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National Inspectorates - Finland

In Finland, the organisation, responsibilities and jurisdiction of respective enforcement authorities for REACH, CLP, BPR, POP and PIC are legislated in the national Chemicals Act (599/2013). Enforcement related to market surveillance and The Market Surveillance Regulation are implemented under the Act on the Market Surveillance of Certain Products (1137/2016), whereas the areas of chemicals legislation outside the remit of market surveillance authorities remain in the scope of the Chemicals Act.

Authorities responsible for REACH enforcement

  • Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) – responsible for enforcement of REACH regarding the provisions relating to manufacturing and placing on the market of substances, mixtures and articles (registration, notifications, authorization, information in the supply chain, restrictions).
  • Occupational Health and Safety Authority (Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI)) – responsible for enforcement of the REACH provisions concerning safety of workers at workplaces with the focus on downstream user obligations, authorizations and compliance with restrictions.
  • Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) (Regional authorities) and local municipal authorities are responsible for enforcement of REACH provisions in the supervision of activities that pose a threat of environmental pollution with the focus on downstream user obligations, authorizations and restrictions.

Authorities responsible for CLP enforcement

  • Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) – responsible for enforcement of all provisions of CLP Regulation.

Authorities responsible for BPR enforcement

  • Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) – responsible for enforcement of BPR regarding all provisions relating to placing on the market of biocidal products and treated articles.
  • Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) (Regional authorities) are responsible for enforcement of the terms and conditions set for the use of biocidal products in the authorisation decision referred to in Article 17 of BPR in the supervision of activities that pose a threat of environmental pollution.

Authorities responsible for POP enforcement

  • Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) – responsible for enforcement of the provisions of POP Regulation, however excluding the provisions of Articles 3 and 4.
  • Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) – responsible for enforcement of Articles 3 and 4 of the POP Regulation related to placing on the market of substances, mixtures and articles.
  • Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) (Regional centres) and local municipal authorities are responsible for enforcement of Articles 3 and 4 of POP Regulation related to use of substances, mixtures and articles in the supervision of activities that pose a threat of environmental pollution.

Authorities responsible for PIC enforcement

  • Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) – responsible for enforcement of the provisions of PIC Regulation.

Further information

In addition to the authorities listed above, the Finnish Customs serves as the market surveillance authority referred to in Articles 25–28 of the Market Surveillance Regulation, responsible for enforcement of REACH, BPR, POP and PIC with respect to the import, export and transit of chemicals and articles, and for enforcement of BPR in the context of the import, export and transit of biocidal products. The duties of Customs regarding REACH, CLP, BPR, POP and PIC are defined more closely in section 13 of the national Chemicals Act.