From 25 September 2026, sellers and service providers concluding distance contracts with consumers through an online interface must provide a continuously and easily accessible withdrawal function. A single button is not enough: the process must also identify the contract, confirm the withdrawal and issue an electronic acknowledgement of receipt.
The EU has extended sanctions on nearly 3,000 individuals and entities for three years while removing Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov from the relevant list. Latvia immediately imposed national financial and entry restrictions on both. For businesses, the practical consequence is clear: checking only the EU list is no longer enough.
The United States has proposed a mechanism through which Washington and Beijing would notify each other of artificial-intelligence incidents reaching a national-security threshold. China’s acceptance and the operating rules have not been announced, but the initiative shows how AI incident management is moving from corporate IT risk into the realm of interstate security.
From 27 September 2026, stricter rules on environmental claims, sustainability labels and climate-neutral advertising will apply in Latvia. The maximum fine for an unfair commercial practice can reach 4% of annual turnover; where the infringement is confined to Latvia, the statutory ceiling is EUR 300,000. We explain which claims should be removed and which may still be used with appropriate evidence.
A European Commission draft would establish a new age-based regime for social media, video platforms, AI chatbots and online games. Access for children under 15 would be substantially restricted, while companies would face age-verification, safer-design, parental-control and supervisory-fee requirements — but the proposal is not yet law.
Donald Trump announced on 13 September 2026 that he would remove the 10% U.S. tariff on Irish whiskey. However, no implementation date or legal instrument had yet been published, so businesses should not treat the pledge as an effective tariff removal or a broader concession covering all EU goods.
The European Parliament is considering an expansion of CBAM from basic materials to hundreds of steel- and aluminium-intensive finished products. The changes could affect Latvian importers of machinery, construction goods, components and consumer products.
Latvia plans criminal liability for organisers of procurement cartels. What penalties, contract-value thresholds and first-reporter protection are proposed?
Latvia’s governing coalition has agreed to pursue a substantial tariff increase on Russian and Belarusian grain transit and handling. The measure has not yet been adopted, while its exact rate, calculation base, liable party and entry date remain unpublished.
If a weather-related electricity outage lasts longer than 72 hours, legal entities will also be exempt from the fixed connection charge. However, the measure does not cover downtime, spoiled goods or lost profits.
The CSDD cyber incident is entering the financial liability stage, with around 1,400 incident-related submissions received, including compensation claims. We explain when compensation is available under the GDPR and why large-scale claims may cost an organisation more than the initial cyberattack response.
Following storm-related mobile network outages, Latvia's Ministry of Transport wants to establish a minimum resilience level for electronic communications infrastructure during emergencies. Operators, LVRTC, Tet and the ministry must prepare an action plan by 11 September.
On 25 August, Latvia's Cabinet approved amendments covering loyalty-programme cashback, the reduced patent-fee regime, subcontractor employee wages and other personal income tax issues. The changes are not yet in force and still require approval by the Saeima.
Since 1 July 2026, certain 2.5–3.5 tonne light commercial vehicles used in international freight transport must use smart tachographs and comply with EU driving and rest rules. Driver-posting requirements may also apply, affecting remuneration, documentation and payroll administration.
From 1 July 2026, selected categories of bread, milk, poultry meat and eggs in Latvia are subject to a reduced 12% VAT rate. The change may lower consumer prices, but businesses must also address product classification, pricing, accounting and system configuration risks.
Saeima ir pieņēmusi būtiskus grozījumus Komerclikumā, kas vienkāršo sabiedrību ar ierobežotu atbildību (SIA) dibināšanas procesu.