Harnessing Public Procurement for the Green Transition

Latvia

Framework, scope, action-plans

In Latvia, the regulatory instrument prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers – Regulation on Requirements for Green Public Procurement and Procedures for Application – is in force since 1^st of July 2017. The regulations of Cabinet of Ministers No. 353 determine the requirements and criteria for green public procurement (GPP) and procedures for its application. In 2020 and 2023 amendments were made to the regulations of Cabinet of Ministers No. 353 reviewing GPP criteria for several groups of goods and services and creating new GPP criteria.

Informative report "Latvia's strategy for climate neutrality by 2050" to achieve climate neutrality mention GPP as one the activities to be conducted.

Regarding Cabinet of Ministers regulation No 353 “Requirements for Green Public Procurement and Procedures for Application”, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall be the institution responsible for the procedures for the application of the green procurement, implementation, supervision, and evaluation. However, the understanding and support of the other ministries is essential for the achievement of the common, green goals.

Implementation

The Regulation on Requirements for Green Public Procurement and Procedures for Application and the regulations of Cabinet of Ministers No. 353 determines the requirements and criteria for green public procurement (GPP) and procedures for its application. The regulatory framework is regularly reviewed and adapted to the current situation.

To ensure the GPP implementation, monitoring and assessment, the Regulation (Annex 1) defines groups of products and services for which the application of GPP is mandatory: 1) Office paper; 2) Printing equipment; 3) Computer equipment and information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure; 4) Food and catering services; 5) Cleaning products and services: 6) Indoor lighting; 7) Street lighting and traffic signals; 8) New construction, reconstruction, design and demolition of buildings of the third group 9) Purchase of light passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

The mandatory requirements apply at all levels of state and municipal government. Green public procurement must be applied to institutions that conduct procurement in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement and the Law on Procurement of Public Service Providers.

The Regulation also defines the GPP requirements and criteria for the groups of products, services and activities, where GPP application is voluntary. In total, there are 14 groups to which GPP applies voluntarily.

Measurement and impact

Public institutions in Latvia report through a digital platform linked to the eProcurement system. Public institutions publish procurements in the electronic procurement system, where it is indicated whether environmental criteria are included in the procurement. Every year by May 1, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development conducts an evaluation by developing the Informative Report on the application of green public procurement.