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Estonia · Law · SE

778

Act to amend the Atmospheric Air Protection Act, the Waste Act and the Criminal Record Act

avaldatud riigiteatajasEstonia· Riigikogu· ET

Introduced

15 December 2025

Last action

25 February 2026 · Accepted

Status

AVALDATUD_RIIGITEATAJAS

Sponsors

Hanah Lahe, Vabariigi Valitsus

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

25 February 2026

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Summary

The law is being amended to bring Estonian law into line with the new EU regulations regarding substances that deplete the ozone layer and fluorinated greenhouse gases. Among other things, the references are updated, the procedure for issuing invitations and permits is clarified, and the scope of regulation is extended to new groups of substances, including HFOs and natural refrigerants. An important part of the changes is aimed at reducing the use of F-gases and improving environmental protection. F gases are man-made gases that cause the greenhouse effect - SF6, for example, is a 23,000 times stronger greenhouse gas than CO2. Since F-gases are found in common refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and electrical switches in substations, the law imposes stricter requirements for their handling, control and reporting. The aim is to promote the transition to natural refrigerants and green technology in the refrigeration industry. Owners of HFO-containing equipment (currently 14) must to start registering devices and doing leakage checks (100-300 euros). The professional certificates of operators of cold, air-conditioning and heat pumps will become time-limited. The handling permit obligation also extends to natural refrigerants, which affects at least 20 companies. At the same time, the administrative burden will be reduced in several areas. For example, the obligation to register larger capacity heat pumps installed in residential buildings (50-100 units) will disappear, it will be simplified reporting of F-gases and threshold amounts are established that reduce the obligation to submit data for about 10 companies. The changes are planned to enter into force in general, and the European Commission must be notified of the new penalty provisions before January 1, 2026.

Machine translation from Estonian. The official text remains authoritative.

Timeline

  1. 15 December 2025

    AVALDATUD_RIIGITEATAJAS

    Source: SE

  2. 25 February 2026

    Accepted

Votes

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Versions

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Documents

26 official files

Lõpptekst asice

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Sponsors

Related records

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Sources

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