Convenció internacional i procediments duaners a Finlàndia

International Conventions

Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Party to the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls For Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies
Party to the International Coffee Agreement

International Economic Cooperation

Finland is a member of the following international economic organisations: ICC, European Economic Area, WTO, European Union, G9, IMF, OECD, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates Finland click here. International organisation membership of Finland is also outlined here.

Non Tariff Barriers

In accordance with its European Union membership, Finland complies by EU rules and regulations. While the EU has a rather liberal foreign trade policy, there are a certain number of restrictions, especially on farm products, following the implementation of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy). The Common Agricultural Policy is an application of compensations on import and export of farm products, aimed at favouring the development of agriculture within the EU. It implies a certain number of control and regulation systems for the goods entering the EU territory.

Restrictions apply to certain items such as products containing alcohol, pharmaceuticals, narcotics and dangerous drugs, explosives, etc. Beef cattle bred on hormones is forbidden to import. The BSE crisis (often called the 'mad cow disease') urged the European Authorities to strengthen phytosanitary measures to ensure good quality of meats entering and circulating in the EU territory. The principle of precaution is now widespread, in case of doubt, the import is prohibited until proof is made of the non-harmfulness of products.

Customs Duties and Taxes on Imports

Operations carried out within the EEA are duty-free.
The Common Customs Tariff of the European Union applies to goods originating outside Europe. Generally the duty is relatively low, ranging from 5.0% to 14% on industrial goods. However, many products have reduced duties or no duties at all by virtue of trade agreements (according to Eurostat, around 70% of the imports that enter the EU do so at zero tariff).
Agricultural products imported from outside the EU are subject to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with custom duties on these items being supplemented with a system of variable levies or other charges.

For more information, consult the Taxation and Customs Guide published by the European Commission.

Customs Classification

The Combined Nomenclature of the European Union integrates the HS nomenclature and supplements it with its own subheadings with an eight-digit code number and its own Legal Notes created for Community purposes. In order to get exhaustive regulations and custom tariffs rates regarding their products, exporters shall refer to the TARIC code and its database, which includes all applicable customs duties and all customs trade policy measures for all goods.

Import Procedures

Exporting to Finland is subject to EU standards. The EU’s Union Customs Code (Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 setting forth the Union Customs Code) aims to complete the shift by Customs to a paperless and fully electronic and interoperable environment. The Union Customs Code came into force on 1 May 2016. The transition period for Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) lasted until 1 May 2019.

Import restrictions apply to certain items such as alcoholic beverages, foodstuff, pharmaceuticals, firearms and other articles that could pose a potential threat to health, welfare, or spread of animal and plant diseases. These import/export items need to meet special requirements and certifications set by the EU or Finnish standards. The TARIC (Tarif Intégré de la Communauté) is available to help determine if a licence is required for a particular product.

It is the responsibility of the importer or the authorised agent to declare imported goods to Finnish Customs. This can be done through the Single Administrative Document (SAD). The SAD form is an import declaration form for all EU Member States.

The following documents are required for customs clearance:
• A customs declaration form endorsed by the National Board of Customs in Finland
• A valuation declaration for imports exceeding the value of EUR 20,000
• A copy of the commercial invoice

Several procedural changes were introducted in 2021.

For further information, please visit Finnish Customs.
For information on the EU Union Customs Code, please visit the website of the European Commission.

Importing Samples

Finland is a signatory of the ATA carnet convention.
Goods may qualify as samples if:

Goods are imported in a quantity required only for acquisitions of orders
Goods are used only for acquisitions of orders
Samples indicate the nature and quality of the goods
The samples are manufactured by tearing, piercing or otherwise clearly and permanently marking the goods, thus making them unfit for sale.

Electronics and other durable consumer goods that cannot be rendered unfit for any use other than display as samples are not accepted as samples of low value. If any imported samples of goods are subject to import prohibitions and restrictions, any possible exemption from customs duties does not erase those prohibitions and restrictions.