Goods - Finland

Updated 10/2012

Legal requirements

This freedom to trade within the European Union is one of the EU's fundamental achievements. Finland’s Ministry of Employment and the Economy is responsible for matters concerning the single market.

Free movement of goods and services

Trade in foods is regulated by the Food Act.

Food Act

In Finland, a trade may be pursued by a person who has a place of residence in the European Economic Area, by a Finnish company or foundation, or by a foreign company or foundation with a Finnish-registered subsidiary and which was established in accordance with the legislation of a Member State of the European Economic Area and has its registered office, central administration or headquarters in a Member State of the European Economic Area.

Act on the Right to Pursue a Trade

The National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland may also award a licence to others than those above.

Business permits

Technical safety and reliability are monitored and developed by the Safety and Chemical Agency (TUKES).

Safety and Chemical Agency

The Trade Act relates to trade in movable property and partly also the exchange of movable property. It does not affect the transfer of a building, fixed facility or structure in another country if the right to use the land is transferred at the same time.

Trade Act

Restrictions

Food sector

The food sector has restrictions on foods that require a licence or declaration.

Business permits - food items

Regional State Administrative Agencies steer and monitor food safety in practise.

Regional state administrative agencies

The Finnish Food Safety Authority monitors food safety.

Foods

Non-food sector

A declaration to the health protection authority must be made before commencing activities, in writing, to the health protection authority of the municipality in which it is intended to pursue the activity.

Business permits

Excise duties

In the Member States of the European Union, alcohol and alcoholic beverages, prepared tobacco, mineral oils (liquid fuels), electricity, natural gas and coal are subject to harmonised excise duty under the Directives.

Ministry of Finance - Excise duties
EnterpriseFinland - Taxation - excise duties

If commercial activity is subject to excise duty, the National Board of Customs may be applied to for a licence to act as an authorised warehouse keeper, registered trader or tax representative.

Is your activity subject to excise duty?

Appealing against trade barriers

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy jointly monitor barriers to trade.

Import policy and easing of imports from developing countries (Ministry for Foreign Affairs)
Barriers to trade (TEM)
Barriers to trade and investment and how to manage them (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Administrative procedures

Permits and licences

An entrepreneur must have a licence before starting to pursue certain trades and professions in Finland, particularly those posing security, health or economic risks. The trade register, which is maintained by the National Board of Patents and Registration, must be notified.

Trade Register

International VAT number

A VAT identifier or VAT number is required when trading with companies in other Member States of the European Union.

International trade
Tax Administration forms and eServices

A company can check to see whether their external trading partner has a valid VAT number by calling 020 697 062 in Finland or by consulting the European Commission online service.

VAT data transfer system (VIES): VAT number (VAT identifier) check

Trade of goods declaration

Information on the AREX public declaration system and on trade-of-goods declarations can be found on the Finnish Customs website.

AREX public declaration system
Information and guidelines on how to use AREX [292 KB]
Finnish Customs

Submitting statistics

Compulsory types of statistics are those required by Statistics Finland, the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (TIKE) and the National Board of Customs.

Notifications to authorities

Information about Finland's trade with other EU Member States is collected using the statistical declarations, or Instrastat system, provided by companies.

Finnish Customs Intrastat

Statistical declarations on internal trade (Intrastat) may also be made using the electronic ItellaTYVI service form on the Internet.

Finnish Customs administration online

Suspending tariffs or obtaining new tariff quotas

Customs suspension is a duty-free or reduced-tariff period in the EU.

Customs suspension

Tariff quota means a duty-free or reduced-tariff period for a given quantity of imports.

Tariff quota

Safety information regarding transport of certain goods

Safety information is provided on goods leaving the EU during the export procedure as part of the export declaration.

Customs for businesses

Resources

Information about trades and professions that require granting of permits or licences is available from Enterprise Finland.

Business permits

Employers' services contain information about health and safety at work, accident insurance, occupational health services, data protection in the workplace and excise duty.

Employers

Standards contribute to removing obstacles to trade. The Finnish Standards Association (SFS) is the central standardisation body in Finland.

Finnish Standards Association

Regional State Administrative Agency regulates and awards the necessary licences.

Regional State Administrative Agency

Occupational Safety and Health Administration and EnterpriseFinland environment section and the Consumer Agency offer further information about other restrictions in this area.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Consumer Agency for businesses
Environmental information for businesses

Information on the AREX public declaration system and on trade-of-goods declarations can be found on the Finnish Customs website.

AREX public declaration system

The "Self-Monitoring" website at Omavalvonta.fi has tips on how to carry out self-monitoring in the food and hygiene sector.

Omavalvonta.fi

EnterpriseFinland and Finvoice provide companies with information on eInvoicing.

EnterpriseFinland - eInvoice
eBilling information - Information

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

Goods - Finland