In 2004, the Cabinet of Ministers issued regulations concerning the environmental impact in wood industries “Environment Protection Demands for the Sawmilling and Wood Processing Equipment” and “Environment Protection Demands in Chemical Treatment of Wood (Impregnating)” . If earlier the wood processing enterprises and the operators in chemical treatment of timber had to submit individual applications to obtain the respective permits from the environment protection authorities, now all the operators in wood processing ensure compliance with the said regulations, which summarize the environment protection demands to be followed in the respective fields of activities.

To restrict the environment pollution by dust, the wood processing equipment, which is installed in closed precincts and emits dust during operation, are equipped with suction ventilation means, and the air from suction ventilation before discharged into the atmosphere is treated in cyclones and filters. In sawmills, and on the sites where timber is chemically treated against blue stain and mould, the storage rooms for chemicals are specially equipped with a solid cover, excluding a possibility of leakage of chemical substances and polluting the ground waters.

The biggest Latvian wood industry enterprises, processing annually at least 2,000 cu. m of roundwood, have taken care of the environment already earlier. Mostly they use modern wood processing equipment, which meet the demands of environment protection in industrial operations.