2025-06-172024/25:MJU23 · p.3MJUEnvironment & agriculture
Formulation of regulations at the ordinance and regulation level
Direction for upcoming aquaculture regulations and directives
What's at stake: The decision affects how easy and costly it becomes for small-scale aquaculture operations to start up and run their business, and determines how far in advance the Riksdag should steer a set of rules that would otherwise be designed by the government and agencies.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the Riksdag should use formal directives to steer how the government designs upcoming regulations and directives for aquaculture, such as exemptions for small-scale operations and a single point of contact for permits, or leave this to the government's and agencies' ongoing work.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee does not want to pre-empt the ongoing inquiry work, trusts that the government and agencies will design relevant regulations and directives in a sensible and balanced way using the new mandate on environmental considerations in aquaculture, and therefore rejects the motions calling for exemptions for small-scale operations and a single point of contact.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 4 (C)
The reservation (C) argues that Sweden has good conditions for sustainable aquaculture that creates jobs across the country and contributes to food security, but that unclear regulations and permit processes make it expensive and complicated to start and run a business. It calls for better-adapted rules, funding for research and investment, an exemption from the notification requirement for small-scale operations with low feed consumption, strengthened support, and a single digital point of contact for permits and exemptions.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 4 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 249–21Ja 186–84
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | Abstain 2/0/18/4 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | Yes | Abstain 0/0/15/3 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| VCiczie Weidby (V, Jönköpings län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| VIsabell Mixter (V, Västernorrlands län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:3371 by Anders Karlsson et al. (C) provision 2, and 2024/25:3387 by Emma Nohrén et al. (MP) provisions 1-4.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:3371 av Anders Karlsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 2 och 2024/25:3387 av Emma Nohrén m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1-4.
Riksdag decision: Parliament agreed to the Government's proposal on new rules for aquaculture. The term aquaculture is used for activities that cultivate aquatic animals and plants such as fish, mussels, crustaceans and algae. To conduct aquaculture, several approvals are required today according to various legislation and by different authorities, among other things from an environmental perspective. According to the proposal, the possible environmental impact of aquaculture should only be assessed according to the Environmental Code's rules on environmentally hazardous activities. This means that the person conducting aquaculture does not need to apply for a cultivation permit for the activity the possible impact the activity has on surrounding environments should be taken into account according to environmental legislation instead of according to the fisheries legislation the Government, or the authority determined by the Government, should have the right to determine rules for, for example, which organisms may be cultivated in different water areas the rule that aquaculture must seek permission for water activities according to the Environmental Code, that is, for example, have its water facility approved, is repealed. The legislative changes enter into force 1 July 2026. Parliament rejected a number of proposals in motions on aquaculture, of which 13 were submitted during the general motion period 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants environmental assessment of aquaculture to be done only under environmental laws and municipalities to receive competence support from the Swedish Board of Agriculture. (C) — Reservation 4
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan demands ambitious environmental goals that are monitored with strict legislation and that regulation of natural resource use is based on a holistic view and not narrow profit interests.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands ambitious environmental goals that are monitored with strict legislation and that regulation of natural resource use is based on a holistic view and not narrow profit interests. The counter-proposal wants in substance to ease permit requirements and exempt small-scale aquaculture from notification requirements, which weakens environmental assessment. The plan's support for sustainable food production and rural jobs does not outweigh that, but makes the assessment uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver ambitiösa miljömål som följs upp med skarp lagstiftning och att regleringen av naturresursanvändningen utgår från en helhetssyn och inte från ensidiga vinstintressen. Motförslaget vill i sak lätta på tillståndskraven och undanta småskaliga vattenbruk från anmälningsplikt, vilket försvagar miljöprövningen. Planens stöd för hållbar livsmedelsproduktion och landsbygdsjobb väger inte upp det, men gör bedömningen osäker.
- strict environmental legislationdecisive»miljömål som följs upp med skarp lagstiftning och praktiskt arbete.« (party programme ↗)“environmental goals that are monitored with strict legislation and practical work.”
- regulation with holistic view»tänkt reglering av skogsbruket, som utgår från en helhetssyn och inte« (party programme ↗)“intended regulation of forestry, which starts from a holistic view and not”
- protection of ecosystems»skapa goda villkor för rika ekosystem, bland annat genom att återställa« (party programme ↗)“create good conditions for rich ecosystems, among other things through restoration of”
- sustainable food production»En annan viktig del i den gröna omställningen är satsningar på hållbar livsmedelsproduktion.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Another important part of the green transition is investments in sustainable food production.”
flags: planen stödjer samtidigt landsbygdens livsmedelsjobb
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto states that slow licensing processes shall be sped up, and the party programme requires security for small entrepreneurs and strengthened conditions for business in all localities.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that slow licensing processes shall be sped up, and the party programme requires security for small entrepreneurs and strengthened conditions for business in all localities. The counter-proposal's demands for better adapted rules, relief for small-scale operations and a unified digital contact point for licences is an application of this to aquaculture. The plan does not address aquaculture regulation specifically.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att långsamma tillståndsprocesser ska snabbas på, och partiprogrammet kräver trygghet för småföretagare och stärkta förutsättningar för företagande på alla orter. Motförslagets krav på bättre anpassade regler, lättnader för småskaliga verksamheter och en samlad digital kontaktpunkt för tillstånd är en tillämpning av detta på vattenbruket. Planen behandlar inte vattenbrukets regelverk särskilt.
- faster licensing processesdecisive»Långsamma tillståndsprocesser ska snabbas på.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Slow licensing processes shall be sped up.”
- security for small entrepreneurs»Trygghet för småföretagare.« (party programme ↗)“Security for small entrepreneurs.”
- business in all localities»Stärkta förutsättningar för företagande på alla orter.« (party programme ↗)“Strengthened conditions for business in all localities.”
- strengthened food production»Livskraftig svensk livsmedelsproduktion som stärker landets självförsörjningsförmåga.« (party programme ↗)“Thriving Swedish food production that strengthens the country's self-sufficiency.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires strict requirements on companies that commercially exploit the common water resources and that environmental considerations outweigh short-term exploitation interests.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires strict requirements on companies that commercially exploit the common water resources and that environmental considerations outweigh short-term exploitation interests. Exemptions from notification requirements and eased approval requirements for aquaculture go against this, as does the requirement for strong protection of key habitats in water. The plan's general support for regulatory simplification is not sufficient to support the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver hårda krav på företag som utnyttjar den gemensamma vattenresursen kommersiellt och att miljöhänsyn väger tyngre än kortsiktiga exploateringsintressen. Undantag från anmälningsplikt och lättade tillståndskrav för vattenbruk går emot det, liksom kravet på starkt skydd av nyckelbiotoper i vatten. Planens allmänna stöd för regelförenkling räcker inte för att bära kravet.
- strict requirements on water-use companiesdecisive»Hårda krav ska ställas på de företag som får utnyttja den gemensamma fiskresursen för kommersiell vinning.« (party programme ↗)“Strict requirements should be placed on the companies that are allowed to commercially exploit the common fish resource.”
- environmental considerations before exploitation»Miljöhänsyn ska väga tyngre än kortsiktiga exploateringsintressen.« (party programme ↗)“Environmental considerations should weigh more than short-term exploitation interests.”
- protection of key habitats in water»Vi vill se ett starkt skydd av nyckelbiotoper i vatten och av områden som är speciellt viktiga för havets biologiska mångfald« (party programme ↗)“We want to see strong protection of key habitats in water and of areas that are particularly important for the biological diversity of the sea”
- regulatory simplification as counterweight»Onödig byråkrati ska undvikas genom ett aktivt regelförenklingsarbete.« (party programme ↗)“Unnecessary bureaucracy should be avoided through active regulatory simplification work.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto promises to halve the time for permits for green investments and to clean up the expensive and complicated regulations that lie like a wet blanket over the countryside.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises to halve the time for permits for green investments and to clean up the expensive and complicated regulations that lie like a wet blanket over the countryside. The counter-proposal's requirements for better tailored regulations, exemptions for small-scale operations and a unified digital contact point for permits are exactly the rule simplification the plan promises. The party programme moreover points to fish farming as a green industry whose potential must be exploited.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar att halvera tiden för tillstånd till gröna investeringar och att rensa upp bland de dyra och krångliga regelverk som ligger som en våt filt över landsbygden. Motförslagets krav på bättre anpassade regler, undantag för småskalig verksamhet och en samlad digital kontaktpunkt för tillstånd är precis den regelförenkling planen utlovar. Partiprogrammet pekar dessutom ut vattenbruket som en grön näring vars potential måste tas till vara.
- faster permit processesdecisive»Det är dags att halvera tiden det tar att få tillstånd för gröna investeringar och reformera miljöbalken så att ett projekts klimatnytta ges större vikt i miljöprövningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is time to halve the time it takes to get a permit for green investments and reform the Environmental Code so that a project's climate benefit is given greater weight in environmental assessment.”
- clean up in the regulatory thicket»Dyra, krångliga och innovationshämmande regelverk ligger som en våt filt över delar av landsbygden. Vi ska rensa upp bland överflödiga regler och byråkrati.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expensive, complicated and innovation-inhibiting regulations lie like a wet blanket over parts of the countryside. We shall clean up unnecessary regulations and bureaucracy.”
- fish farming's potential»Även vattenbruket är en grön näring med stor potential som måste tas till vara.« (party programme ↗)“Fish farming too is a green industry with great potential that must be exploited.”
- reduced administrative burden»Centerpartiet ska arbeta för att minska den administrativa bördan för små och nystartade företag.« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party shall work to reduce the administrative burden on small and start-up companies.”
The plan requires that regulatory burden for small businesses is reduced and that policy quickly removes obstacles for companies to seize new opportunities.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that regulatory burden for small businesses is reduced and that policy quickly removes obstacles for companies to seize new opportunities. It also wants permit handling to be automated and digitalized to simplify for entrepreneurs, and that appeals processes are shortened. The counter-proposal's demands for better-tailored rules, exceptions for small-scale operations and a unified digital contact point for permits are thus the plan's own line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att regelbördan för små företag minskar och att politiken snabbt undanröjer hinder för företag att ta vara på nya möjligheter. Den vill dessutom att tillståndshandläggning automatiseras och digitaliseras för att förenkla för företagare, och att överklagandeprocesser kortas. Motförslagets krav på bättre anpassade regler, undantag för småskalig verksamhet och en samlad digital kontaktpunkt för tillstånd är därmed planens egen linje.
- reduced regulatory burdendecisive»Regelbördan för små företag ska minska« (party programme ↗)“Regulatory burden for small businesses shall be reduced”
- digital permit handling»handläggning av olika slags tillstånd skulle förenkla för företagare och bör användas under« (party programme ↗)“handling of various kinds of permits would simplify for entrepreneurs and should be used under”
- remove obstacles for companies»Politikens uppgift måste vara att snabbt undanröja hinder för att underlätta för företag och« (party programme ↗)“Policy's task must be to quickly remove obstacles to make it easier for companies and”
- shorter permit processes»korta överklagandeprocesserna och fortsätta förenkla byggreglerna« (2022 manifesto ↗)“shorten appeals processes and continue simplifying building regulations”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants to counteract bureaucracy and complicated rules and requires that forthcoming laws be tested from a small business perspective, which supports the counter-proposal's requirement for better adapted rules, exemptions from notification obligations for small-scale operations and a joint digital contact point.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to counteract bureaucracy and complicated rules and requires that forthcoming laws be tested from a small business perspective, which supports the counter-proposal's requirement for better adapted rules, exemptions from notification obligations for small-scale operations and a joint digital contact point. According to the plan, the fishing industry shall be given preconditions to remain viable and differentiated rural enterprise shall be facilitated. The plan specifies no research funds, so that part is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill motverka byråkrati och krångliga regler och kräver att tillkommande lagar prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv, vilket bär motförslagets krav på bättre anpassade regler, undantag från anmälningsplikt för småskaliga verksamheter och en samlad digital kontaktpunkt. Fiskerinäringen ska enligt planen ges förutsättningar att förbli livskraftig och differentierat landsbygdsföretagande ska underlättas. Planen anger inga forskningsmedel, så den delen är härledd.
- small business perspective on rulesdecisive»Tillkommande lagar bör prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Forthcoming laws should be tested from a small business perspective.”
- counteract bureaucracy»Byråkrati och krångliga« (party programme ↗)“Bureaucracy and complicated”
- viable fishing industry»Den svenska fiskerinäringen måste ges förutsättningar att även i framtiden vara livskraftig.« (party programme ↗)“The Swedish fishing industry must be given preconditions to also in future be viable.”
- rural enterprise»Även differentierat landsbygdsföretagande ska underlättas.« (party programme ↗)“Differentiated rural enterprise shall also be facilitated.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The counter-proposal wants better adapted rules, exemptions from notification requirements for small-scale operations and faster, consolidated permit paths for aquaculture.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants better adapted rules, exemptions from notification requirements for small-scale operations and faster, consolidated permit paths for aquaculture. The plan explicitly commits to reducing the number of rules for the green industries, shortening processing times for environmental permits and setting an upper time limit for public agencies' processing. The plan also wants to support rather than direct agriculture and forestry and strengthen the food strategy.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill ha bättre anpassade regler, undantag från anmälningsplikt för småskaliga verksamheter och snabbare, samlade tillståndsvägar för vattenbruket. Planen åtar sig uttryckligen att minska antalet regler för de gröna näringarna, korta handläggningstiderna för miljötillstånd och sätta en bortre tidsgräns för myndigheternas handläggning. Planen vill dessutom stötta snarare än styra jord- och skogsbruket och förstärka livsmedelsstrategin.
- fewer rules, shorter permitsdecisive»Minska antalet regler för jordbruket och korta handläggningstider för miljötillstånd« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the number of rules for agriculture and shorten processing times for environmental permits”
- upper time limit in processing»Korta myndigheternas handläggningstider genom en bortre tidsgräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shorten public agencies' processing times through an upper time limit”
- support not direct the industry»Vi ska stötta, inte styra, jord- och skogsbruket« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall support, not direct, agriculture and forestry”
- strengthened food strategy»Förstärka livsmedelsstrategin« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the food strategy”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that permit processes be made more efficient and predictable and that regulations be simplified with better legal security.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that permit processes be made more efficient and predictable and that regulations be simplified with better legal security. The counter-proposal's demands for better adapted regulations, exemptions from notification requirements for small-scale operations, and a consolidated digital contact point are precisely such regulatory simplification. The plan also wants to relieve small businesses of their administrative burden and create conditions for new entrepreneurship.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att tillståndsprocesser effektiviseras och görs mer förutsägbara och att regelverken förenklas med bättre rättssäkerhet. Motförslagets krav på bättre anpassade regler, undantag från anmälningsplikt för småskaliga verksamheter och en samlad digital kontaktpunkt är just sådan regelförenkling. Planen vill dessutom avlasta småföretagens administrativa börda och skapa förutsättningar för nyföretagande.
- efficient permit processesdecisive»Effektivisera och öka förutsägbarheten i tillståndsprocesserna för gruvnäring, elnätsutbyggnad och industri« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Make permit processes more efficient and increase predictability for mining, electricity grid expansion and industry”
- simplified regulations»Förenkla regelverken och förbättra rättssäkerheten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Simplify regulations and improve legal security”
- reduced administrative burden»Verka för regelförenkling och avlasta småföretagens administrativa börda« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for regulatory simplification and relieve small businesses of their administrative burden”
- conditions for new entrepreneurship»Skapa förutsättningar för nyföretagande och entreprenörskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Create conditions for new entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activities”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:MJU23)
- Committee report full text (HC01MJU23)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1369 — Svenskt fiske och vattenbruk av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1832 — Vattenbruksnäringen av Jennie Wernäng och Marléne Lund Kopparklint (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:2485 — Natur och biologisk mångfald av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2486 — Vatten, hav och fiske av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2980 — En levande och välmående skärgård av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:3108 — Utgiftsområde 23 Areella näringar, landsbygd och livsmedel av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3362 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:136 Förbättrade förutsättningar för ett hållbart vattenbruk av Andrea Andersson Tay m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3371 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:136 Förbättrade förutsättningar för ett hållbart vattenbruk av Anders Karlsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:3387 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:136 Förbättrade förutsättningar för ett hållbart vattenbruk av Emma Nohrén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:996 — Stärk det svenska vattenbruket av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Proposition 2024/25:136 — Förbättrade förutsättningar för ett hållbart vattenbruk
Source: The Swedish Parliament