Finnish legislation regarding the use of genetically modified organisms

The Gene Technology Act (377/1995) regulates the use of GMOs in Finland. The aim of the Act is to promote the safe use and development of gene technology in accordance with the precautionary principle and in an ethically acceptable way, and to protect human and animal health and the environment when contained use or deliberate release into the environment of GMOs is carried out. The organisms referred to in the Gene Technology Act do not include human beings.

The Gene Technology Act is based on the EU Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and on the Directive 2009/41/EC on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms (the former Directive 90/219/EEC). The Gene Technology Act pertains also to the contained use of GM plants and animals, thus differing from the latter Directive.

The Gene Technology Act is supplemented by Government Decrees and Decrees of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The statutes have been amended several times after the year 1995. The list below contains the unofficial translations of the statutes in force at present.

  • Gene Technology Act (377/1995)
  • Government Decree on Gene Technology (928/2004)
  • Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (1105/2019)
  • Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on the differentiated procedure relating to the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (90/2005)
  • Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on principles of risk assessment of the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms, on classification of the contained use, and on containment and other protective measures (1053/2005)
  • Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on notifications and applications relating to the contained use of genetically modified organisms, on keeping a record of the contained use and on an emergency plan (272/2006)
  • Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on Inspection Procedures under the Gene Technology Act (198/2007)
  • Government Decree on Chargeable Performances under the Gene Technology Act (1245/2023)
  • Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on principles of risk assessment of the contained use of genetically modified animals, on classification of the contained use, and on containment and other protective measures (771/2014)

Finnish legislation includes also other statutes pertaining to GMOs.