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Latvia: for restaurants and takeaways

Ready for the food inspection. Every day.

In Latvia the app follows the EU hygiene rules and the Food Circulation Supervision Law; Latvian law sets no kitchen temperatures, and the PVD inspects.

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The Chef Hygiene app on a computer: the home screen of a kitchen with its daily checksThe Chef Hygiene app on a phone: the home screen of a kitchen with its daily checks

Latvia: food hygiene rules

Inspection body
Food and Veterinary Service (Pārtikas un veterinārais dienests, PVD)
Public rating
No
Languages in the app
English

Your inspection

The Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) is the one national authority (Food Circulation Supervision Law, art. 21). Visits are risk-based, unannounced and follow the PVD’s yearly control programme.

After a visit the PVD gives a deadline to fix small faults and can fine (naudas sods) for breaches. It can stop or suspend the activity if there is a direct health threat. For the main offence (art. 29) the fine is up to EUR 500 for a person and EUR 20–1,500 for a company (fine unit EUR 5). Start-up needs registration with the PVD, not a licence (Food Law art. 5).

Hygiene rating

Latvia has no public hygiene rating, sticker or score, and nothing has to be displayed. The PVD keeps a public register of businesses only. The aim is a visit with no faults.

“Law” is a binding rule. “Official guidance” is not law, but inspectors expect it. “Chef Hygiene default” is a value the app checks against where no rule gives a number.

Temperatures

  • LawLatvian law sets no national restaurant fridge, cooking, hot-holding or cooling numbers. Hygiene goes to EU Regulation 852/2004. Your own self-control plan (paškontrole) is the legal duty.
  • Chef Hygiene defaultChilled storage at 2–6°C. Chef Hygiene aims for 5°C or colder. Frozen food at −18°C or colder (EU Regulation 37/2005 for quick-frozen food).
  • Chef Hygiene defaultCooking: core at 75°C, one value for all foods (standard HACCP practice).
  • Chef Hygiene defaultHot holding at 63°C or more, the common HACCP working value. Latvia sets no figure.
  • Chef Hygiene defaultCooling: from about 60°C down to 10°C within about 2 hours (standard HACCP practice).
  • Chef Hygiene defaultReheating: core at 75°C. Cold display: Latvia sets no time. Chef Hygiene uses a 4-hour limit, then throw the food away.
  • Chef Hygiene defaultCheck the thermometer in iced water (−1 to +1°C) and boiling water (99–101°C). Chef Hygiene asks for fridge checks twice a day.

Staff, training and health

  • LawNew food handlers without a food qualification take the course “Minimālās higiēnas prasības pārtikas uzņēmumā”: at least 3 hours, pass mark 70%, and retake every 3 years. This also applies to people out of food handling for more than 3 years (Cabinet Regulation 545).
  • LawA first health check before starting is required for food-contact staff, with a family doctor’s opinion. There is no routine yearly repeat now, and the old sanitary booklet is dropped (Cabinet Regulation 447 of 2018).
  • LawStop food work for vomiting, diarrhoea or a food-borne illness, and return with medical clearance (EU Regulation 852/2004 Annex II). Chef Hygiene uses 48 hours without symptoms; the Latvian clause on a doctor’s note was not found.

Allergens

  • LawFor food that is not prepacked, the dish name and the 14 EU allergens must be given in writing, for example on the menu. Oral allergen information is allowed only in exemption cases such as street or market sales, not a sit-down restaurant (Cabinet Regulation 595, items 4 and 8). Exception: the dish name clearly names the allergen.
  • LawConsumer information and safety notices must be in Latvian (State Language Law; Food Law art. 13).

Fire safety checks

  • LawFire-safety instruction for staff at least once a year (Cabinet Regulation 238, item 190.2). A practical drill is required yearly only where more than 50 people may be present at once. Chef Hygiene suggests a yearly drill as good practice.
  • LawExtinguishers: technical maintenance by the maker’s interval, and a visual check at least yearly, every 6 months for public objects and unheated areas (Cabinet Regulation 238, items 267–268). Chef Hygiene suggests yearly.
  • Chef Hygiene defaultA fire alarm is serviced to the standard and the maker’s instructions. The law gives no fixed interval; Chef Hygiene suggests yearly.
  • LawA general electrical check every 10 years, every 2 years in explosive areas (Cabinet Regulation 238, item 56).
  • Chef Hygiene defaultGas: the law read gives no interval for a restaurant. Chef Hygiene suggests a yearly service.

Records

  • LawA self-control plan (paškontrole) based on HACCP is required (Food Law art. 8; EU Regulation 852/2004).
  • Chef Hygiene defaultThe law gives no keeping time. Chef Hygiene suggests 1 year for temperature sheets and 3 years for audits.
  • Official guidanceKeep a pest-control plan, own checks and a contract with a pest firm. The law sets no visit frequency.

Official sources

Checked

This page is general information, not legal advice. Check with your local authority.

Latvia: the Chef Hygiene app

The app loads these rules for your kitchen, checks your records against them and keeps proof for the inspector.

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