Large shopping centres resume operations under enhanced safety measures; conditions for organising fairs also clarified

Upon approving amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 360 of 9 June 2020, “Epidemiological Safety Measures to Limit the Spread of Covid-19 Infection”, the Government decided to lift, as of 2 June this year, the restrictions on the operation of large shopping centres and the organisation of street trading, i.e. the organisation of fairs, while retaining all the requirements of the safe-trading concept.

“At last, equal ‘rules of the game’ will be ensured for all traders, and a full transition to a safe-shopping model will be implemented throughout the retail sector. The restrictions on shops located in shopping centres are also being lifted, thereby ensuring equal competitive conditions for all traders. This also streamlines the regulation of street trading, allowing municipalities to set the maximum number of trading places at a particular street-trading location. Outdoor trading and fairs are especially important for our farmers, home producers and craftspeople, for whom this is often the only opportunity to sell their products. Midsummer is approaching, and traditionally there is strong demand during these celebrations specifically for local, unique products,” notes Jānis Vitenbergs, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Economics.

With the entry into force of this amendment to the Cabinet Regulation—on 2 June this year—this restriction is lifted, and all shops may resume in-person sales in large shopping centres, provided that the specified epidemiological safety measures are observed. Likewise, all service providers may continue operating in person, and goods purchased through distance sales may also be collected at shops!

The Ministry of Economics reminds everyone that the following safety requirements must be observed at every trading location:

· face coverings must be worn by both customers and employees;

· information on the maximum permitted number of visitors must be displayed at the entrance;

· the number of baskets/trolleys/shopping bags must correspond to the maximum permitted number of visitors;

· 25 m2 must be provided per visitor (including technical equipment); if the premises are smaller, only 1 visitor may be present;

· visitor flows must be monitored at entrances/exits, indoors/outdoors and in sales areas where visitors tend to gather in greater numbers (e.g. in particular shop sections);

· if the infrastructure permits, the entrance and exit must be separated, in compliance with fire-safety requirements;

· a responsible person who is present on site and continuously organises compliance with the requirements at the trading location must be appointed; information about the responsible person must be displayed in a clearly visible place;

· a documented internal control system must be developed for implementing epidemiological safety measures, including visitor calculations, internal procedures and controls, as well as the responsible person, so that supervisory authorities can objectively verify compliance with the requirements;

· it is prohibited to organise and advertise short-term (less than 7 days) special offers that could encourage visitors to go to and remain at the trading location immediately, thereby creating a risk of crowding;

· the police may close a trading location for up to 7 days for violations.

The Government also lifted the previously established limit of 20 trading places for organising street trading, i.e. organising fairs. At the same time, by approving amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 440 of 12 May 2010, “Regulations Regarding Types of Trading to Be Coordinated with the Municipality and the Procedures for Organising Trading”, the Government delegated to municipalities the right to determine in future the maximum permitted number of trading participants at a street-trading location within the municipality’s administrative territory.

The Ministry reminds everyone that the following safety requirements must be observed when organising street trading, i.e. fairs, in order to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus:

· visitors and sellers must wear face coverings,

· the fair area must be physically separated,

· entertainment events (themed celebrations, attractions) must not be organised during street trading.

In the open-air area of a market and during street trading, including fairs, the following safety requirements must be observed:

· visitors and sellers must wear face coverings;

· clearly legible information on precautionary requirements must be displayed for visitors;

· a distance of 2 metres must be ensured between trading places;

· visitor flows must be monitored and regulated in places where visitors gather in greater numbers, such as aisles, where a one-way flow is recommended;

· a responsible person who is present on site and organises the implementation of the epidemiological safety measures specified in the regulations must be appointed;

· an internal control system must be developed describing the procedure for ensuring control in order to prevent breaches of physical distancing and avoid increased visitor gatherings.

Detailed conditions for organising safe trading indoors and outdoors are laid down in Cabinet Regulation No. 360 of 9 June 2020, “Epidemiological Safety Measures to Limit the Spread of Covid-19 Infection”. All current information on safety requirements for traders is published on the website of the Ministry of Economics. Templates for internal control system regulations for small trading locations, developed by the Consumer Rights Protection Centre, are published on the CRPC website. Information materials for informing visitors about safety requirements are available on the website of the information campaign “Safe Means Safe”.

Author:

Public Relations Department

Ministry of Economics

em.gov.lv