Second reading of the draft law amending the Tobacco Act (223 SE)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-04-16 18:46
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 22
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 22m
AI Summaries: 22/22 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu discussed the draft law amending the Tobacco Act, initiated by the Republic's Government, on agenda item number four, for the second reading. The draft aims to adopt the European Commission's delegated directive and, with it, eliminate exemptions for flavored heated tobacco products and packaging labeling throughout the European Union, in order to reduce attractiveness to young people and harmonize the rules applicable within the Union. The initial reading took place in September 2023, and the specific procedure has lasted for two years, involving numerous amendments (submitted by EKRE, Eesti 200, and the social affairs committee), consultations with interest groups, and the review of protocols. During the discussion, topics included reducing youth consumption, the role of the illegal market, and the need to modernize the regulation of tobacco products throughout the Union to maintain equal conditions and improve prevention. Ultimately, it was decided to conclude the second reading and to move the draft forward to the third reading, along with additional procedural steps and a timeline, based on decisions and proposals from various factions.
Decisions Made 9
The committee decided to put the bill on the Riigikogu agenda for a second reading on March 23rd and to propose concluding the second reading.
On March 24th, it was decided to remove the draft from the plenary session agenda and to take it up for a second reading on April 16th, which is today.
The steering committee made a unanimous decision that when the second reading is concluded, the bill will be added to the plenary session agenda for a third reading on April 23rd, and a final vote will be held.
The obstructive amendment proposals numbered 6–15 of the Ekre faction should be linked to their submitters and not be taken into consideration.
Estonia's 200 faction’s proposed amendments number 2 disregarded; number 3 and number 5 are fully taken into account; number 1 is essentially accepted, but it was not possible to continue full support in its technical form; the committee presented its own amendment (the social affairs committee’s amendment number 4).
Amendments 4 and 16 of the Social Affairs Committee will be fully considered.
Regarding EKRE's obstructive proposals, there were no neutral opinions; they were unanimously decided to be disregarded (6–15).
A consensus decision was reached regarding Philip Morris's proposal to postpone the entry into force and the entry into force date of January 31, 2026.
Now that the second reading is complete, the bill will proceed to its third reading and a final vote will be carried out according to the guidelines.
Most Active Speaker
Speaker: Irja Lutsar (pid 1GC04Un_TZ8) – a member of the social affairs committee, party: Social Democratic Party (left-wing). She framed the most text and meaning, represented the main presentation, and directed the discussion towards the second reading, answered several questions, and explained the bill's objectives and the impact of changes on healthcare and young people's consumption. During this session, she was the most active speaker, and her role was coordinating and clarifying, linked to the social affairs committee and the left-wing parties' positions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi greets a colleague and announces the fourth item on the agenda—the second reading of the government-initiated Tobacco Act amendment bill No. 223—and asks Irja Lutsar, a member of the Social Committee, to present.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
The report explains that Draft Bill 223 is a law amending the Tobacco Act, by which the EU's delegated directive is transposed, but the Social Affairs Committee has conducted a lengthy procedure with amendments from several parties, coordinated obstructionist amendments, and plans the second reading for 16 April, followed by the third reading and the final vote scheduled for 23 April.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks and invites Peeter Ernitsat, saying that there are also a few questions.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits asks whether the directive means that all sorts of tastes must be removed in order to reduce attractiveness and, therefore, buy less, and whether the Polish parliament has already done the same thing in February.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
In summary, the aim is to standardize the rules for smoking in the European Union and to make smoking as unattractive as possible among young people, since Estonian youths smoke actively.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invited Aivar Kokk to perform.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk asks whether the deadline arising from the European directive is that the law will come into force on 31 December 2026, and whether this is really the deadline or are we once again getting ahead of other countries?
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
As I understand it, we are behind schedule, not ahead of it, and the reason for postponing the enforcement by one month was Philip Morris's request, which means they need time to remove products with the previous labeling from the market and replace them with new ones.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They emphasize that, under EU law, a member state must inform the European Commission and hear its opinion before trade barriers are imposed, and they ask whether this case is necessary, since the initiative does not come from Estonia, but is due to the implementation of an EU directive.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Irja Lutsar says that you understand completely correctly.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Lauri Laats to speak.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats acknowledged that vaping consists of two parts—a device and a liquid—and while the aim of regulation is to make the product less attractive, a large part of the market is illegal and endangers children, and he asked whether the Commission has discussed measures to prevent goods from reaching children.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Irja Lutsar said that she has never smoked or used heated products, described the e-cigarette as a three-part solution (a pen, a device, and the part that heats the liquid), and noted that there hadn't been a very intense discussion in the commission about avoiding illegal products.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Peeter Ernits to speak.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
I heard that EKRE had 100 amendment proposals, and I asked which flavors they wanted to allow or ban as an exception—were there menthol, strawberry, raspberry, or cannabis flavors, or something else?
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
I apologize, because it was a long time ago and I don't remember what EKRE's 100 amendment proposals were; they didn't want to change flavors, but perhaps they wanted to change penalty units per euro; for example, here is one amendment of 205 penalty units, followed by 204 and so on.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair Arvo Aller thanks, says that there are no questions, opens negotiations, and although the presenter had already left, invites Riina Sikkut to participate.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut said that the EU's unified regulation of tobacco products is very necessary for the health of young people and market unity, and emphasized the ban on flavors and attractive packaging and the expansion of regulation of heated tobacco products, and noted the healthcare system's limited resources and the need for rapid adoption of the law to protect children's health.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanked, announced the following registered speech, and invited Aivar Kokki to speak.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk emphasizes that, although restricting youth e-cigarette consumption is important, one should focus on reducing the black market and explain to young people where these products come from, because about 60% of sales take place on the black market, and bans alone will not solve the problem.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Arvo Aller brought the negotiations to a close, saying that regarding Bill 223, 16 amendments have been reviewed and the steering committee wishes to conclude the second reading; the second reading is concluded and the fourth item on the agenda has been dealt with.