Media representatives and other interested parties are invited to attend a public event on the introduction of the reduced VAT rate for basic food products and the “Fair VAT Reducer” initiative.
On Tuesday, 30 June, at 10.00, a public event will take place in Vērmanes Garden, where the application of the reduced 12% VAT rate to basic food products — bread, eggs, poultry meat and milk — will be explained. The “Fair VAT Reducer” sticker will also be presented. The sticker will help shoppers identify retailers that fairly reflect the VAT rate reduction in the prices of basic food products.
The event will take place one day before the reduced VAT rate enters into application, on 1 July 2026. More information is available on the website of the Consumer Rights Protection Centre (CRPC).
The event will be attended and addressed by Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis; Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Economic Relations Edijs Šaicāns; CRPC Director Zaiga Liepiņa; Jānis Dubults, Executive Director of the Latvian Food Retailers Association; and Toms Auškāps, Communication and Development Director at Balticovo.
Experts will explain how the VAT reduction will affect product prices, how consumers will be able to verify that the reduction is being applied fairly, and will answer questions from the media.
The event will be moderated by influencer and healthy lifestyle enthusiast Kristīne Beitika.
Event information
Date: 30 June 2026
Venue: Vērmanes Garden, Riga
Time: 10.00
Programme
- Application of the reduced 12% VAT rate to basic food products;
- Presentation of the “Fair VAT Reducer” sticker;
- Information on how to receive and use the sticker;
- Expert answers to questions.
We invite you to attend and use this opportunity to receive expert explanations in person on the practical implementation of the VAT reduction, retailers’ participation in the initiative and the benefits for consumers.