Welsh assembly passes its first bill Carwyn Jones, the first minister of Wales. Photograph: Gareth Phillips Carwyn Jones, the first minister of Wales, seals a document carrying details of the National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) bill. The setting was unostentatious and the ceremony swift. But in a plain briefing room in Cardiff a little bit of history was made on Monday when the first legislation created wholly in Wales for more than six centuries came into force. Carwyn Jones, the first minister of Wales, called it a hugely important day in the country's development. This is the first act that has been passed by a legislature in Wales for more than 600 years. It's an exceptionally historic day," he said. Wales is an old country, but a young democracy. Today is a historic day for us as a nation. It heralds the beginning of a new era for the governance of Wales. The actual ceremony only lasted a couple of minutes. Jones, who heads the Labour-led government, carefully operated a secondhand press - looking like it might have come from a DIY enthusiast's shed - to apply a scarlet seal to a document carrying details of the National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) bill. Jones - also known now as Keeper of the Seal - said a few words in Welsh and English and handed the document to the assembly's chief executive and clerk, Claire Clancy, at which point the bill became law. The ceremony at the government offices in the city district of Cathays follows the vote by the Welsh people last year for the assembly to have primary law-making powers. It means members have the right to create their own laws in devolved areas like education, health and the environment without Westminster's approval. The subject matter of the first act is not hugely controversial. It ensures that the languages of Welsh and English are treated as equal in the assembly, which already happens by custom and practice. But Jones said that this was the just the first of many acts that will have an impact on the lives of Welsh people for years to come. "What's important [is that] it's the precursor to a number of bills before the assembly that will make a big difference to the people of Wales whether it's in education or social services," he said. Jones anticipates that 14 or 15 acts will come into force over the life of the current Welsh government, among them one that fundamentally changes the handling of consent in organ donations. The first minister accepted there was little of the pomp and ceremony that tends to accompany grand state occasions in Westminster. There was a dearth of wigs, robes and solemn announcements. "It's a different style, a different type of government," said Jones. In general they do tend to do things differently in the assembly. Members refers to their colleagues and enemies by their first names and, though the debates can be fierce, they do not often turn into shouting matches as they can in the House of Commons. Clancy, the clerk to the assembly, said: "It's modern democracy. There aren't traditions, we're not bound by anything that's gone before but we're trying to create the right processes that suit a modern democracy - getting the business done, making things happen. Rosemary Butler, the assembly's presiding officer (the equivalent of the speaker), said she was "thrilled" to be present to bear witness to the first law passed by Welsh politicians since the days of the 15th century prince Owain Glyndŵr. "It's a wonderful privilege to be part of this very small but very important ceremony," she said. Butler admitted she was not quite on top of the terms, having to ask an official if the law had been "implemented" or "passed." Passed was just fine, apparently. She conceded that not every man or woman getting on with Christmas shopping in the city centre would be aware of what was going on in this room. But she was sure it was hugely important, nonetheless. We're setting precedents. We are building our own history for future generations," she said. Butler said it would have been "unthinkable" when the assembly was created a mere 15 years ago for politicians elected by Welsh voters to be passing their own laws. "We should all truly feel the hand of history on us today," she said.