LATVIA: NO POSITION YET ON SOY ISSUE BUT AGAINST BIOTECH

UNCLAS RIGA 000451 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT, AND EUR/ERA STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USTR USDA/FAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD EUN TBIO LG SUBJECT: LATVIA: NO POSITION YET ON SOY ISSUE BUT AGAINST BIOTECH ANIMAL FEED REF: SECSTATE 86566 ¶1. (SBU) Latvia is aware of the suspension of U.S. soy product imports, but has not developed a formal position on the issue. Pol/Econ Off delivered reftel demarche to Inese Birgele, head of the MFA's International Trade and Investment Division, and to Janis Briedis, deputy director of the MOA's International Affairs and Strategy Analysis Department. Mr. Briedis said the GOL is very unlikely to raise the issue during the September 7 Agricultural Council meeting. ¶2. (SBU) Regarding the GOL's general position on biotechnology products, Mr. Briedis said that Latvian law completely bans their use or cultiviation. Also, the Parliament's European Affairs Committee decided that Latvia will vote 'no' in the European Union on licensing new biotech products for cultivation and on providing market access to biotech products, including livestock feed.