Export to Finland - Fedex

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Finland Country Profile

* Country Information
* Trade Group Member
* General Import Clearance Information
* Finland Import Prohibitions
* General Import Restrictions
* Finland Import Restrictions
* Special Import Provisions
o Personal Effects
o Samples
o Gifts
* Standards
* General Export Clearance Information
* Finland Export Prohibitions
* General Export Restrictions
* Finland Export Restrictions
* Regulatory Contact Information

Country Information
Capital: Helsinki
Population: 5,238,460 (July 2007 est.)
Language: Finnish, Swedish
Weights and Measures: Metric
Currency: 1 Euro - 100 cents
Time Zone GTM + 2

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Trade Group Member

Finland is a member of a number of International Economic Organizations including the:

European Union
Since 1957, the European Union allows for the free movement of goods between Finland and the other member states: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain and United Kingdom. The European Union has numerous bilateral and multilateral agreements, such as the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (formerly the Multi-Fiber Agreement), PECO countries Agreement, Israel Agreement, Turkey Agreement, Baltic Sea countries Agreement, European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). All these agreements are grouped under the umbrella of the World Trade Organization (WTO). All agreements ratified by European Union Executive Commission automatically apply to all EU member states. Exemption or reduced tariff is applicable only to qualified members under the agreement as originating goods.

World Trade Organization
Established in 1995, the WTO had a membership of over 140 countries. It is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world's trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters and importers conduct their business.

World Customs Organization
The WCO aids the national economic wealth and social protection of its members by promoting honest, transparent and predictable Customs. Established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council, the WCO is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations. With 164 Member Governments, it is the only inter-governmental worldwide organization competent in Customs matters.

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
The mission of OPCW is to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention in order to achieve the OPCW's vision of a world free of chemical weapons, and a world in which co-operation in chemistry for peaceful purposes for all. In doing this, their ultimate aim is to contribute to international security and stability, general and complete disarmament and global and economic development.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
CITES entered into force in 1975 and now has a membership of 152 countries. These countries act by banning commercial international trade from an agreed list of endangered species and by regulating and monitoring trade of others that might become endangered.

Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer is a landmark international agreement designed to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. The treaty was originally signed in 1987 and stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere are to be phased out.

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
The OECD groups 30 countries in an organization that provides the government in a setting to discuss, develop and perfect economic and social policy. They compare experiences; seek answers to common problems; and work to co-ordinate domestic and international policies that increasingly, in today's global economy, must form a web of even practice across nations.

Wassenaar Arrangement
Established in order to contribute to regional and international security and stability by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual use goods and technologies, thus preventing destabilizing accumulations. Participating states, Finland included, will seek, through their national policies, to ensure that transfers of theses items do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities, which undermine these goals, and are not diverted to support such capabilities.




General Import Clearance Information

Clearance Process
Imports must be cleared in writing, using forms endorsed by the National Board of customs in Finland. The customs declaration form must be filled out by the holder of the goods or by an authorized agent. A valuation declaration for imports must be attached to the customs declaration for imports exceeding the value of 5,045.64 EURO.

A copy of the commercial invoice must be attached to the customs declaration, and must include the following information:

* Exporter's - seller's/buyer's name and address

* Date of the invoice

* Identifying marks, the numbers, quantities, types and the gross weight of packages, including unit of measures

* Description and quantity of the goods

* Value of each item

* Term's of delivery and payment

The first two procedures apply to all shipments regardless of value; the third one applies to shipments of commercial samples or gifts below 45 EURO and/or to negligible value shipments below 22 EURO and provides Duty and Tax relief.

Imported goods are not legally entered until after the shipment has been released by Finnish Customs. Finland Customs may pull any shipment at any time for review or investigation, which could result in clearance/delivery delays. NOTE: In addition to the Customs Department, importers should contact other agencies when questions regarding particular commodities arise.

The Importer of Record or a licensed Customs Broker may account for goods. According to the Importer of Record's profile FedEx GTS Finland will either provide notification upon arrival of shipments to the Importer's designated Customs Broker or clear and advance payment of any duties and taxes levied for the shipments on behalf of the importer.

Note: A Customs (entry and payment processing) account can be established at any customs office and by the importer himself for his shipments or by FedEx for all its customers. Currently only FedEx's account is being used. An air waybill may be used for qualifying standard clearance procedure merchandise (samples and low value shipments) arriving by air, but all other merchandise must be presented with a commercial invoice that contains all the data requirements of Finnish Customs Department.

Working with Customs officials throughout the world, FedEx has developed innovative technology to eliminate many steps of the paperwork-handling process and expedite the movement of international shipments. Starting at the origin location, state-of-the-art technology allows the processing of shipment paperwork and electronic transmission of documents to the designated FedEx hub and destination clearance location. The Express clear system also keeps a database of regulatory information, which includes; importers' numbers, broker designations, corporate contact names and telephone numbers. At a FedEx hub, international shipments are sorted, scanned and loaded onto an international flight. Vital shipment information is keyed into a worldwide manifest database, which is linked to computer systems operated by brokers and Customs officials in many countries. Even before the plane has taken off, or while it is in the air, Customs agents and brokers at the destination airport of entry can begin examining shipping manifests, querying air waybill data if they need more details, assessing duties and taxes and selecting the shipments they wish to examine. By the time the plane arrives at its destination, many packages have already been cleared by Customs. As the plane is unloaded, the Express clear system identifies packages to be examined and prints "cleared" Customs labels for all others. Cleared shipments are transferred to trucks for immediate delivery. International shipments are scanned at all key points throughout the process, and this allows for up-to-date status reports including when Customs clearance is obtained.

Document Requirements
Several different forms of documentation may be required for shipments to Finland. Exporters are required to present one commercial invoice, one bill of lading and three copies of a certificate of origin for all shipments. Other certificates are necessary for exporting pharmaceutical goods, perishable foods, live animals and some medical goods. Some of the documentation required may be:

Import Licenses

Importers apply for import licenses with the National board of Customs. A commercial invoice that includes freight and insurance, the C.I.F. price, net and gross weight, and an invoice number must accompany the license application. Customs accepts commercial invoices by fax.
Goods that are shipped to a Finnish customs area without proper import licenses or declarations are usually subject to considerable delay and may run up substantial demurrage charges. Prior to making shipments, exporters should ensure that the importer has obtained the necessary licenses.

Sanitary Certificates - Animal and Plant Health Inspections certificates are required from the importing country for the importation of living plant material, including plants, plant products and seeds, into Finland. Health inspection requirements also govern the importation of animals and parts of animals, including meat products, skins, hides and similar products, marine mammals, fish, crustaceans, or mollusks and parts thereof. Most of these certificates are obtained by providing the proper documentation to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Pharmaceutical Certificates - These certificates are required by Finnish Customs for drugs and certain sanitary items. A standard analysis bulletin issued by the manufacturer, listing the product composition, is acceptable for customs purposes.

Bills of Lading - No special regulations

Certificates of Origin - Certificates of Origin are required for the importation of any Textile products valued at over 6 Euro. Exceptions from this requirement include marked and mutilated samples; luggage made up of textile materials, canvas bags, and bona-fide gifts, personal effects. A Certificate of Origin is recommended to be provided for every commodity subject to import licensing and /or quota restrictions from some origin countries and is required for all textile products imported into Finland that originate in Hong Kong, Macao, or Singapore regardless of the value.

Certificate of Origin Form A - A Certificate of Origin Form A may be required for goods under formal entry claiming preferential duty or exemption under the various agreements of Generalized System of Preferences. It should be produced at the time of entry and must be in the possession of the Importer at the time of entry. Origin of the goods must be detailed on the commercial invoice.

EUR 1 form Import - An EUR 1 form may be required for goods under formal entry claiming preferential duty or exemption under various bilateral agreements by the European Union countries and some specific countries or groups of countries. It should be produced at the time of entry and must be in possession of the Importer at the time of entry. Origin of the goods must be detailed on the commercial invoice.

Quotas - Quotas have been assigned by the European Union to specific countries for specific products, which allow for the controlled importation of specific products.

Commercial Invoices - Invoices are required for all dutiable shipments relating to commercial transactions between companies and companies, companies and individuals, regardless of the value. Commercial invoices should show freight, insurance and similar charges as separate items when applicable, regardless of the INCOTERM used on the transaction. It must be in Finnish for export shipments or accompanied by a translation. It can be in any official language for import shipments and, if required by customs, must be accompanied by a translation. A person, who is knowledgeable of the transaction, must furnish translation, if requested.

Specific invoice details are required for a number of commodities including the following:

* Textiles - the fabric breakdown, whether knit or woven and, for clothing articles, the gender;

* Marked/mutilated samples - the words "mutilated samples" or " marked samples, not for resale" as applicable;

* Software on CD's and floppy disks - The value of software must be shown separately from software support.

Air Waybill - An air waybill or carriers certificate (naming the consignee for customs purposes) is required as evidence of the consignee's right to make entry.

Declaration of Antiquity - A declaration must be shown on the invoice for goods over 100 years old. The statement must include the words " circa date" followed by the year of manufacture whether known or estimated.

Customs Valuation
All goods categorized, as non-document commercial goods shipped to Finland must have a proper value declared and proper description provided which should convey the shipper's intent related to the goods as well as any special processing requirements that exist for the goods shipped. Everything has a value, whether or not a transaction took place. Failure to properly document value of any goods will result in delays and or additional fees as deemed necessary in addition to warehouse fees.

Import Duties
Finland, like most member states of the European Community, bases its Harmonized Tariff Schedule (Nomenclatural Aduanera) on the TARIC (Integrated Tariff of the European Community) which is issued by the Commission and the Member States for the purpose of applying Community measures relating to import and exports, and when necessary to trade between member states. The TARIC also serves as a basis for the working tariffs and tariff file of Finland and other Member States.

Finland customs values shipments at C.I.F. prices. Import duty rates are divided into two classifications: Most Favored Nation (MFN) and General. Import duties are calculated on ad valorem basis, i.e. expressed as a percentage of the value of the imported goods. There are three primary entry types for importing into Finland:

1. Standard clearance procedure

2. Simplified clearance procedure

3. Simplified declaration procedure


Most imports enter under MFN Rates (Most Favored Nation) rates. Relative high tariffs apply to textile, automobile, consumer electronics, cereal, meat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, footwear, rubber, plastic & metals.

Antidumping
Under strict enforcement of unfair trade laws, Customs will assess antidumping duties or countervailing duties. Antidumping duties are assessed on imported merchandise sold in Finland (EU) at less than the normal price of goods in the manufacturer's home market (also called fair market value).

Excise Duties
Excise duties are payable on a number of commodities: alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, minerals oils (all at EU harmonized rates), and waste, electric energy, certain energy sources, sweets and soft drinks (at national rates). Higher tariffs than the EU level may be imposed on the following items: footwear, rubber, plastic, metals, raw hides & skins and some electric machinery.

Additional Duties


Countervailing
Countervailing duties are assessed to counter the effects of subsidies provided by a foreign government for merchandise exported to Finland resulting in artificially low prices that are detrimental to Finland and other European Union member states industries.

Watch Duty Rate
Watches imported into Finland are subject to classification and duty assessment based on a per item basis. The actual duty and the final rate of duty are determined based on the classification of the watch at the time of entry processing with customs.

Import Taxes


Value added tax (VAT)
In addition to duties; goods imported into Finland are also subject to a Value-Added Tax (VAT) that is generally charged at one of these rates:

1. The standard basic value added tax is at a rate of 22%. VAT is payable on the sum of the value of the goods, plus insurance, plus freight cost and any other duty amount the goods may be subject to.

2. The reduced rate of 17% on Foodstuffs.

3. The reduced rate of 8% on Sport facilities usage, medicines, books, cinemas, passenger transport services, hotel and other accommodation, entertainment performances, sporting events, zoos, museums, and other such events or institutions.

Agricultural and forestry products continued to be subject to different forms of taxation outside of the VAT.

Goods exempt from the VAT include health care, education, insurance, newspaper & periodical subscriptions and rentals.


Customs Fees


Invoice Fee
Customs in some situations will assess additional fees based on the invoices provided for a shipment. The fee is usually levied if they deem them necessary as part of the terms of entry due to the size of the shipment and the related large number of invoices provided by the shipper for his goods.

Examination Fees
Additional fees can be assessed on some commodities to cover the expense of performing the examinations and or testing required as a condition of the goods entry into the commerce of Finland. Commodities affected: cosmetics, drugs and medicines, artwork.


Exchange Controls
NONE

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT's)
Technical barriers or non-tariff barriers to trade, as they are sometimes known, can cause many problems for exporters looking for new markets for their products. These barriers can be in the form of regulations, standards, testing and certification procedures. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade tries to ensure that these barriers do not create unnecessary obstacles. To obtain further information on Technical Barriers to Trade as well as Notifications on Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures, go to the EU website at http://trade-info.cec.eu.int/tbt/index.cfm.

Consular Fees
NONE

General Import Clearance Information
The importation of certain classes of merchandise may be prohibited or restricted to protect the economy and security of Finland and other EU member states, to safeguard consumer health, well being, and to preserve domestic plant and animal life. Some commodities are also subject to an import quota or a restraint under bilateral trade agreements and arrangements. In addition to Customs requirements, many prohibited or restricted imports are subject to laws and regulations administered by other Finnish Government agencies for which the Finnish Customs Department is the enforcer. These laws and regulations may, for example, prohibit entry; limit entry to certain points; restrict routing, storage, use; require treatment, labeling or processing as condition of release. Customs release only takes place when the additional requirements are met. These requirements apply to all importation types, including shipments made by mail. The exporter should make certain that the Finnish importer has provided proper information to (1) permit the submission of necessary information concerning packing, labeling, etc. and (2) ensure that necessary arrangements have been made by the importer for entry of the merchandise into Finland.




Finland Import Prohibitions

The following commodities are prohibited via FedEx Services into Finland:

* Atlantic red tuna fish (Thunnus Thynnus) originating from Belize, Panama, and Honduras

* Toys and games containing copper sulfate

* All forms of asbestos fibers

* L-Trytophane and any items having L-trytophane as an ingredient

* Rubber erasers that are similar in appearance to food products that are easily ingested

* Medical thermometers containing mercury intended for human consumption

* Certain Us Beef hormones

* Items having a flexible metal blade entirely contained in a plastic, paper, or fabric sheath

* Illicit Narcotics and Drugs

* Whale Meat

* PCB and PCT chemicals used in transformers and condensers causing problem wastes






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General Import Restrictions

The following items are not acceptable for carriage to any international destinations unless otherwise indicated. (Additional restrictions may apply depending on destination. Various regulatory clearances in addition to customs clearance may be required for certain commodities, thereby extending the transit time.)

* APO/FPO addresses.

* C.O.D. shipments.

* Human corpses, human organs or body parts, human and animal embryos, or cremated or disinterred human remains.

* Explosives (Class 1.4 explosives are acceptable for carriage to Canada, Germany, Japan, Sweden, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom. Note: United Arab Emirates only allows Class 1.4 explosives to be shipped hold- for- pick-up to the FedEx Express facility in Dubai.)

* Firearms, weaponry, and their parts (acceptable between the U.S. and Puerto Rico).

* Perishable foodstuffs and foods and beverages requiring refrigeration or other environmental control.

* Live animals (including insects) except via our Live Animal Desk (1.800.405.9052).

* Plants and plant material, including cut flowers (cut flowers are acceptable from the U.S. to selected points in Canada and from Colombia, Ecuador and the Netherlands to the U.S.).

* Lottery tickets and gambling devices where prohibited by local, state, provincial or national law.

* Money (coins, cash, currency, paper money and negotiable instruments equivalent to cash such as endorsed stocks, bonds and cash letters).

* Collectible coins and stamps.

* Pornographic and/or obscene material.

* Hazardous waste, including, but not limited to, used hypodermic needles or syringes or other medical waste.

* Shipments that may cause damage to, or delay of, equipment, personnel or other shipments.

* Shipments that require us to obtain any special license or permit for transportation, importation or exportation.

* Shipments whose carriage, importation or exportation is prohibited by any law, statute or regulation.

* Shipments with a declared value for customs in excess of that permitted for a specific destination.

* Dangerous goods except as permitted under the Dangerous Goods section of these terms and conditions.

* Processed or unprocessed dead animals, including insects and pets. Taxidermy-finished hunting trophies or completely processed (dried) specimens of whole animals or parts of animals are acceptable for shipment into the U.S.

* Packages that are wet, leaking or emit an odor of any kind.

* Wildlife products that require U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service export clearance by FedEx prior to exportation from the U.S.

* Shipments* being processed under:

Duty drawback claims unless advance arrangements are made.

Temporary Import Bonds - acceptable under the FedEx International Broker Select option, for initial import only.

U.S. State Department licenses.

Carnets.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration export permit.

Shipments destined to or being withdrawn from a Foreign Trade Zone.

Letters of Credit (however, shipments covered by a Letter of Credit calling for a "Courier Receipt" as defined by Article 25 of UCP 600 may move via FedEx International Priority).

Certificate of Registration shipments (CF4455).

Shipments moving into or out of Foreign Trade Zones or bonded warehouses.

*You may be able to ship these items via FedEx International Premium, FedEx International Express Freight (IXF), FedEx International Airport-to-Airport (ATA) or FedEx International Controlled Export. For information on FedEx International Premium, IXF and ITA, call FedEx Express Freight Services at 1.800.332.0807. For information on FedEx International Controlled Export, call International Customer Service at 1.800.247.4747or your local FedEx customer service representative.






Finland Restrictions

The importation of food products containing meat or milk products for personal consumption is prohibited unless accompanied by the necessary documentation from the official veterinary services of the country of origin. Infant milk, food and special foods required for medical reasons can be imported under the condition that these products do not require refrigeration before opening, that they are packaged proprietary brand products for direct sale to the final consumer, and that the packaging is unbroken.

Tobacco

Dangerous Goods as defined by IATA

Guns and weapons - strictly controlled by license

Wildlife - controlled by CITES and health restrictioins







Special Import Provisions

Temporary Imports: Including Repaired Articles or Articles for Repair
Articles consigned for temporary import traveling under Carnets, goods for display, goods for demonstration, goods for exhibition, goods for repair, goods for incorporation into other articles and goods imported for further processing and re-export are not acceptable for importation into Finland via FedEx IP Service. These articles require special processing and customs clearance, which are not handled under the express carrier operation commitments. Clearance delays could be experienced on entries lodged for these types of shipments.

Free Trade Zones/Warehouses

Finland has two free ports, Helsinki and Hanko. There are 21 storage areas in other locations in the country. The duty free storage areas, which are usually run by municipal corporations, are available to domestic and foreign-owned companies. Warehousing, assembly and manufacturing are allowed in these areas, with permission from the Board of Customs.

Drugs, medicines, weapons and their parts, strategic materials and their parts, CITES commodities, alcohol and all other licensable commodities cannot be processed under the simplified declaration procedure.

All shipments from Canada, China, Japan and the United States containing non-manufactured wood packing materials (NWPM) of coniferous wood, must be treated and marked as such.

Goods may be transported in-bond to another point of entry for clearance by re-manifesting (infrequent) to that location, by using house air waybills or by using T docs (EU transit system). A bonded carrier is required to transport the shipment from the point of arrival to point of clearance. Arrangements for transporting the merchandise to an interior point in-bond may be made by the consignee, by the customs broker or by any other person having sufficient interest in the goods for that purpose.

If it is desired to postpone the release of the goods, they may be placed in FedEx's cage in a bonded warehouse until the documentation has been obtained for appropriate release. If the goods are not released from Customs within 5 days, they are reported to the Customs Office warehouse and abandoned or sent back to the origin at shipper's expense.

Personal Effects
Personal belongings of Finnish (EU) citizen residents are entitled entry free of duty. Personal belongings taken abroad, such as worn clothing, etc. may be shipped back to Finland and receive free entry provided they have not been altered or repaired while abroad and prior ownership can be proven. The shipping documents should be clearly marked "Finnish Goods Returned" with the reason why clearly stated and with the goods identified as personal effects.

Items such laptops, watches, PC's, cameras, tape recorders, Camcorders, video players, CD and DVD players or other articles that may be uniquely identifiable by serial number or permanently affixed marking, should be documented on owner declaration at the Customs Office at the port of exit, at the time of export or when physically carried abroad. This declaration will expedite free entry of these items upon return. The declaration is valid for any future trips as long as the information on it remains legible. Registration must be made in person.

The importation of food products containing meat or milk products for personal consumption is prohibited unless accompanied by the necessary documentation from the official veterinary services of the country of origin. Infant milk, food and special foods required for medical reasons can be imported under the condition that these products do not require refrigeration before opening, that they are packaged proprietary brand products for direct sale to the final consumer, and that the packaging is unbroken.



Samples
May qualify for duty free entry if:

* They are of negligible value (EUR 6 or less)

* They are for solicitation of orders for the goods of the kind represented by the sample

* There is not more than one sample of each style or quality in a consignment

* The goods are supplied directly from abroad

* They will be consumed or destroyed during demonstration and are packaged and properly marked in a manner which precludes their being used as other than samples, examples: foodstuffs, non alcoholic beverages, perfumes and chemical products

Some samples of a commercial value may enter Finland and be free of duties and taxes if a bond or deposit of the total amount of duties and taxes is arranged. These samples must be re-exported within one year in order to recoup the deposit.

The importation of food products containing meat or milk products for personal consumption is prohibited unless accompanied by the necessary documentation from the official veterinary services of the country of origin. Infant milk, food and special foods required for medical reasons can be imported under the condition that these products do not require refrigeration before opening, that they are packaged proprietary brand products for direct sale to the final consumer, and that the packaging is unbroken.

Gifts
Articles consigned as "Unsolicited Gifts" are acceptable and will be allowed entry free of any duty or VAT providing the shipment is valued at less than 45 EURO, originated from and consigned to an individual, and are individually wrapped. Multiple gifts can be consigned in one shipment so long as the individual parcels enclosed are individually tagged with the recipients name, are individually wrapped and the value does not exceed the per person limit of 45 EURO. Shipments consigned to companies as gifts for an individual may be denied entry as gifts. They will be subject to full duty and VAT. Generally, most articles can be consigned as gifts, except those articles noted prohibited or restricted for import (see General Import Prohibitions and Restrictions).

The importation of food products containing meat or milk products for personal consumption is prohibited unless accompanied by the necessary documentation from the official veterinary services of the country of origin. Infant milk, food and special foods required for medical reasons can be imported under the condition that these products do not require refrigeration before opening, that they are packaged proprietary brand products for direct sale to the final consumer, and that the packaging is unbroken.




Standards

Standards are set by the Finnish Standards Association (SFS), according to the international standard.

SFS - certification is a major certification body in Finland. Its certification program covers both product and system certification. The SFS Mark is used to indicate products or services that meet the requirements of SFS standards. Articles regulated by the SFS directives that are not properly marked when imported are subject to delay in customs and may not be cleared for consumption.

Labeling, Marking Requirements

Country of Origin Marking
Every article entering Finland must be marked with the name of the country of origin in any official language, preferably in Finnish, unless an exception of marking is provided for in the law. The country of origin is the country of manufacture, production, or growth of the article. The requirement applies to each unit unless exempted. The phrase "made in" is required only in the case where the name of any locality other than the country or locality in which the article was manufactured appears on the article or its container. The marking "made in (country), "product of (country)", or other words of similar meaning must appear in close proximity to and in comparable size letters of the other locality to avoid possible confusion. When marking is not feasible, such as when the article is too small or marking would in some way damage the merchandise, then the packaging or container that will reach the final consumer must be marked.

The following are specific categories of goods, for which marking, labeling, and/or testing requirements are applicable in Finland:

Foodstuffs: The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry sets human consumption standards for the preparation, residual content and storage media for virtually all classes of foodstuffs. The labels on the container must include the product designation, a list of ingredients, the weight or volume, dates (manufacturing, packing, minimum shelf life, and expiration dates), directions for food preservation (if applicable), identification of the firm involved (manufacturer, packer, or importer) and the country of origin. If the original label is not in Finnish, a similar one must be prepared in Finnish and be firmly affixed to the container. Milk products, margarine, chocolate and soaps have other, more technical labeling requirements. Wines and other alcoholic beverages must meet Finnish standards.

Textiles: Customs and point of sale regulations require that all textile goods and ready-made clothing have a Finnish label. Standard Finnish textile nomenclature and content requirements must be stated on the label. Requirements relating to textile content, labeling and packaging are specific and extensive. Royal Decree 928/1987, dated June 5, 1987, regulates them. Manufacturers' trademarks, duly registered, are permitted on textile products.

Drugs, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics: These goods are subject to technical inspection and registration by the National Agency for Medicines. There are also detailed marking and labeling requirements, somewhat similar to those for foodstuffs, which include detailed chemical composition.

Fertilizers and Fungicides: Imported fertilizers must be registered with the local Agriculture Ministry Office. Inspection and analysis will be performed prior to customs clearance. The Ministry of Agriculture must approve all printed advertising and publicity materials, and labels must be in Finnish and include detailed precautions.

Firearms: The Ministry of Interior must clear all firearms, and they must bear a stamp of certification.

Metals: Precious metal products to be sold in Finland must be inspected and stamped in accordance with the stipulations set forth in the Decree on Precious Metal Products.

Motor Vehicles: Each vehicle will be inspected for engraved serial numbers on both the engine and chassis. If one of these is not available, Finnish customs levies a special charge for stamping the number.

Tires and Tubes: All tires and inner tubes must be marked with a serial number.

For agricultural products, labeling requirements are fully harmonized with the EU labeling system; however, the labels must be in Finnish.

CE Marking
The CE (Conformit» Europ»enne) Marking is required to be displayed on regulated products offered for commercial sale on the European market. It indicates that a product complies with applicable European Directives related to health, safety, environment and consumer protection. Because the CE Marking identifies products that meet a common set of criteria established and adopted by the 15 CE members, the CE Marking on your products will permit them to move freely in commerce throughout the European market. The manufacturer, or authorized representative, is responsible for placing the CE Marking on compliant products. The common CE Marking logo is placed on the product, product literature or packaging as described in each Directive. Articles regulated under the European Directives that are not properly marked when imported are subject to delay in customs and may not be cleared for consumption.

Sample commodities requiring CE Marking are:
Electric equipment, machines, toys, pressure vessels and personal protective equipment.

Eco-labels
In March of 1992, the EU Council approved law 880/92 establishing a community-wide system for granting Eco-labels (green label) to products that voluntarily satisfy environmental standards.

The EU's objectives in setting up a system for issuing green labels are twofold. The labels inform consumers of products that are environmentally safer than others in all aspects of a product's life cycle. Furthermore, they improve the design, production and marketing as well as increase the use of products that have low or non-adverse effects on the environment and that use natural resources wisely.

The EU hopes that these objectives will increase the standards of health, security and the condition of the environment of the EU countries. Products imported into the EU that wish to obtain a green label must follow the same strict criteria as EU members.


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General Export Clearance Information

Clearance Process
Exporting from Finland requires:

1. Export Compliance

2. Knowledge of your commodity

3. Proper documentation including permits, licenses and related certificate of origins

4. Pre-shipment requirements from the destination country


Document Requirements

Organic Law 3/1992 and Royal Decree 824/1993 regulate export controls. Export documentation requirements vary depending on the value of the goods, destination of the shipment and if the goods are controlled, prohibited or regulated. Goods that must be reported require a bill of lading/air waybill, an SAD (Single Administrative Document) export declaration, a commercial or a pro-forma invoice, as well as any export permits, certificate, licenses required for controlled, prohibited or regulated goods. All controlled, regulated commodities require an export permit regardless of the value. It is extremely important that all documents tendered for export clearance processing are accurate in every way. Incomplete or inaccurate documentation may result in lengthy delays in customs processing and may result in warehousing and other customs fees.

Export Permits - Specific export permits are for commodities subject to export controls. The Ministry of Trade and Industry is the government office for dual use exports (commercial items that may have military applications). Other departments and agencies have regulatory jurisdiction and issue licenses for controlled substances and precursor chemicals, for endangered fish and wildlife species, for defense services and articles, for arms and munitions, for nuclear material, equipment and technology, for fuels, for drugs and medical devices. Before exporting these items, special licenses must be obtained from customs office to insure that the items are not part of the national heritage of Finland. License requirements are dependent upon an item's technical characteristics, the destination, the end-use, end-user and other activities of the end-user. Specific questions pertaining to commodity licensing requirements should be directed to the lead agency. Agency information, telephone number and basic commodities that might require export permits could be identified by accessing the Department and agency web sites listed in the profile.

EUR 1 form Export - An EUR 1 form from the European Union to some countries is used to claim preferential duty or exemption under the various agreements as per the above paragraph.

General Export Clearance Information

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Finland Export Prohibitions



The following commodities are prohibited via FedEx Services out of Finland:

* Atlantic red tuna fish (Thunnus Thynnus) originating from Belize, Panama, and Honduras

* Toys and games containing copper sulfate

* All forms of asbestos fibers

* L-Trytophane and any items having L-trytophane as an ingredient

* Rubber erasers that are similar in appearance to food products that are easily ingested

* Medical thermometers containing mercury intended for human consumption

* Certain Us Beef hormones

* Items having a flexible metal blade entirely contained in a plastic, paper, or fabric sheath

* Illicit Narcotics and Drugs

* Whale Meat

* PCB and PCT chemicals used in transformers and condensers causing problem wastes




General Export Restrictions

The following items are not acceptable for carriage to any international destinations unless otherwise indicated. (Additional restrictions may apply depending on destination. Various regulatory clearances in addition to customs clearance may be required for certain commodities, thereby extending the transit time.)

* APO/FPO addresses.

* C.O.D. shipments.

* Human corpses, human organs or body parts, human and animal embryos, or cremated or disinterred human remains.

* Explosives (Class 1.4 explosives are acceptable for carriage to Canada, Germany, Japan, Sweden, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom. Note: United Arab Emirates only allows Class 1.4 explosives to be shipped hold- for- pick-up to the FedEx Express facility in Dubai.)

* Firearms, weaponry, and their parts (acceptable between the U.S. and Puerto Rico).

* Perishable foodstuffs and foods and beverages requiring refrigeration or other environmental control.

* Live animals (including insects) except via our Live Animal Desk (1.800.405.9052).

* Plants and plant material, including cut flowers (cut flowers are acceptable from the U.S. to selected points in Canada and from Colombia, Ecuador and the Netherlands to the U.S.).

* Lottery tickets and gambling devices where prohibited by local, state, provincial or national law.

* Money (coins, cash, currency, paper money and negotiable instruments equivalent to cash such as endorsed stocks, bonds and cash letters).

* Collectible coins and stamps.

* Pornographic and/or obscene material.

* Hazardous waste, including, but not limited to, used hypodermic needles or syringes or other medical waste.

* Shipments that may cause damage to, or delay of, equipment, personnel or other shipments.

* Shipments that require us to obtain any special license or permit for transportation, importation or exportation.

* Shipments whose carriage, importation or exportation is prohibited by any law, statute or regulation.

* Shipments with a declared value for customs in excess of that permitted for a specific destination.

* Dangerous goods except as permitted under the Dangerous Goods section of these terms and conditions.

* Processed or unprocessed dead animals, including insects and pets. Taxidermy-finished hunting trophies or completely processed (dried) specimens of whole animals or parts of animals are acceptable for shipment into the U.S.

* Packages that are wet, leaking or emit an odor of any kind.

* Wildlife products that require U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service export clearance by FedEx prior to exportation from the U.S.

* Shipments* being processed under:

Duty drawback claims unless advance arrangements are made.

Temporary Import Bonds - acceptable under the FedEx International Broker Select option, for initial import only.

U.S. State Department licenses.

Carnets.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration export permit.

Shipments destined to or being withdrawn from a Foreign Trade Zone.

Letters of Credit (however, shipments covered by a Letter of Credit calling for a "Courier Receipt" as defined by Article 25 of UCP 600 may move via FedEx International Priority).

Certificate of Registration shipments (CF4455).

Shipments moving into or out of Foreign Trade Zones or bonded warehouses.

*You may be able to ship these items via FedEx International Premium, FedEx International Express Freight (IXF), FedEx International Airport-to-Airport (ATA) or FedEx International Controlled Export. For information on FedEx International Premium, IXF and ITA, call FedEx Express Freight Services at 1.800.332.0807. For information on FedEx International Controlled Export, call International Customer Service at 1.800.247.4747 or your local FedEx customer service representative.






Finland Restrictions

Tobacco

Dangerous Goods as defined by IATA

Guns and weapons - strictly controlled by license

Wildlife - controlled by CITES and health restrictions




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Regulatory Contact Information

Branch or Agency Name


Areas of Responsibility
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Hallituskatu 3 A, Helsinki, Finland
PO Box 30
FIN-00023 GOVERNMENT
Tel: 358 9 16001, 358 9 578 11
Fax: 358 9 1605 4202
Email: tiedotus@mmm.fi

* Responsible with creating the conditions for the sustainable and diversified use of renewable natural resources and for developing the economic and leisure-time activities of the countryside.
* To ensures the quality of the products derived from renewable natural resources.

Prime Minister's Office
Snellmaninkatu 1 A, Helsinki, Finland
PO Box 23
FIN-00023 GOVERNMENT
Tel: 358 9 16001, 358 9 578 11
Fax: 358 9 1602 2165
Email: kirjaamo@vnk.vn.fi

* To ensure that decision-making by the President of the Republic and the government proceeds smoothly and to provide political, operational and administrative services to the prime Minister.
* To also monitor implementation of the government program and related government proposals,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Merikasarmi, Laivastokatu 22
Merikasarminkatu 5 F
PO Box 176
FIN-00161 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: 358 9 16055 487
Fax: 358 9 16055 070
Email: kirjaamo.um@formin.fi

* Prepares and implements Finland's foreign and security policy and furthers the country's national interests abroad, including its trade policy and commercial economic interests.

Ministry of Justice
Etelaesplanadi 10
PO Box 1
FIN-00131 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: 358 9 16003, 358 9 578 13
Fax: 358 9 1606 7730
Email: om-tiedotus@om.fi

* Drafts the guidelines for the government's legal policy, develops statute policy and directs its own ministerial purview.
* Maintain and develop the judicial system and legal security while safe guarding the structures of democracy and fundamental rights.

Ministry of the Interior
Kirkkokatu 12, Helsinki, Finland
PO Box 26
FIN-00023 GOVERNMENTT
el: 358 9 16001, 358 9 578 11
Fax: 358 9 1604 4635
Email: sm.kirjaamo@sm.intermin.fi

* Responsible for regional and local administration, regional development and internal security.

Ministry of Defense
Fabianinkatu 2
PO Box 31
FIN-00131 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: 358 9 16001, 358 9 578 11
Fax: 358 9 1608 8244
Email: tiedotus@plm.vn.fi

* Responsible for national defense policies, national security and international cooperation in defense policy matters.

Ministry of Finance

Snellmaninkatu 1 A Helsinki, Finland
PO Box 28
FIN-00023 GOVERNMENT
Tel: 358 9 16001, 358 9 578 11
Fax:358 9 1603 3123
Email: VM-tietopalvelu@vm.vn.fim



* Responsible for an economic policy promoting balanced and sustainable growth.
* For the good management of the national economy.
* For a financially sound public administration.
* For the national and international cooperation.

Ministry of Education
Meritullinkatu 10, Helsinki, Finland
PO Box 29
FIN-00023 GOVERNMENT
Tel: 358 9 16004, 358 9 578 14
Fax: 358 9 135 9335
Email: maija.rask@minedu.fi

* Responsible for education, science, culture, youth and sports policies.
* To provide further education and guarantee the skills needed in the labor market.
* To strengthen national culture and promote international cooperation.

Ministry of Transport and Communications

Etelaesplanadi 16 - 18
PO Box 235
FIN-00131 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: 358 9 16002, 358 9 578 12
Fax: 358 9 1602 8596
Email: kirjaamo@mintc.fi



* Advances the operation of society and the well being of the population by ensuring that the public and the business community have access to safe inexpensive transportation and communication service and that the enterprises can operate in a competitive environment.

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Meritullinkatu 8, Helsinki, Finland
PO Box 33
FIN-00023 GOVERNMENT
Tel: 358 9 16001, 358 9 578 11
Fax: 358 9 1607 4126
Email: kirjaamo.stm@stm.vn.fi

* Directs and guides policy on social security, social welfare and health care.
* Identifies the main lines of social and health policy and prepares legislation.
* Supervise and implement the necessary links with the political decision-making process.

Ministry of Labor
Etelaesplanadi 4 Helsinki, Finland
PO Box 34
FIN-00023 GOVERNMENT
Tel: 358 9 16006, 358 9 578 16
Fax: 358 1604 7950
Email: kirjaamo.tyoministerio@mol.fi

* Advances the operation of the labor market, the work of labor organizations, employment and the integration of immigrants.

Ministry of the Environment
Kasarmikatu 25
PO Box 380
FIN-00131 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: 358 9 16007, 358 9 578 17
Fax: 358 1604 7950
Email: Satu.Hassi@ymparisto.fi

* Promotes sustainable development.
* To ensure a good, safe living environment and biological diversity.
* To prevent environmental damage and improve housing conditions.

Ministry of Trade and Industry
Aleksanterinkatu 4, Helsinki, Finland PO Box 32
FIN-00023 GOVERNMENT
Tel: 358 9 160 01, 358 9 578 11
Fax: 358 9 1606 3666
Email: kitjaamo@ktm.fi

* Responsible for Finland's industrial and technology policy and influences the decision-making process related to economic policy.
* To improve the competitiveness and operation of Finnish industry and enterprise