Latvia
1. Legal Gazette
1.1. Overview
Latvijas Vēstnesis
Latvijas Republikas oficiālais izdevums
(Official gazette of the Republic of Latvia)
Published by:
VSIA “Latvijas Vēstnesis”
(SLLC “Latvijas Vēstnesis”)
Bruņinieku 41 — Rīga, LV-1011
Latvia
Tel. +371 67898741
E-mail: valde@lv.lv
Website: http://www.lv.lv
| Official journal / legal gazette |
In Latvia there is a single official journal containing legislation and legal notices;
see point 1.2 for details. |
| First edition |
25 February 1993
Latvijas Vēstnesis continues the tradition of Valdības Vēstnesis
(Government Herald), which was the official state gazette from 1919 until 1940.
After the restoration of independence in 1991 and until 1993, government documents entered into force following their publication in the journal Diena. |
| First online edition |
3 January 1995 |
| Paper edition |
Since January 1, 2013, paper edition is no longer published. |
| Online edition |
http://www.vestnesis.lv
Available texts
HTML since 1993, PDF since july 1,2012.
Access and price:
Free
|
| CD/DVD edition |
No CD/DVD edition |
1.2. Details on the legal gazette in general
Acts of parliament and statutory instruments
| Content |
Obligatory announcements by legal entities |
| Legally binding |
- Since January 1, 2013: electronic edition;
- July 1, 2012 – January 1, 2013: paper and electronic edition;
- until July 1, 2012: paper edition.
* Anyone may request that the issuer of the official gazette ensures the preparation of a certified printout of the official publication in printed form for a fee that does not exceed the cost price thereof. Such printout is of informative nature.
|
| Financing |
State budget |
1.3. Details on the online edition
http://www.vestnesis.lv
See also point 1.1
| Functionalities |
- Archive with calendar
- Advanced search
|
| Format description |
HTML and PDF (digitally signed). |
| Authenticity |
Secure servers are used to guarantee the integrity of the workflow and the authenticity of the electronically published text.
Table of contents and all documents published within the official journal are digitally signed.
|
| Archiving |
The Latvian National Library - in order to ensure constant preservation of the official publication as the national cultural heritage, processing and use thereof. |
1.4. Details on the publishing institution
VSIA “Latvijas Vēstnesis”
(“Latvijas Vēstnesis” State Ltd)
For contact details, please refer to point 1.1
| Form and nature |
State enterprise. |
| Basic tasks |
- Pre-press: no
- Printing: no
- Dissemination/distribution: yes
- Legal gazette online: yes
- Legislation database: yes
- Consolidation: yes
|
| Other services offered |
- http://www.likumi.lv – legislation website ensuring free access to systematized (consolidated) legislation of the Republic of Latvia.
- www.juristavards.lv - weekly journal Jurista Vārds (Lawyer’s Word) - specialized weekly journal for judicial thought and practice. The largest external forum of Latvian lawyers;
- www.lvportals.lv - LV portal “On law and the state” Informative aid in state information and legislation.
- The book publisher of “Latvijas Vēstnesis” publishes legal literature thus promoting development of legal science.
|
1.5. Drafting and publishing procedures
Text processing
systems |
Standard office software |
| Workflow |
The transmission for drafting, adopting and publishing is done electronically. |
| Publishing |
Documents are published in the following formats:
- HTML – for a convenient viewing on the web;
- PDF – for uniform, platform and software independent viewing of documents. Suitable for electronic archiving and being digitally signed offers additional information security safeguards (proof of authenticity, integrity, production date).
|
2. Collections of consolidated Legislation
See full details >>
“Likumi.lv” Latvijas Republikas tiesību akti
(“Likumi.lv” Legislation of the Republic of Latvia)
http://www.likumi.lv
Body carrying out
consolidation |
“Latvijas Vēstnesis” |
| Content |
All legally binding legislative acts. |
Status of the
consolidated texts |
Consolidation is for information purposes only. |
Deadline for
consolidation |
The day an amending act comes into force. |
3. Legislative portals and online databases
3.1. Official portals
https://www.latvija.lv - access to Latvian e-government services;
for details, see point 3.2.
3.2. Official databases
1. “Likumi.lv” Latvijas Republikas tiesību akti
(“Likumi.lv” Legislation of the Republic of Latvia)
http://www.likumi.lv
Organisation
responsible |
“Latvijas Vēstnesis”
|
| Content |
All legally binding legislative acts.
Access to English translations of legislation.
|
| Access |
Free of charge |
Access via N-Lex
(see Annex 2) |
Yes |
2. Latvijas Republikas Ministru kabinets
(The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia website)
http://www.mk.gov.lv
Organisation
responsible |
State Chancellery
|
| Content |
- Draft regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers
- Programmes and strategy documents
|
| Access |
Free of charge |
3. Latvijas Republikas Saeima
(the Latvian Parliament website)
http://www.saeima.lv
Organisation
responsible |
The Saeima
|
| Content |
Draft laws |
| Access |
Free of charge |
3.3. Additional information: other commonly used legal databases
The following hosts disseminate an online edition of EUR-Lex under licence from the Publications Office:
