Law on Breeding and Animal Production.

The Law provides principles for breeding and animal production in Latvia. Its purpose is to ensure the development of breeding and animal production in the state in order to promote sustainable development of the livestock sector, to promote rearing of herds of good quality and economic production of animal produce; retain and improve the productivity and competitiveness of farm animals, promoting creation of highly productive herds; retain and protect the diversity of genetic resources as national value; and promote acquisition of pet animals of high value. The Law applies to natural and legal persons who perform breeding and are engaged in production of farm animals, pet animals and aquaculture animals, as well as to State administration institutions and other institutions, which carry out State administration tasks related to breeding. The Ministry of Agriculture shall coordinate: (a) a uniform strategy for animal production and breeding; (b) attraction of financing for animal production and breeding; and (c) conservation of endangered breeds. Conformity with this Law and other laws and regulations related to animal production and breeding shall be monitored and controlled by the Food and Veterinary Service. The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies shall grant the status of an endangered breed to a local breed and shall publish the list of endangered breeds on its website. A pet animal breeding organization shall carry out the following tasks related to breeding: (a) keep a breeding book; (b) issue the pedigree certificates of purebred pet animals; (c) engage in evaluation, testing of working capacity, and selection of pet animals; (d) organize the participation of pet animals in animal shows; (e) represent the interests of pet animal breeders in the field of breeding in Latvia and abroad; and (f) keep and maintain the database of the evaluation and testing of working capacity of pet animals.