A meeting of the Chamber was held under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Maulen Ashimbayev, during which a number of industry-specific laws and international agreements were considered.
During the meeting, deputies reviewed the second reading of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Amendments and Supplements to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Environmental Issues and the Improvement of Certain Sectors of the Economy," returning it to the Mazhilis in a revised version. It should be noted that the law under review provides for improvements to the waste management system. Furthermore, important amendments will be introduced for the further development of the processing industry and the improvement of the hydrometeorological service.
Senators noted that the Law addresses both the digitalization of the environmental sector and the development of carbon offset and climate finance mechanisms, as well as the reduction of the timeframes for obtaining environmental permits and approvals for investment projects and hydrocarbon exploration projects. Offshore hydrocarbon exploration is an exception. Deputies also ratified a number of international documents, including the Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Ratification of the Protocol Amending the Agreement on the Status of Formations of Forces and Means of the Collective Security Treaty Organization of December 10, 2010" and "On Ratification of the Protocol Amending the Agreement on Cooperation between Member States of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the Field of Transportation of Military and Other Formations, Their Movable Property, and Military Products of September 15, 2015." The adoption of these laws, as noted, will improve the efficiency of organizing transportation when formations perform their intended tasks or participate in joint exercises.
The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Joint Management and Rational Use of Transboundary Water Bodies" is aimed at developing effective cooperation in the management and rational use of transboundary waters, as well as ensuring the reliable and safe operation of water management facilities in joint interstate use. Along with strengthening international cooperation, the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Ratification of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the United Arab Emirates, on the other hand" creates favorable conditions for promoting goods in the UAE market, as well as increasing the volume and pace of trade between the parties.
Among the sectoral laws, the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Psychological Activity" was reviewed and approved, as well as the Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Public Administration and Local Self-Government" and "On Amendments and Additions to the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Customs Regulation in the Republic of Kazakhstan."
"President Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev has repeatedly emphasized the importance of citizen participation in decision-making. In this regard, a law has been approved that amends and improves the legal mechanisms of local governance in the regions. The law contains provisions for developing self-government institutions and strengthening the role of maslikhats (regional bodies of state bodies). Furthermore, amendments have been made to ensure the financial independence of the regions. We hope that the adoption of this law will give new impetus to the further development of local self-government institutions," said Maulen Ashimbayev.
The Senate Speaker also noted that the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Amendments and Additions to the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Customs Regulation in the Republic of Kazakhstan" defines the rights and obligations of e-commerce operators and clarifies the procedure and conditions for moving goods across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union.
The Chamber also approved the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Credit Rating Activities" and the accompanying Law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Improvement and Digitalization of the Financial Market, Bankruptcy, and the Assessment of Government Agencies." The law, as noted by Maulen Ashimbayev, defines the main goals, objectives, and principles for regulating credit rating activities. It also comprehensively regulates the activities of agencies, requirements for them, and the specifics of state control.
The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Improvement of Social Legislation," initiated by deputies, brings together key provisions for improving social legislation, including migration policy, inclusive culture, the development of healthcare, and technical and vocational education. The document provides for amendments and additions to the Entrepreneurial, Labor, Social Codes, the Code "On Public Health and the Healthcare System", as well as eight laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
"The approved law aims to modernize migration policy and the technical and vocational education system. Furthermore, important amendments have been introduced to support inclusive policies, manage pension savings, and improve healthcare legislation," the Senate Speaker noted.
At the same time, the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Radioactive Waste Management" approved by the senators and its accompanying Laws - the Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Issues of Radioactive Waste Management, Energy and Development of the Nuclear Industry" and "On Amendments and Additions to the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Subsoil and Subsoil Use" on Issues of Radioactive Waste Management and Improving the Regulation of Subsoil Use Operations" regulate the classification of radioactive waste, the transfer of nuclear materials and radioactive substances to the category of radioactive waste, and the categorization of radioactive waste management facilities.
(Press Office of the Senate, 74-72-27. Photo by: N.Baibullin)
