The Latvian Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) to the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters came into force on 8 October 2009.

The objective of the PRTR Protocol is 'to enhance public access to information through the establishment of coherent, nationwide pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs)'. The PRTR was created in order to summarise the data from polluting activities and to inform the public about pollution caused by activities from industrial sites and other sources in country.

The Latvian PRTR is created and maintained by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre and is publicly accessible through the Internet, free of charge. The Registry is designed as a web page, containing information about Latvia's air and water emissions, as well as about its waste production.

The Registry is searchable according to separate parameters:

• By activity
• By pollutant
• By release environment
• Type of waste
• Facility
• Administrative territorial unit

In order for the PRTR Protocol to come into force, 16 parties had to ratify it. Latvia ratified the Protocol in May 2008. Currently, the PRTR Protocol has been signed by 36 countries and the European Community.

Background Information

The PRTR Protocol was adopted in Kiev on 21 May 2003, during a meeting that took place within the framework of the 5th Ministerial Conference 'Environment for Europe'. On 18 January 2006, the Regulation (EC) No.166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council was adopted concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and amending the 91/689/EEC and 96/61/EC Council Directives.

Further information:

• Original Press Release - Ministry of Environment - Website (in Latvian)
• Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre - Website (in Latvian)