An operating licence must be applied for if an undertaking pursues to act in the field of handling explosive substances and/or pyrotechnic articles.
The operating licence for handling explosive substances and operating licence for handling a pyrotechnic article are granted without a term.
Legal bases
Activities related to explosive substances and pyrotechnic articles are regulated by:
Requirements for the applicant
In order to obtain the operating licence, the applicant must correspond to the following requirements:
- The undertaking has the appropriate technical means and a competent staff for handling explosive substances and/or pyrotechnic article in conformity with the requirements;
- Pursuant to the information held in the punishment register, the representative of the undertaking or the person organising the handling of the explosive substances and/ or pyrotechnic article has not been punished for a criminal offence in the first degree, for an offence against the state, or for an offence which was committed by using an explosive, a pyrotechnic article, ammunition or a firearm, and he or she is not wanted, or suspected or accused of a criminal offence.
Professional qualification of employees
If you wish to employ an employee, who has received his/her qualification abroad or has professional (vocational) work experience abroad, the employee must have his/her professional qualification recognised in Estonia. A professional qualification acquired abroad may not automatically comply with the conditions established in Estonia.
Find out about the professions / professional practice that must be recognised.
Contact the competent authority of your area of activity to receive additional information and have the professional qualification of an employee recognised.
Cross-border operation
If the undertaking has an operating licence for handling explosive or pyrotechnic article, which is issued by another contracting state of the European Economic Area, but the undertaking wishes to operate in Estonia, the undertaking must apply for an operating licence of handler of explosive and pyrotechnic article.
Application for an operating licence is not mandatory if the undertaking wishes to use explosive or pyrotechnic article in Estonia on a temporary basis (e.g. organise a fireworks display). In this case the undertaking must notify the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority about the use of explosive or pyrotechnic article at least 10 working days before using the explosive or pyrotechnic article in Estonia by sending the authority a respective e-mail at [email protected] and follow the requirements established for the use of explosive or pyrotechnic article in Estonia.
Filling in and submitting the application
An activity licence grants a company the right to handle an explosive or a pyrotechnic article. Handling an explosive involves manufacture, transfer, acquisition, possession, storage, transport, use, and destruction.
In order to obtain a handling licence for explosive substances and pyrotechnic articles, an application with the following information must be submitted to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority:
- Pursued field of activity (preparation, storage, use of explosive substances);
- Place or places of operation;
- Relevant technical equipment;
- Validity period of the pursued handling licence, when the termlesss handling licence is applicated.
The following additional documents must be submitted:
- Information on those persons who due to their proprietary participation or position in the undertaking are entitled to influence the activities of the undertaking (for example, a list of those shareholders in the undertaking who hold more than five per cent of the share capital, and a list of the members of the management board and supervisory board of the undertaking setting out a natural person’s given name and surname, personal identification code, in the absence of the latter date of birth, and place of residence, and a legal person’s full name, seat and commercial registry code).
- Information about the organiser of the handling of explosive substances (given name and surname, personal identification code, in the absence of the latter date of birth, and place of residence and telephone number).
- A copy of the document confirming payment of the state fee.
The application can be submitted:
- By entering the Register of Economic Activities (authentication is required);
- By sending the digitally signed application form to the e-mail address: [email protected];
- By sending the application to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority via mail: Endla 10a, 10122 Tallinn.
Payment of the state fee
State fee for the review of an application for a licence for handling explosives is 290 euros.
State fee for the review of an application for handling a pyrotechnic article is 130 euros.
The state fee must be paid to the bank account of the Ministry of Finance:
- SEB – EE891010220034796011
- Swedbank – EE932200221023778606
- Luminor Bank – EE701700017001577198
- LHV Pank - EE777700771003813400
Reference number: 2900073203.
Processing the application
In the case of the activity licences for the handler of an explosive or the handler of a pyrotechnic article, the activity licence is issued and amended by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority. If the information provided in the application is incomplete, the applicant is contacted as soon as possible. If an application for an activity licence is not reviewed within the term set for adjudicating an application, an activity licence is not granted to the applicant by default upon the expiry of the term. An activity licence for the handler of an explosive and an activity licence for the handler of a pyrotechnic article are issued in the form of an entry made in the register of economic activities.
Amending the terms and conditions of the operating licence
If the activities are expanded and the location of the activity changes, the whole committee based procedure must be repeated, which results in the addition of an annex applied for.
Suspension of the operating licence and renouncement of economic activity
If the undertaking wishes to terminate its activities in the selected field, the undertaking must submit an application, after which the Technical Regulatory Authority declares the handling licence to be void.
The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority may suspend the validity of the handling licence immediately in the occurrence of circumstances which allow the annulment of the handling licence.
Revocation of operating licence
If the undertaking violates the terms and conditions of the operating permit or law, the operating licence will be annulled. An operating licence is annulled, if:
- The holder of the handling licence renounces economic activity.
- When applying for the operating licence or applying for the renewal of the validity of the licence, the undertaking has submitted false data which was of critical importance in the decision on granting or renewing the licence.
- A prohibition on economic activities imposed by a court judgment or pursuant to law is effective in respect of the undertaking in the respective field of activity.
Supervision
State supervision is performed by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority.
Contact details
Substantive information
Lauri Kütt, Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, tel: +372 667 2185, e-mail: [email protected]
Registry information and technical questions
Register of Economic Activities, tel: +372 668 7080, e-mail: [email protected]