First Reading of the Bill for the Amendment of the Food Act (378 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-04-02 14:27
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 26
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 18m
AI Summaries: 26/26 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first reading of Draft Act 378 on amendments to the Food Act, initiated by the Government of the Republic, was on the agenda. Minister of Regional Affairs Madis Kallas introduced the draft act, the main objective of which is to ensure better compliance with European Union law by establishing the requirement for a permit for the treatment of food with ionising radiation and by specifying the implementation of the European Union Official Controls Regulation concerning laboratories and the supervision of contaminants in food of animal origin. The Minister emphasized that the amendments primarily create legal clarity and simplify processes, rather than resulting in significant additional costs or an increase in the number of officials. Currently, only one company in Estonia deals with ionisation, using it mainly for dried herbs and spices, and not for processing animal products.
Members of the Riigikogu (Parliament) asked several questions regarding the nature, safety, and necessity of ionising radiation, as well as whether consumers receive information about the treated food (yes, labelling is mandatory). Urmas Kruuse, Chairman of the Rural Affairs Committee, explained the views of the lead committee, emphasizing that clarifying the authorisation norms for laboratories is important for saving taxpayer money by allowing the use of foreign reference laboratories for rarer and more specific analyses. The lead committee proposed concluding the first reading. The entry into force of the draft act is scheduled for June 1, 2024.
Decisions Made 3
The first reading of Bill 378 was concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for April 16, 2024, at 5:15 PM.
The Committee on Rural Affairs unanimously decided to propose adding the draft legislation to the plenary session's agenda on April 2nd and to designate Urmas Kruuse as the representative of the lead committee.
Most Active Speaker
Aivar Kokk (other) was an active questioner, repeatedly posing clarifying questions about the actual effect of ionization and the necessity of the law, expressing that the answers only made the topic more confusing.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu now moves to the next item on the agenda, which is the first reading of Bill 378, the draft Act amending the Food Act, initiated by the Government of the Republic, and the honourable Minister of Regional Affairs, Madis Kallas, is invited to the rostrum.
Regionaalminister Madis Kallas
AI Summary
Regional Minister Madis Kallas introduced the draft act amending the Food Act, which aims for better alignment with EU law. The draft establishes a mandatory permit requirement for the treatment of food with ionizing radiation, specifies the procedure and the obligations of the representative of a legal entity food handler, regulates the functioning of authorized laboratories and the national reference laboratory, and is scheduled to enter into force by June 1, 2024.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He/She thanks [them] and announces that the audience has a few questions, then invites Evelin Poolamets to answer them.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asks the minister to briefly explain to food consumers what the processing of food with ionizing radiation involves and why it is necessary.
Regionaalminister Madis Kallas
AI Summary
Food is treated with ionizing radiation to reduce the number of harmful bacteria and microorganisms and extend its shelf life.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Arvo Aller to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller asks the minister whether there are already foodstuffs on the Estonian market that have been treated with ionizing radiation. He cites examples of smoked, cured, and dried foodstuffs and asks which specific foodstuffs currently available on the Estonian market have been treated with ionizing radiation.
Regionaalminister Madis Kallas
AI Summary
Regional Minister Madis Kallas stated that only one company in Estonia is involved in food ionization. The total quantity processed across the entire EU is approximately 6,100 tons annually, with Estonia accounting for about 40 to 43 tons, consisting mainly of dried aromatic herbs and plant-based spices. Furthermore, the ionizing treatment of animal products is not permitted in Estonia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
That speech was merely an address to Aivar Kokk.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk noted that while there is discussion about probiotic and pathogenic bacteria, the actual costs must be clarified for both officials and entrepreneurs. He stressed that if the bad bacteria are destroyed and the good ones remain, the situation is not yet catastrophic, but if both types of bacteria are destroyed, unforeseen risks could emerge, as pathogenic bacteria might begin to spread widely.
Regionaalminister Madis Kallas
AI Summary
Regional Minister Madis Kallas said that currently only one company in Estonia deals with this matter. He noted that it does not require additional officials from the Agricultural and Food Board or the ministry, emphasizing that the goal is to create additional legal clarity, and the law amendment could simplify the process for both entrepreneurs and the state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Evelin Poolamets to the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets noted that although the minister claimed the change probably only concerns spices, the impression remains that it still affects animal products, and she asked whether the consumer can find out from the packaging if the food has been treated with ionizing radiation.
Regionaalminister Madis Kallas
AI Summary
Summary: Processed products must carry the corresponding labeling on their packaging, and the matter of ionizing animal products does not impact Estonia or the European Union, with the exception of countries where ionization is permitted under domestic law.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Chairman called Mart Maastik here.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She is asking the minister whether relevant professional associations, food handlers, or producers have been contacted, and whether their view has been heard, and if so, what that view is.
Regionaalminister Madis Kallas
AI Summary
Currently, there is only one company in Estonia utilizing this specific food processing method. All relevant stakeholders have been consulted, and there is universal agreement that promoting this type of regulatory clarity and simplification is necessary.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Arvo Aller to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller's presentation focuses on specifying the authorization standards for laboratories; he examines whether laboratories operating in Estonia may begin measuring ionization, and what implications this change holds for reference laboratories and for laboratories in third countries under the EEA agreement.
Regionaalminister Madis Kallas
AI Summary
Overall, we are simplifying the analysis of samples taken during official controls and enabling the Agriculture and Food Board to flexibly locate suitable laboratories and conduct controls in other countries as well, thereby ensuring the cooperation of laboratories that comply with authorization standards both within the European Union and in third countries.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a very brief address, requesting Aivar Kokk.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk points out that the necessity of the law is unclear, because by destroying pathogenic bacteria, meat could be preserved, but it turns out that it is not used on meat, but on herbs. He then asks what bacteria cause spoilage on these plants, what ionization is, whether it is harmful to health, and why it should or should not be used in the meat industry.
Regionaalminister Madis Kallas
AI Summary
Regional Minister Madis Kallas explains that the draft bill establishes a licensing requirement for the treatment of food with ionizing radiation, specifically transposing European Union directives and controls, and lays down very precise rules to ensure that ionization is safe for people and the environment. He notes that the number of companies operating in this sector has been relatively small, and adds that the ionization of plant-based nutrients is an EU-wide rule. Furthermore, countries that were previously permitted to ionize animal products may continue this practice until a new directive or regulation is issued by the European Union.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
At the end of the address, thanks were offered, and it was stated that there were no questions. Urmas Kruuse was then asked to present the positions and decisions of the leading committee from the Riigikogu rostrum.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse stated that the committee is debating a draft bill which harmonizes the Food Act with EU law, specifically the directive concerning treatment with ionizing radiation. Furthermore, the bill clarifies the utilization of authorized, reference, and partner laboratories, as well as the inclusion of foreign laboratories to achieve savings for the taxpayer. The draft bill will enter into force on June 1st, and all decisions reached were consensual. The subsequent steps involve concluding the first reading and confirming the agenda on April 2nd.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
I opened and closed the debate; upon the proposal of the Steering Committee, the first reading of Bill 378 was concluded. The deadline for submitting amendments is 5:15 PM on April 16 of this year, and the sitting is adjourned.