Apart from the extraction stage, environment impact assessment shall be mandatory at the prospecting stage as well regarding unconventional hydrocarbons, including shale gas. This is provided for by the amendments to the Environment Protection Law passed at second reading by the Parliament.
The endorsement of foster family candidates shall be performed by a Foster Care Commission that is to be set up with the Regional Directorate for Social Assistance, the Parliament decided. The MPs adopted at second reading amendments to the Social Assistance Law amending the Child Protection Law. The Regional Directorates for Social Assistance shall keep a registеr of endorsed foster families. The law defines the concept ‘foster care’ social service. It covers the activities for recruitment and assessment of foster families, training, mutual adaptation, support and monitoring of the child’s raising.
The Parliament passed at first reading amendments to the Law on Healthcare introducing a ban on tobacco smoking in indoor public venues. 99 MPs voted for the bill, 4 were against and 10 abstained. The bill was moved by the Council of Ministers. The Cabinet proposes the ban on tobacco smoking in indoor public venues as well as at explicitly listed outdoor public places (school yards, crèches and kindergartens, specialized institutions providing social services to children and school boarding houses) to enter into force as of 1 June 2012. The bill further provides for a ban on the sale of energy drinks to persons under the age of 18, as well as a ban on energy drink commercials addressing this particular age group.