A Certificate of Military Manufacturer

Who can receive a certificate of military manufacturer?
To receive a certificate of military manufacturer of the Ministry of Defence for a circulation of goods of strategic significance, the subject must be a sole trader or a company, who have acquired a special permit (licence) of Ministry of Defence of Latvia. They are able to receive a certificate of military manufacturer if they oblige to the following criteria:

1. The merchants, which manufacture defence-related products or partially finished defence-related products, consisting of parts and (or) systems and sub-systems purchased from third parties in order to place them on the market with their name or brand, have certified experience in the field of defence;
2. No infringements related to export restrictions to third countries have been detected;
3. Experienced managers (managers with at least one-year experience in a managing office in the field of commercial activities with defence-related products) are employed at the merchant;
4. At least two managing employees of the highest level who are personally responsible for transfers and export, are appointed, and the office may not cause a conflict of interests.

What is the process of acquiring a certificate of military manufacturer?
The process of acquiring a certificate of military manufacturer is laid out by Republic of Latvia Cabinet Regulation No. 657 (Adopted 20 July 2010) “Procedures for Issuing or Refusal to Issue a Licence for Goods of Strategic Significance and Other Documents Related to the Circulation of Goods of Strategic Significance”. In order to receive the certificate of military manufacturer, the merchant shall submit an application to the Ministry of Defence Comitee of Licence Issuance for receipt of the certificate of military manufacturer (Annex 6) and the following information:

1. A description regarding experience of the merchant in work with products or partially finished products, which are related to defence and placed on the market with the name or brand of the merchant;
2. The address of the manufacturing unit, in which the merchant is making defence-related products or partially finished defence-related products;
3. A list, in which the merchant indicates the persons referred to in Sub-paragraphs 30.3 4 and 30.3 5 of Republic of Latvia Cabinet Regulation No. 657 (Adopted 20 July 2010) (the office and personal identity number of each person shall be indicated). A description of experience of each person referred to in the list with defence-related products shall be appended to the list.

What should be taken into consideration after receiving a certificate of military manufacturer?
Simultaneously with the military manufacturer's certificate, the Ministry of Defence Comitee of Licence Issuance issues the certificate's special conditions for the production of the specific military item.

1. Registration procedures and deadlines,
2. All production takes place only in the production facilities specified in the military manufacturer's certificate;
3. Conditions for the purchase of raw materials and components (notify the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the established procedure);
4. Procedure for marking the produced products;
5. Procedure for the transportation of raw materials, components and manufactured products (notify the Ministry of Defence in accordance with the established procedure).

Control by the Ministry of Defence
The representatives of the Ministry of Defence Comitee of Licence Issuance inspect the production facilities at least once every six months, specified in the military manufacturer's certificate, fill out the inspection report and, within the scope of their competence, check the requirements specified in the special conditions.

Important:
Merchants who have received a military manufacturer's certificate ensure conditions at the place of production that do not endanger the environment, human life, health or property.

For what period of time is the certificate of military manufacturer issued?
A certificate of military manufacturer is issued for 5 years.

Where should the documents for receiving the certificate of military manufacturer be turned in?
Documents should be turned in to Ministry of Defence Comitee of Licence Issuance (Address: K. Valdemāra 10/12, Riga, LV-1473) or by sending them in an electronic form to the official e-mail.
To receive answers about related questions, please contact us by the following e-mail or telephone number: licences@mod.gov.lv , 67335233