Regulations

Adoption of regulations


Adoption of the regulations of the EU was a prolonged process which started at the beginning of the 1990s. During the period 1996 - 2002 the Estonian government drew up a plan for harmonizing regulations for each year separately.
During the course of the accession negotiations with the EU basically the regulations suitable for Estonia were discussed as the aim was to convince the EU member states in Estonia's capability to act within the framework of the EU legal acts. To achiev that, Estonia had to obtain understanding of all the legislation of the EU which embraces about 25.000 legal acts.
Of the regulations of the European Union 40 per cent concern agriculture, 25 per cent single market, 20 per cent environment. There are a number regulations are dealing with monetary policy, consumer protection, energetics, and some regulations concern police cooperation as well as education, science and culture. No such statistics is available for Estonia, as the division of legal acts has not been investigated yet.

Estonian regulations more advanced than European ones


The directives of the European Union are guidlines, but the corresponding regulations elaborated by the government are compulsory for implementation and they are strict. As hygiene of catering establishments and shops does not affect trade between the EU member states, then it has been regulated only in one European regulation and quite generally at that. Estonia regards the hygienic demands for catering establishments as well as shops vital, therefore the demands in this field are more precise and strict in Estonia.

Consumer protection regulations


The regulations in consumer protection can conventionally be divided into three parts:
  • informing and training of consumers,
  • defending consumers against dangerous and non-quality goods,
  • protecting consumers' economic interests.

    • Most regulations in consumer protection concern food safety, labelling and import requirements. During accession negotiations Estonia strove neither for periods of transition nor exceptions for consumer protection chapter. All directives concerning consumer rights have been harmonized in Estonian legislation.

    Consumer protection acts in Estonian legislation


    For consumer protection activities of the voluntary consumer organisations three regulations are most important:
  • Consumer Protection Act, entry into force on April 15th , 2004,
  • Law of Obligations Act, entry into force on July 1st, 2002,
  • Trading Act, entry into force on April 15th, 2004

    • The following substantial acts are also very frequently used by voluntary organisations:
  • Food Act, entry into force in 2002,
  • Packing Act, entry into force in 2004,
  • Safety Product Act, entry into force in 2004.

    Basic regulation in banking services


    The basic problems for consumers concern obtaining loans. As a rule almost every person is a client of several commercial banks. The main guiding law for the banks while servicing consumers is the Law of Obligations Act. Chapter No 22 is called "Loan Contracts and Credit Contracts (sections 396 - 421). Its first section provides general enactments, the second enactments between consumers credit contracts and related to them contracts.