Draft law amending the general part of the Environmental Code Act and other laws (611 SE) - first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-05-15 02:44
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 19
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 10m
AI Summaries: 19/19 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The meeting discussed the first reading of the draft law amending the general part of the Environmental Code Act and other laws, initiated by the Republic of Estonia's Government. Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt presented the draft, whose main objective is to organize and modernize the system of environmental permits, reducing bureaucracy and administrative burden. The changes include increasing threshold capacities and quantities, eliminating registration obligations, and shortening processing times. For example, waste management will be simplified (double notifications will be eliminated and on-site composting of up to one ton of organic waste will be permitted without registration), blue economy (cultivation of algae and carp with registration), and animal husbandry (automatic monitoring of notification of deep-pit manure). During the discussion, the minister was asked about the number of animal sheds using deep-pit manure and the historical origins of the regulations were debated. Environmental Committee rapporteur Hanah Lahe confirmed that the committee unanimously supported concluding the first reading of the draft, emphasizing that oversight of low-environmental-risk activities will remain the responsibility of local governments.
Decisions Made 2
Bill 611's first reading was concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for May 28th at 5:15 PM.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Item 13 on the agenda concerns the first reading of Draft Act 611, initiated by the government, regarding amendments to the General Part of the Environmental Code Act and other acts. The rapporteur for this item is the Minister of Energy and Environment, Andres Sutt.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
The purpose of the draft legislation presented to the Riigikogu is to organize and modernize the procedure for applying for environmental protection permits, reduce the administrative burden, and expedite the process. This is achieved by directing resources toward the assessment of activities involving greater environmental risks and ensuring effective environmental protection, while simultaneously increasing threshold and volume limits and abolishing certain registration obligations. Furthermore, the bill simplifies the regulation of waste, water use, the blue economy, animal husbandry, and the defense industry, allows work to commence 30 days sooner, and expands the possibilities for bio-waste recycling.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller thanks [the previous speaker/the house] and confirms that Aivar Kokk may ask his question, and that the request to speak was indeed present.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk is asking how many deep-litter animal barns there currently are in Estonia.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Andres Sutt said that the precise answer to the question would be provided in writing, and the information would be looked up.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asked whether schools and kindergartens no longer need to apply for a waste handler registration if they intend to compost up to one ton of their biowaste on site. He also asked whether, during discussions with officials, a retrospective question had been raised regarding how this point was reached and what could be adjusted in the future based on that history.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller asked Rain Epler to give a speech.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
He emphasized that we cannot turn back the clock, but we can make the future better.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller invites Aivar Kokk to take the floor.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk said that the number presented is extremely small, referred to the Saaremaa cattle farmers, and added that if life gets easier for some stable owner, that would be a huge victory for the Reform Party.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt stated that we must take every measure possible to make regulations and life simpler and clearer, and if it helps even just one company, it is sensible.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chair Arvo Aller asks Mart Maastik to come up to the stage.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik defended the reputation of Saaremaa, pointing out that the island has roughly a thousand animals and that the cows there are not small. He also stressed the necessity of straw, arguing that this requires a policy that encourages grain cultivation, along with additional subsidies.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Andres Sutt noted that there probably wasn't a question.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller closed the Q&A session, requested that the summary of the discussion held in the leading committee be heard, and Hanah Lahe, a member of the Environmental Committee, was invited to serve as the rapporteur.
Hanah Lahe
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Hanah Lahe thanks the esteemed Presiding Officer and welcomes her colleagues.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller says that we must hear out the presenter and then discuss the matter during the round of questions or debate.
Hanah Lahe
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Environment Committee discussed the current draft bill on April 14th, the purpose of which is to streamline the environmental permit system and reduce bureaucracy and administrative burden. The draft bill was introduced by Hanna Vahter and Andres Sutt. The discussion was brief, and a point was raised regarding the simplification concerning the Central Training Area (keskpolügoon) and Rail Baltic, as well as the procedural competence of private institutions. The committee subsequently decided to include the draft bill on the plenary agenda for May 14th and conclude the first reading by consensus.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller declared the discussions open and then closed them, announcing that the first reading of draft bill 611 has been concluded, the deadline for submitting amendments is May 28th at 5:15 PM, and we have completed item 13.