First Reading of the Draft Act Amending the Chemical Act (701 SE)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-08 22:42
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 28
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 15m
AI Summaries: 28/28 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the first reading of Draft Act 701, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning amendments to the Chemicals Act. The draft act was introduced by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Erkki Keldo. The main objective of the amendments is to resolve the infringement procedure initiated by the European Commission regarding the deficient transposition of the EU Directive (Seveso III), and to prevent major accidents involving hazardous chemicals. There are 133 such establishments in Estonia (e.g., fuel terminals, fertilizer storage facilities). The amendments focus on three topics: specifying the tasks of the authorities (the Rescue Board, TTJA) following an accident, clarifying the obligations of operators (including cooperation in the event of a domino effect risk and informing neighbors), and reducing the administrative burden. To reduce the administrative burden, all required documents will be submitted electronically via the TTJA information system. Furthermore, the state will assume responsibility for hazard notification (sirens and e-alarms/SMS notifications) so that operators do not have to create expensive systems themselves. During the debate, Rain Epler (Cjw223MbyUk) raised questions regarding unlimited liability for remedial measures and the operator's liability if state notification systems (e-alarms) fail during an accident. Minister Keldo confirmed that limits on liability are not considered reasonable and that disputes will be resolved in court in a state governed by the rule of law. Regarding notification liability, the minister promised to clarify whether the operator's obligation is considered fulfilled upon the transmission of information to the Emergency Response Centre. Mait Klaassen (RqbcXTim2Pc), representative of the Environment Committee, provided an overview of the committee's discussion, confirming that the draft act resolves the infringement procedure and reduces the administrative burden. The committee made a consensus proposal to conclude the first reading.
Decisions Made 2
The first reading of Bill 701 was concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for October 22nd at 5:15 PM.
Most Active Speaker
Rain Epler submitted two detailed questions to the minister concerning the unlimited liability of businesses for remedial measures and the division of responsibility in the event of the failure of state notification systems. He was the most active participant in the discussion.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar introduced the seventh item on the agenda, which was the first reading of Draft Act 701, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning amendments to the Chemicals Act, and invited Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo to the Riigikogu rostrum to present the draft.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo explained the draft amendment to the Chemicals Act, the main objective of which is to address deficiencies identified in the European Commission's infringement procedure concerning the full transposition of the directive on the prevention of major accidents involving dangerous chemicals. In doing so, he specified three major areas: the duties of the authorities (the Rescue Board, TTJA – the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority) following an accident; the obligations of undertakings dealing with dangerous chemicals (including cooperation and the prevention of the domino effect); and the reduction of administrative burden through the electronic submission of documents and the introduction of a national hazard notification system (sirens, e-alarm), thereby making the requirements clearer and ensuring better safety.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo introduced the draft amendment to the Chemicals Act, the primary goal of which is to resolve the infringement procedure initiated by the European Commission by ensuring the correct transposition of the directive on the prevention of major accidents involving dangerous chemicals. The amendments specify the duties of the Rescue Board and the TTJA (Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority), clarify the obligations of businesses (including cooperation and informing neighbors), and reduce the administrative burden. This reduction is achieved by making the submission of documents electronic and replacing the hazard notification systems used by businesses with national solutions, thereby improving overall safety and response capabilities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the esteemed Minister and then gave the floor to colleague Rain Epler, who wished to ask the Minister a question.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler highlights the contradiction between the minister's claim (that no new obligations will arise for businesses) and the new legal provision (§ 22 subsection 61), which mandates unlimited restorative measures following a major accident to return the environment and property to their former state. He then asks whether the absence of limits will increase insurance costs and whether the establishment of fixed financial restrictions was considered.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler highlights the contradiction between the minister’s claim and the new regulation, which imposes unlimited obligations on businesses following a major disaster to restore the situation to its former state. He then asks whether, similar to the Motor Insurance Act, the fixing of limits for property and personal injury compensation was also considered in this context, given that obligations without limits significantly increase the price of insurance.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo emphasized that Estonia is a state governed by the rule of law, which means that any entrepreneur or private individual who feels that their property has been damaged or that the administrative procedure has been unfair has the right to appeal to the court and challenge the claims if an out-of-court settlement is not reached, and therefore, imposing additional restrictions is not reasonable.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo emphasizes the principles of Estonia as a rule of law, explaining that in cases of accidents resulting in property damage or personal injury, where an out-of-court settlement fails or the administrative procedure seems unfair, victims always have the option to turn to the courts to resolve the disputes, and imposing additional restrictions is considered unreasonable.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked Rain Epler to put forward his second allotted question.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler is raising questions about accountability regarding the duty to notify. He draws attention to the legal requirement that the responsibility for informing residents rests with the operator, even if that operator relied on state systems (such as the Emergency Center) and those systems failed (for example, due to SMS messages or sirens not working). He asks how liability is resolved in such a scenario.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler questions the trustworthiness of state notification systems and asks how legal liability will be resolved in a situation where the law unequivocally places the obligation to notify residents on the business operator, but the latter relied on state systems, which ultimately failed to inform the public.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo admits that new national notification systems require continuous testing and improvement, but emphasizes that the law's purpose is to establish the entrepreneur's responsibility to transmit the necessary information to the state through the system. He confirms that if the entrepreneur has fulfilled their obligation, they cannot be held responsible if the national system fails, and promises to double-check one specific point regarding the wording of the law, just to be safe.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo conceded that the new systems require continuous testing and development, but stressed that the law mandates the entrepreneur's obligation to submit the necessary information to the state through existing systems. He simultaneously confirmed, to the best of his knowledge, that the responsibility does not fall upon the business owner if the state systems subsequently fail after the obligation has been met, though he promised to verify the precise wording just to be sure.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the minister, concluding the round of questions, and announced that before proceeding to the discussion of the Environment Committee—an overview of which will be provided by Mait Klaassen—a procedural matter would be addressed, giving the floor to Rain Epler.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the minister, concluded the round of questions directed at him, and before proceeding to the overview of the Environment Committee discussion, which is to be presented by Mait Klaassen, he gave the floor to Rain Epler for a procedural question.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler submitted a good-faith procedural note aimed at ensuring that the Speaker of the Riigikogu was better informed of the substance of the discussion held with the minister, which centered on the precise wording of the amendment concerning accident management procedures in hazardous enterprises.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler presented a procedural remark made in good faith, the purpose of which was to inform the Speaker of the Riigikogu about the substance of the ongoing discussion, immediately citing the statutory wording that regulates the operator's obligations in hazardous enterprises in the event of accidents.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar began with a brief word of thanks, but cut off his thought immediately after the word "but," leaving the audience waiting for the subsequent objection or clarification.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler discussed in more detail the procedure for ensuring the rapid and accurate notification of individuals located within the affected area regarding the accident.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler addressed the incident, which directly concerned the individuals who had remained in the affected area.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar began his address warmly and approvingly, expressing that it was something very lovely or pleasant, but ultimately leaving the content and meaning of the sentence unfinished.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler emphasizes that he is not taking on the obligation to transmit the information provided to state institutions, meaning he refuses to accept the duty of informing state authorities.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler clarifies that the measure being addressed is restricted solely to informing and does not create an obligation to transmit the relevant information to state institutions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar corrected the previous speaker, stressing that the question posed was not procedural, and asked that speakers henceforth restrict themselves to matters pertaining to the conduct of the sitting. He subsequently gave the floor to Mait Klaassen to introduce the debate on the draft bill held in the Environment Committee.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar noted that the preceding question regarding keeping the Speaker of the Riigikogu abreast of matters was non-procedural. He admonished members to henceforth submit only questions pertaining to the conduct of the sitting, and subsequently yielded the floor to Mait Klaassen to introduce the bill's deliberation within the Environment Committee.
Mait Klaassen
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mait Klaassen introduced the debate held by the Riigikogu Environment Committee while preparing for the first reading of Draft Act 701, which amends the Chemicals Act. The primary objectives of the draft are to harmonize Estonian law with the EU SEVESO III Directive, address the complex issues of infringement proceedings related to the risk of major accidents, and lessen the administrative burden on businesses. The committee concentrated on the automatic integration of notification systems and the potential for refusing to disclose chemical data due to considerations of trade secrets and national security. It was confirmed that refusal on a case-by-case basis is permissible. Ultimately, the committee unanimously decided to conclude the first reading of the draft.
Mait Klaassen
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mait Klaassen provided an overview of the preparations for the first reading of the draft amendment to the Chemical Act (701 SE) held in the Riigikogu's Environmental Committee. The primary objective of the bill is to bring Estonian law into compliance with EU requirements concerning major accident hazards (Seveso III) and to reduce the administrative burden on businesses. The Committee thoroughly discussed the risks associated with the public disclosure of chemical data regarding both trade secrets and security, ultimately deciding to adopt a case-by-case approach that allows for the refusal of disclosure when necessary. A consensus proposal was then made to conclude the first reading of the bill and forward it to the plenary session.
Lauri Hussar
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Lauri Hussar, having thanked the rapporteur and closed the debate due to the absence of requests to speak, announced, upon the proposal of the leading committee, the conclusion of the first reading of Draft Act 701, and set the deadline for the submission of amendments as 17:15 on October 22nd of the current year.