or maple juice) shall be indicated on the label, the names, surname and address of the manufacturer of the product. An additional indication “fermented” shall be added to the trade name of fermented birch and maple juice.

It is prohibited to obtain birch and maple juice in areas located in the immediate vicinity of the source of pollution (e.g. protection zones along streets, roads, railways, all types of sanitary protection zones, forests in urban administrative areas) and may pose a risk of food contamination.

If you want to produce and market alcoholic beverages in small quantities, you must register a small spirits brewery. A brewery may be registered by an adult natural person - a performer of economic activity or a merchant.

By registering a winery, you can produce wine, fermented drinks,intermediate productsor other alcoholic beverages from products obtained in gardens and apiaries in their ownership or possession, or plants growing in the wild, provided that:

1. the total volume of wine or fermented beverages produced does not exceed 15 000 litres per calendar year;
2. the quantity of absolute alcohol in other alcoholic beverages produced does not exceed 1000 litres per calendar year;
3. the total volume of intermediate products produced shall not exceed 1000 litres per calendar year.

In order to obtain a special permit (licence) for the activity of an approved warehousekeeper, the small alcoholic beverage brewery must obtain the permission of the local government – the local governments have developed requirements and restrictions on production premises, their location, etc., so, look for more information in yourThe municipality.

When a local government permit has been received, a special permit (licence) issued by the State Revenue Service (SRS) for the activity of an approved tax warehouse keeper shall also be obtained. To do this,VID EDSenter the necessary information for drawing up the application and add itCabinet Regulation No. 662 of 30 August 2005, Procedures for the Circulation of Excise GoodsThe documents referred to in point 19.3). More detailed licensing information, andguaranteesreadState Revenue Serviceon the website.

Incentives for the small spirits brewery:

1. to pay reducedThe State feethe issuing of a licence for the activity of an approved warehousekeeper for a small spirits brewery;
2. a rate of 50% of the rates specified in Section 12, Paragraph one, Clause 5 of the Law On Excise Duty shall be applied for other alcoholic beverages produced by small alcoholic beverages per calendar year for 1000 litres of absolute alcohol;
3. merchants are entitled to perform the activities specified for the operation of the authorised warehousekeeper, if in accordance with the procedures specified in the regulatory enactments regulating the circulation of excisable goods the general security certificate of excise duty has been received and the security of excise duty is sufficient. Small breweries of alcoholic beverages which only manufacture wine, fermented beverages or intermediate products, ensuring that the total volume of wine, fermented beverages or intermediate products produced does not exceed 1000 litres per calendar year, no provision is required. On the other hand, for those above this limit or for other alcoholic beverages, the minimum amount of the security has been reduced.Security of excise dutycan loginVID EDS;
4. a small spirits brewery may also, if a separate licence for retail sale of alcoholic beverages has not been obtained, dispose of the wine, fermented beverages, intermediate products or other alcoholic beverages produced in the place specified for the operation of a warehouse holder approved on the licence and carry out outward trade in public events, taking into account the special arrangements for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages at the outward stage. in trade at public events locations, observing the requirements of the Law on the Circulation of Alcoholic Drinks and other regulatory enactments, shall determinelocal authorities. The permit for outward trade shall be issued by the local government in the territory of which the outward trade is intended.
5. small alcoholic breweries are allowed to carry out activities with alcoholic beverages outside the declared working time;
6. it is permitted to register information in the trade registration journal or accounting cards once a month (until the 5 th day for the previous month).

To apply for a license to operate an approved warehouse holder, you can:

1. use the State Revenue Service e-service “Licence for the operation of an approved warehousekeeper for a small spirits brewery”;
2. by submitting it electronicallyIn the ESS systemin selecting the document group “Applications for Excise Goods Licences and Certificates”, the type of document - “Application for the operation of a licence approved for the receipt, re-registration or cancellation of the activity of a tax warehouse holder”.

Producers of alcoholic beverages are also registered with the Food and Veterinary Service. Read more about the sign-up process inFood production.

The manufacturer of cosmetic products shall be anynatural or legal person, which:

• manufacture of a cosmetic product;
• orders another merchant to create or produce a cosmetic product and markets this cosmetic product with his or her name or trademark.

The manufacturer is the responsible person for the cosmetic product placed on the market, andRegulation No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Councilcompliance with the requirements laid down. Good manufacturing practices must be observed in the manufacture of a cosmetic product, as laid down in Article 8 of the Regulation.

Regulatory enactments do not provide for derogations or different requirements for the production of small quantities of cosmetic products. Before starting production, the guidelines for cosmetic products, good manufacturing practices should be consulted and consideration should be given to whether they can be ensured in the designated premises - ensuring that there is a supply of water in the premises, there is no movement of non-manufacturing persons, etc.

Guidelines for good manufacturing practice are set out in EN ISO 22716: 2007 (may be purchasedLatvian Standard Ltd.or read freeStandard reading roomRiga, Krishna Valdemar Street 157).

Each cosmetic product must provide a cosmetic product file, as set out in Regulation No 1223/2009. Prior to the sale of a cosmetic product, information must be provided electronically on the Cosmetic Products Portal (CPNP).

More information is available to cosmetics manufacturers on the Health Inspectorate's website.

The right to the name “craftsman” or “master” shall be limited to a person who has passed a master's examination to the extent provided for in the vocational training and inspection programme and has received a diploma from the master.

Vocational education and professional qualifications can be obtained in public or private schools, as well as in craft companies under the management of the master.

The organisational bases of crafts, basic rules for crafting education and procedures for determining the qualification of a craftsman shall be determined by theAbout crafts“. Artisans' professions are defined in Cabinet Regulation No. 762 of 14.07.2009 “Provisions regarding posts in which the professional activity of a person is considered to be crafts“.

Read more about craftsman qualifications, register, etc.Latvian Crafts Chambers(LAC) on the website. LAC is an association of craft associations set up to represent the professional and social interests of artisans and to promote the development of crafts.

Latvian Crafts Chamber:

• organise vocational training;
• define and grant the qualification of the craftsman;
• register professionals, boys and apprentices, keep records of craft establishments and workshops;
• to takecraft register.

Occupation withcraftsimplementing:

• when carrying out an economic activity as a natural person;
• establishing a company;
• working in a crafts company on the basis of a contract of employment.

In order to obtain authorisation to market their products in public places, this should be coordinated with:municipality.

Trade rules may vary from one municipality to another. Several municipalities offer to apply electronically for a street marketing permit or a permit for street trading in public places during events.

If you want to trade in an internal store, it will be necessary to indicate on your website the identifying information of economic operators, register the unit, ensure that the information is stored for at least 5 years. It should be recalled that the distance trade of certain goods (tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and liquids and others) is prohibited. Read more about this inBusiness unit.Information material for persons doing business on the Internet.

If you want to trade in an internal store, you will need to register your business unit. Read more about this inBusiness unit.

Alcoholic beverages may be marketed in two ways by means of a distance contract (trade in an intermediate shop):

• without registering a website or mobile application for the activity of an approved tax warehouse holder, if it is not possible to pay the purchase online on the website or mobile application;
• when registering a website or mobile application on the website or mobile application specified for the operation of an approved tax warehouse holder, if it is possible to pay the purchase online on the website or mobile application.

When performing trade in its production and receiving payment for transactions in cash or with payment cards, the transaction shall be attested by a cash check or a receipt registered with the SRS, at the request of the counterparty in the following cases:

• for services provided outside the permanent place of activity (unit), if payment is received at the place of provision of services;
• the sale or supply to buyers on the spot of the goods themselves acquired or produced, or the repair of such goods at their place of production (excluding public catering sites);
• for the services provided at the permanent place of activity (unit unit), if the average cash revenue per month does not exceed six minimum monthly wages.
• in the case of goods obtained or manufactured in retail trade sold outside the permanent place of business (department), in the market and in street trading places;
• if the taxpayer is the payer of the reduced patent fee.
• Consequently, patents and home producers have advantages because trading rules are relaxed.

To use receipts, they must be registered in the SRS. Using e-serviceRegistration of business vouchers and tickets, registration of voucher numbers can be done electronically by the SRS at any convenient time. After the purchase of voucher books or forms, their numbers must be recordedVID EDS.

Information on access to public funding can be obtained from rural development consultants in any of the following:Latvian Rural Consultation and Education CentreOrNational rural networkbranches throughout Latvia, as well asMinistry of AgricultureandRural Support Servicein the “EU support” sections of the websites.

Support can also be obtained throughLeader measures“Promoting competitiveness in the area of the implementation of local development strategies” and “Diversification of the rural economy and promoting quality of life in the area of the implementation of local development strategies”.