Import and entry to the market of plastic food contact materials containing bamboo flour, rice flour or other unauthorised vegetable fibres is prohibited. Plastic products containing unauthorised vegetable fibres do not comply with food contact material law (e.g. the EU:s plastics regulation 10/2011). Migration of, for example, melamine and formaldehyde has been found to exceed limits in plastic food contact materials containing bamboo. These prohibited materials have been used as a filler in the manufacture of various take-away beakers, children’s tableware and cutlery, for example.
Read more on the Finnish Food Authority’s website
Foodstuffs
- vegetables, mushrooms and their derivative products
- fruits, berries and their derivative products
- nuts, almonds and their derivative products
- juices, drinks (not ones subject to the Alcohol Act) and drinking stuffs
- cocoa, coffee, tea and their derivative products
- grains, grain products and bakery products
- leguminous vegetables, seeds (not sowing seeds) and their derivative products
- sweets, chocolate and other sugar products
- spices and seasoning products
- gravies, soups, broths and soup ingredients
- food products, desserts and snack products
- food greases and oils (non-animal-based)
- food/dietary supplements and novel foods
- baby food, special food products for athletes, clinical nutrients
- combined foodstuffs (only if less than 50 % of the product is processed animal-based stuff)
- foodstuff additives.
Finnish Customs controls organic products by virtue of the Act on Control of Organic Production (294/2015). According to the Act, Customs controls the import of organically produced agricultural products, foodstuffs, feed, alcoholic beverages and spirits in accordance with the provisions in the Council Regulation and the legislation laid down by virtue of the Regulation.
The control of organic foods of non-animal origin (such as fresh vegetables and processed products) is carried out in connection with standard food controls carried out by Finnish Customs. Customs checks that organic food items comply with the regulations on organic production, and that they meet the criteria set by the food legislation. The internal trade in organic food items is also controlled by Customs, but organic fodder and organic alcoholic beverages are only controlled if they are to be cleared through Customs. Organic fodder is mainly checked for pesticide residues and genetic modification. Organically produced alcoholic beverages, such as wines, are checked for pesticide residues as well as for additives restricted by the legislation on organic production, such as sorbic acid and sulfur dioxide or sulfites.
The control examinations are carried out at the Customs Laboratory. If an organically produced batch of foodstuffs, fodder or alcoholic beverages is sampled for examination by the Customs Laboratory, the holder of the goods has the right to obtain a counter sample if they wish. Customs must be informed of the counter sample, at the latest when the control sample is taken.
The EU:s new regulation on organic products (2018/848) enters into force on 1 January 2022, and according to current information the import routes for organic products will change at the same time; imports of organic products will be conducted through border control posts (BCP) as of that day.
More information (in Finnish) about import of organic products can be found in the Customs restrictions manual
More information (in Finnish) about declaring organic products in the TracesNT system can be found on the Finnish Food Authority website
Consumer goods
- tableware meant for use with foodstuffs, cutlery, household supplies, household machines and packaging material that comes into contact with foodstuffs
- toys (products and materials meant for children under the age of 14)
- clothes and other textiles for babies and toddlers (under the age of two)
- clothes meant for children and youths, with cords and strings
- textile and leather products that come into contact with the skin (e.g. underwear, bed linen, shirts, hats, scarves, gloves)
- textiles that do not come into direct contact with the skin (e.g. outer clothing, bedspreads)
- metallic objects that come into contact with the skin (e.g. non-genuine jewellery, watchbands, press studs, zippers)
- child care supplies (e.g. changing mats, diapers, bibs, pacifier chains etc.)
- Cosmetic products
- Candle products
- certain plastic products (PVC and other plastics; incl. office supplies, household supplies and toiletries, packing materials)
- footwear
- reflectors meant for consumer use.
The EU Regulation 2017/625 (Article 35) on official controls requires for the control authorities to establish an appropriate procedure for ensuring the right of an operator to obtain samples for a second expert opinion in connection with official controls. A sample handed over to an operator in connection with official sampling is referred to as a counter sample. Customs applies the counter sample procedure in controls of foodstuffs that include controls of food contact materials.
The operator is responsible for the proper storage and analysis of the counter sample at his/her own expense. As a rule, the samplers of Finnish Customs hand over the counter sample to the possession of the operator in connection with the sampling, but in some cases the counter sample cannot be provided until a foodstuff sample that has been homogenized in a laboratory is available. Such cases may occur for example when samples are taken for the control of genetically modified ingredients and for determination of certain contaminants (such as mycotoxins). Therefore, it is important that the operator states that he/she wants to obtain a counter sample well in advance before the control sample is taken. This must be arranged in cooperation with the supervising customs office. The supervising customs office prepares for the sampling e.g. by obtaining a sufficient amount of sampling kits.
If a counter sample is taken, this will be noted in the sampling report. The goods holder also receives a copy of the report. The counter sample is sealed, and if the counter sample is analysed in a research laboratory, the seal number must be entered in the analysis report.
If the analysis results of the counter sample are to be sent to Customs for information, the operator must inform the product safety unit of any pending examinations during the hearing period, which is seven days calculated from the date of the advance notification. The hearing period can be extended if necessary, in order for possible examination results of the counter sample to be available when making the final assessment. The significance of the analysis results of counter samples is evaluated individually, taking e.g. the reliability of the research laboratory and the examination method used into consideration.
Examination of the counter sample does not influence the duty of the competent authority to take quick measures in order to remove or reduce health risks caused by foodstuffs.
Laboratory examinations initiated by the customs authorities are subject to charge (Decree of the Ministry of Finance on Chargeable Performances Provided by Finnish Customs 970/2020).
Goods under the scope of the Food Act
- 465 euros/lot, when 1–3 samples are examined
- 562 euros/lot, when 4 samples or more
- 250 euros/lot, when the value of the import consignment is no higher than 1 500 euros
- 210 euros/lot in the case of re-examination after improvement measures (when the value of the import consignment exceeds 1 500 euros)
Goods under the scope of the Consumer Safety Act
- 377 euros/lot, when 1–3 samples are examined
- 465 euros/lot, when 4 samples or more are examined
- 200 euros/lot, when the value of the import consignment is no higher than 1 500 euros
- 300 euros/lot in the case of re-examination after improvement measures (when the value of the import consignment exceeds 1 500 euros)
Goods under the scope of the Act on Control of Organic Production
- 290 euros/lot, when 1 sample is examined
- 400 euros/lot, when 2 samples or more are examined
- 250 euros/lot, when the value of the import consignment is no higher than 1 500 euros
- 470 euros/lot, when the import consignment consists of organic feed
The official control of foodstuffs and materials that come into contact with foodstuffs is based on an EU control regulation 2017/625, which provides that the functionality and effectiveness of controls are to be audited regularly. Internal and external audits are carried out for verifying if controls are working flawlessly and in accordance with the plans.
Customs has an audit organisation with representatives from various Customs units. Finnish Food Authority coordinates the auditing of the control of foodstuffs at a national level.
Changes in the import of foodstuffs 14 December 2019:
- Controls regulation (EU) No 2017/625
- Import Control Act (1277/2019)
- General Food Law Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
- Regulation on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food (EC) No 1935/2004
- Food Act (23/2006)
- Consumer Safety Act (920/2011)
- Chemicals Act (599/2013)
- Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
- Cosmetics Act (492/2013)
- REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006
- Toy Safety Act (1154/2011)
- Government Decree on information to be provided on consumer goods and consumer services (613/2004)