Imports of foods and consumer goods
On these pages, there are instructions for importing foods and consumer goods controlled by Customs.
Import controls are carried out both in internal and external EU trade on a risk-based basis, for example by checking documents and taking samples of goods for control examinations by the Customs Laboratory.
The importer, distributor or some other operator is responsible for ensuring that the imported products comply with the requirements.
Check the import instructions for these products
- Plant-based foods
- Fresh vegetables, berries and fruits
- Organic products
- Composite products (products that contain ingredients of both animal and plant origin)
- Toys, cosmetics, clothes and other consumer goods
- Food contact materials (e.g. tableware and packaging materials for foods)
Importing meat, fish or milk
- The Finnish Food Authority controls the import of foodstuffs of animal origin, such as meat, fish or milk. Check the instructions: Import and export of foods (in Finnish)
Control examinations of foods and consumer goods
Analysis services cannot be bought from the Customs Laboratory. The declarant is responsible for the conformity of the product and can have the product tested by commercial traders. More information is available on the websites of the Finnish Food Authority and Tukes:
Access to the market for goods to be declared is usually suspended for the duration of laboratory examinations. In the control of internal EU trade, the goods must be kept in storage for the duration of the examinations if the product is suspected to be non-compliant.
The duration of the examinations may vary, but on average, they take 2 weeks. You can apply for a transfer permit for the products, in which case they can be moved to the operator’s own warehouse to wait for the examinations to be completed.
The control samples are analysed at the Customs Laboratory.
If the product batch to be declared was placed under a prohibition of use for the duration of the examinations, it may not be put into use. This means that, you cannot remove the product batch or any part of it from the warehouse without Customs’ permission, and no change can be made to the batch.
If you have a special justified reason for introducing the goods, you can contact Customs (tuoteturvallisuus@tulli.fi).
When sampling intra-EU products (i.e. when a product batch has arrived from another EU Member State), the movement of the batch is not restricted, but if non-compliance is observed it can lead to a recall, in other words, the removal of the product from shops and consumers.
Customs is responsible for monitoring the compliance of foods and consumer goods imported to Finland from outside the EU and from the EU territory. The monitoring is systematic and based on a risk assessment.
Where and how often samples are taken is affected by factors such as; the requirements on the product, the extent of imports, the origin of the product, the supplier, any previous research results, and notifications from the European Commission. Similar products of other traders are also regularly monitored to ensure that the products comply with the regulations.
The analyses are determined in accordance with the legislation in force, the control plan and the risk assessment. Certain products are subject to special intensified controls based on EU legislation, which determines what analyses must be carried out on the products.
If a product is found to be non-compliant in the examinations, Customs will issue a decision in the matter. Goods items that are found to be non-compliant are not allowed on the market, but the operator is responsible for recalling products that have already entered the market.
The recall of non-compliant products that have already entered the market is supervised and instructed by the local food control authority and the Finnish Food Authority as well as Tukes.
The declarant must agree on the handling of rejected goods with Customs (tuoteturvallisuus@tulli.fi). Alternatives are e.g. returning the goods to the seller, restoration or destruction (destruction rendering it unusable and possible recycling of raw material). Measures to be taken are agreed upon on a case-by-case basis, but in each case, it must be done under Customs supervision. A deadline that must be complied with is given for the handling of the non-compliance batch.
In general, all materials taken as samples are consumed in the examinations. Only some consumer goods with higher item prices can be returned, but a prerequisite for the return is that the product complies with the regulations. Already at the time of the sampling, the declarant must notify their wish to have the examined products returned after examination.
Only the minimum number of products required for the examinations are usually taken based on legislation.
In certain food examinations, the minimum number is very high. In such cases, up to 50 packages might have to be opened. Generally, 1‒5 packages or products are taken for the examinations.
For the examinations and the assessment of product safety samples, Customs often asks for product labels or documents. A quick submission of the requested information can speed up the assessment of the product. Analyses carried out at the laboratory cannot be speeded up.
You can ask for a second expert opinion or a counter sample when conflicts arise in conjunction with the controls on foods and food contact materials. In both of these cases, the operator is responsible for the expenses.
Second expert opinion
A second expert opinion means a review of the documents pertaining to the control sample taken by Customs. It is a legal remedy created for the benefit of the operator, which is laid down in Article 35 of the Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625. The operator is personally responsible for obtaining an expert and for sending the statement made by the expert to Customs’ email address tuoteturvallisuus@tulli.fi, within the given time limit.
A second expert opinion may not be requested when the operator is entitled to an official counter sample.
Read more about the second expert opinion on the Food Authority’s website (in Finnish)
Counter sample from Customs
Request a counter sample for the goods item before you agree with Customs on a date for the control sampling. Request the counter sample from the email address jlnaytteenottojatarkastus@tulli.fi.
A counter sample cannot be taken after the results of the control sample have been completed.
The possibility of a counter sample is strictly limited in legislation. The counter sample can e.g. be obtained in connection with sampling related to the control of certain poisons produced by mould spores, i.e. mycotoxins. The right to a counter sample is assessed in connection with the counter sample request.
The fees for the controls are based on legislation. The prices for examinations and controls are available in the Ministry of Finance Decree on fees charged for services provided by the Finnish Customs. Read more: Fees charged for Customs’ services
A charge is always collected for the control of declared goods and foods. For consumer goods taken from the internal EU markets, the fee is charged only when the product is rejected, but controls of intra-EU foods are always charged. Re-examinations of restored goods are also subject to a fee.
When submitting documents required for import to Customs, you must submit the original documents.
Submit the official certificates required when importing foodstuffs to one of the following addresses:
- Customs / Helsinki-Vantaa airport border control post
Airport Customs, customer service, Rahtitie 1 A (1st floor), Vantaa - Finnish Customs / Vuosaari Harbour border control post
Postal address: PO Box 512, FI-00101 Helsinki
Street address: Harbour Road In V6, 00980 Helsinki
Leave the document in the mailbox by the door or book an appointment at helsinki.tavaravalvonta@tulli.fi or +358 40 332 1721. - Customs / Vaalimaa border control post
Vaalimaantie 2990, 49930 Vaalimaa, vaalimaatk@tulli.fi
Submit the phytosanitary certificates required for commercial imports of fresh fruit and vegetables to one of the following addresses:
- Customs / Helsinki-Vantaa airport border control post
Airport Customs, customer service, Rahtitie 1 A (1st floor), Vantaa - Customs / Vaalimaa border control post
Vaalimaantie 2990, 49930 Vaalimaa, vaalimaatk@tulli.fi - Finnish Customs / Vuosaari Harbour border control post. Please note: Phytosanitary certificates for consignments arriving at Vuosaari Harbour are not submitted to Vuosaari; rather they should be submitted in advance to one of the following addresses:
- Send the certificates to the address Customs / Spake consumer safety PO Box 512, FI-00101 Helsinki or
- Take the certificates to the address Opastinsilta 12 B (attendants 2 floor) Helsinki 00520.
A phytosanitary certificate in paper form need not be submitted if a digital phytosanitary certificate (ePHYTO) has been submitted through the international electronic transmission service for phytosanitary certificates.