Who's Who	Events	Legislation	Biosecurity Code Examples

Finland

Who's Who Top

Government

Governmental actors with a direct or indirect role in biosecurity and scientific oversight are included here. This is not a guide to overall governmental structure. Some departments listed here may have only a marginal interest or role in biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

Office of the Prime Minister

Comment: COMING SOON

 

Department / Ministry / Agency:

Agriculture and Forestry

Comment: The field of activity of the Ministry covers agriculture, horticulture and forestry, fisheries, game and reindeer farming, other rural industries and the development of rural areas, the use and management of water resources, land surveying, veterinary care and the related monitoring of the health of animals and plants and of foodstuffs of animal origin.

 

Defence

Comment: The Ministry is responsible for setting Finnish defence policy and export control for defence materiel. The Ministry of Defence also directs the work of the Defence Staff in implementing arms control agreements and supervising compliance with them.

The Ministry is responsible for granting licences for the export of defence materiel and in general for issues related to export of defence materiel. Ministry takes part in the international co-operation in export control issues. Export, transit and brokering of defence materiel is allowed only if an authorization therefore has been granted. An export licence shall not be granted if it jeopardises Finland ’s security policy or is in contradiction with Finland ’s foreign policy. Finland applies the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports adopted by the Council on 8th June 1998.

 

Education

Comment: The Ministry is responsible for developing educational, science, cultural, sport and youth policies as well as international cooperation in these fields. The Ministry creates favourable conditions for education, know-how, lifelong learning, creativity and citizens' social participation and well-being.

The Ministry set up, in January 2005, a committee on biotechnology, molecular medicine, genetics and epidemology in Finland . The committee published its report in December 2005. The committee looked into the actors and financing base in these fields, as well as the development needs in research, including the need to establish an independent molecular medicine research centre. The English abstract of the committee report can be found by clicking here.

 

Environment

Comment: The Ministry has overall responsibility for the environmental administration. Its responsabilities cover biodiversity and biosafety as well as prevention of enviromental harms related to gene technology.

 

Foreign Affairs

Comment: The Ministry is responsible for Finland 's arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation policy.

Division(s) within the Foreign Affaris Ministry with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Unit for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation
• The Unit is responsible for the following issues: arms control policy and general arms control issues, multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation, control of nuclear non-proliferation and ban on chemical and biological weapons, issues related to the export of defence materiel and defence materiel cooperation, international cooperation related to export control issues and permits for Finnish government aircraft and government vessels.
• Export Control Unit
  • The Unit's tasks are export control and granting the authorisation for export of dual-use goods as well as maintaining the database on export control and coordinating the matters relating to export control in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
• Unit for Market Access
  • The Unit is responsible among others, for the general import policy, issues related to market access of industrial products, the coordination of biotechnology in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
• Coordination Bodies
  • The Advisory Board on Export Controls is a coordinating inter-agency body for dual-use export controls with a mandate to advise on relevant matters concerning domestic legislation, Finland 's participation in relevant international cooperation, guidelines for licensing, and individual licence applications or prior enquiries if they have foreign policy implications.
  • The Advisory Committee for Exports of Defence Materiel is the corresponding inter-agency body with a mandate to advice on individual licence applications, prior enquiries and definition of defence materiel, for export of military items.The Committee established and chaired by the Ministry of Defence is represented by following authorities: the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, Defence Staff, the Ministry of the Interior, the National Board of Customs and the Security Police.
• The Unit for International Environment Policy
  • The Unit is responsible for the following issues: international environment policy and sustainable development, sustainable development governance, international environmental conventions (e.g. Convention on Biological Diversity), environmental issues in international and regional organisations, UNEP and UN-HABITAT, financing of international environmental processes.

 

Interior

Comment: The Ministry has the responsibility for local and regional administration, regional development and internal security in Finland .

Division(s) within the Foreign Affaris Ministry with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Internal Security Programme, Rescue Services, Emergency Preparedness
• Through this programme, the Interior Ministry coordinates and developes rescue services, emergency preparedness and the police in Finland .

 

Social Affairs and Health

Comment: The Ministry directs and guides the development and policies of social protection, social welfare and health care in Finland.

Division(s) within the Foreign Affaris Ministry with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Preparedness Unit
  • The Unit directs, supervises and coordinates social and medical emergency preparedness for exceptional situations and emergency conditions within its administrative sector in cooperation with the Social and Health Departments of the State Provincial Offices.
• International Affairs Unit
• The Unit is responsible for cooperation at multilateral and bilateral levels, in particular with the World Health Organisation.

 

Trade and Industry

Comment: The Ministry is responsible for the operating conditions of enterprises, safeguarding the position of the citizens on the market and tending to the State's corporate assets, as well as setting the State's technology and innovation policies in general.

 

Specialized Institutes / Centers:

Centre for Biothreat Preparedness

Comment: The Finnish Defence Forces and the National Public Health Institution established in cooperation a Centre for Biothreat Preparedness in May 2005. The Centre, which will initially employ eight experts, is a centre of excellence for Finnish scientific and laboratory know-how on biological defence, as well as on biothreat assessment and preparedness. The Centre is composed of two new Units; the Biological Defence Unit of the Finnish Defence Forces and the Biological Threat Unit of the National Public Health institute, where scientific work will be carried out in a special biological safety laboratory. The Biological Defence Unit is a part of the Centre of Military Medicine, that became operational in January 2006.

 

Finnish Defence Forces Technical Research Center

Comment: The Center is in charge of providing the technological and scientific research, development, testing and trialling services that are required by the Defence Forces and the country's defence. The centre's field of research encompasses weapons and ammunition, explosives, materials used in military equipment, non-conventional weapons and protection against them, optronics, signature management, and electronics and information technology.

 

The Military Engineer and NBC Defence School

Comment: The School provides required training for the branch personnel with war- and peacetime tasks.

 

The Scientific Advisory Board for Defence

Comment: The Board is a permanent specialist and cooperation organization between universities, research institutes, industry and the defence administration. The basic idea of the Board is to promote national defence by sponsoring research projects, by taking advantage of the expert knowledge of its members representing technical sciences, natural sciences, and medicine, by contributing to the development within these areas and by arranging seminars. The Board has several sections, including the section for NBC protection and medicine and the section for protection and protective technology of NBC.

 

National Bureau of Investigation

Comment: The Bureau is a national police unit operating throughout the Finnish territory. The tasks of the NBI can be divided into two main categories, crime prevention and provision of expert services. The most important specialist services produced by the NBI are related to forensic laboratory analyses, international legal assistance, demanding technical intelligence and criminal intelligence and operational analyses.

 

National Public Health Institute

Comment: The Institute is an expert and research institute under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The Institute's functions are research, expert functions, health monitoring, public health services, education and training, international collaboration, development, assessment and performing of laboratory research, participating in the dissemination of health information and health education. The Institute operates several national and reference laboratories and supervises other national laboratories which are authorised to perform human medical microbiological diagnostics. The department of Vaccines manages the national Vaccination programme. The institutes departments of Virology and Bacterial diseases perfom the reference laboratory funtions, while the department of Infectious Disease Epidemology manages the national infectious disease surveillance system. The department also assists municipal and regional health-care actors in outbreak investigations and infection prevention programmes. The deparment’s Biothreat unit has a national role as a biosafety and security coordinator in the Public Health area. The Institute is also one of the two establishing parties of the Centre for Biothreath Preparedness.

 

Finnish Institute for Occupational Health

Comment: The Institute is a research and specialist organization in the sector of occupational health and safety.

 

National Emergency Supply Agency

Comment: The Agency (NESA) is a body working under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Its task is to plan and operatate to maintain and develop the country's security of supply. Their objective is to safeguard economic activities necessary to the population's livelihood, the national economy, and national defence during emergency situations and serious disturbances to normal life. Today the core activity is safeguarding the functioning of technical systems. Special attention is paid to society's essential information systems.

 

Helsinki University Central Hospital

Comment: The Hospital is nationally responsible for treating severe and rare illnesses and ones calling for special expertise and technology.

Division(s) within the Central Hospital with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• The Laboratory of Helsinki University Central Hospital
  • The Laboratory operates a wide network of specimen collection stations at the municipal health care centres in the Helsinki metropolis area. Laboratory’s services are available to all health care units, both private and public, needing clinical laboratory services. It also contains the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics at Helsinki University Hospital.
• The Poison Information Center
  • The Centre answers questions concerning the prevention and treatment of acute poisonings every day around the clock. The Centre serves the whole of Finland by telephone and provides guidance to the public and to health care professionals. The Centre also acts as a source of information for authorities and the media whenever necessary. The Poison Information Centre does not treat patients or analyse poisons.

 

Finnish Environment Institute

Comment: The Institute is both a research institute, and a centre for environmental expertise. The Institute's research focuses on changes in the environment, and seeks ways to control these changes. The Institute's research programmes include programme for biodiversity and programme for contaminants and risks.

 

The National Veterinary and Food Research Institute /EELA

Comment: The Institute promotes both animal health and welfare as well safeguards the safety and quality of livestock products. It conducts research, provides advisory services and undertakes risk assessment. It operates under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Its strategic research areas are prevention of animal diseases, food research, zoonosis and risk assessment.

 

Agrifood Research Finland

Comment: Agrifood is an expert body operating under the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. It produces and disseminates scientific research information and develops and promotes the transfer of new technology for the agriculture and food sector as a whole.

 

Technical Research Centre of Finland

Comment: The Centre is an impartial expert organisation of the State. Its objective is to develop new technologies, create new innovations and value added thus increasing customer's competencies. With its know-how the Centre produces research, development, testing and information services to public sector and companies as well as international organisations

Division(s) within the Technical Reseach Centre with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Biotechnology, food industry, pharmaceuticals
  • The Centre has comprehensive expertise in biotechnological research and applications, food technology, and pharmaceutical development and diagnostics. In biotechnology the focus of the Centre's expertise is on enzyme technology and its applications as well as in the more effective use of renewable natural resources in the production of industrial chemicals and materials.

 

National Academies & Academia

Academic actors and national academies with a direct or indirect role in biosecurity and scientific oversight are included here. Some groups listed here may have only a marginal interest or role in biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

National Academy:

Academy of Finland (AKA)

Comment: The Academy provides funding for high-quality scientific research, serves as an expert in science and science policy, and strengthens the position of science and research.

Division(s) within AKA with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Research Council for Biosciences and Environment
  • The Research Council decides upon research funding within its field. The Council's research fields are: biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, ecology, biosystematics and -physiology, forest sciences, agricultural sciences, food sciences, research relating to the state of the environment and to environmental protection, research into substances hazardous to the environment, geography and regional studies, research relating to environmental policy, environmental economy and environmental law as well as biotechnology, molecular biology, cell biology and economic and technological research when related to the fields above.
• Research Council for Health
  • The Research Council decides upon research funding within its own field. The Council's research fields are: biomedicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, dental science, nursing science, public health science, clinical medicine, sport sciences, nutrition, occupational and environmental medicine as well as biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, biotechnology, molecular biology, cell biology, biophysics and bioinformatics when relating to the above fields.

Academia:

National Advisory Board on Research Ethics

Comment: National Advisory Board on Research Ethics was founded in 1991 to address ethical questions relating to research and to the advancement of research ethics in Finland. The Secretary General of the Council is attached to the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies.

 

National Advisory Board for Biotechnology (in finnish only)

Comment: The main duties of the Advisory Board are the promotion of communication between the users of biotechnology and gene technology and the promotion of the research in the fields. It follows the development of environmental effects and risk assessment in biotechnology, as well as advances information and education in the fields of bio- and gene technology, and in particular promotes the ethical perspective in gene technology.

 

Board for Gene Technology

Comment: The Board aims to promote safe and ethically acceptable use of gene technology and to prevent and avert any harm gene technology may inflict on human health, animals, property or the environment.

 

University of Helsinki

Division(s) within the University of Helsinki with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Biocentrum Helsinki
  • Biocentrum Helsinki is a large umbrella organization at the University of Helsinki, with some 530 people being engaged in research in biotechnology and molecular biology.
• The Institute of Biotechnology
  • The Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Helsinki is an administratively independent unit for promoting research and education in biotechnology, molecular biology, cell biology, and related areas. One of the objectives of the Institute is to integrate researchers from different faculties and research institutions in different areas, and enhance collaboration between those working in the areas of molecular biology, biology, chemistry, physics and medicine.
• Viikki Drug Discovery Technology Center
  • The Center is an interdisciplinary research project belonging to Department of Pharmacy in the University of Helsinki. The Center started at the beginning of 2000 and is funded by University of Helsinki, National Technology Agency, Academy of Finland, and pharmaceutical companies. Objectives of the research center are to build up a strong environment for drug discovery research, to develop key technologies to the international forefront and to discover new drug candidates and to educate high level researchers.
• The Finnish Genome Center
  • The Center specializes in the mapping and identification of genes and gene variants predisposing to human Mendelian and multifactorial traits. The Center is an independent institute hosted by the University of Helsinki and serves as an intellectual core facility for genetic research for the entire Nation. The Center provides help in project planning, genotyping and data analysis.

 

University of Oulu

Division(s) within the University of Oulu with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Biocenter Oulu
  • Biocenter Oulu is an umbrella organisation within the University of Oulu. Currently it consists of about 15 groups with a total staff of ca 270 personnel. Half of these groups are working in the Faculty of Science and half in the Faculty of Medicine, in the theoretical departments and in the University Hospital.

 

University of Turku

Division(s) within the University of Turku with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Biocity Turku
  • BioCity Turku is an umbrella organisation of the academic research on cell and molecular biology and biotechnology carried out in Turku, Finland at the University of Turku, the Åbo Akademi University, the Turku University Central Hospital and the National Public Health Institute, Department in Turku.
• Centre for Biotechnology
  • Turku Centre for Biotechnology is an institute of University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University. The Centre provides technical expertise and coordinating services for academic and industrial projects in several central areas of biotechnology. Many of the key instruments have been installed at the Centre to create "core facilities" for biotechnical research.
• Functional Foods Forum (FFF)
  • FFF is a research and development center providing state-of-the-art research expertise for further development of innovations. FFF combines leading-edge research expertise in natural, health and medical sciences with technological, legal and business know-how in order to develop and commercialise functional foods for human needs.
• The Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Pathology (in finnish only)
  • In the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Turku is found the Institute of Microbiology and Pathology which provides specialisation in clinical microbiology. In addition to research and education, the laboratory of the Institute offers its services to the hospitals and clinics all over Finland.

 

University of Kuopio

Division(s) within the University of Kuopio with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Faculty of Pharmacy
  • The mission of the Faculty of Pharmacy is to promote the scientific research of drugs and their medical service, and to teach pharmaceutical subjects at the highest level. Apart from the students of the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculty has university wide responsibility for the teaching of pharmacology and toxicology.
• Institute of A.I. Virtanen
  • The A. I. Virtanen Institute (AIVI) for Molecular Sciences is a research institute at Kuopio University. The research activities of AIVI are focused on the following areas: biotechnology, especially animal biotechnology, neurobiology, especially the neurobiology of diseases affecting the central nervous system and development of disease models for them, molecular medicine, especially gene therapy and gene transfer technology, biological signaling and imaging.

 

University of Tampere

Division(s) within the University of Tampere with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Institute of Medical Technology
  • The Institute is an independent research and educational institute of the University of Tampere, founded in 1995. The Institute is dedicated to modern biomedical research, and to the provision of high quality education at undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels in natural sciences related to biotechnology and molecular biology.
• Regea Institute for Regenerative Medicine
  • Regea Institute was founded in 2004 in order to enable top-level research in the field of tissue engineering. Tissue engineering is a field of research that applies medical science, cell biology, biochemistry and engineering sciences. Regea is a joint institute that operates under the University of Tampere. It was founded by the University of Tampere, Tampere University of Technology, University Hospital in Tampere, Pirkanmaa Polytechnic and Coxa Hospital for Joint Replacement.

 

Helsinki University of Technology

Division(s) within the Helsinki University of Technology with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Laboratory of Biochemistry and Microbiology
  • The Laboratory covers research in the fields of applied biochemistry, applied microbiology and technology. Its specialities are in the R & D and process solutions of biotechnology, more specifically functional components, quality of food products, added value by processing, microbes in industry and R & D strategies.

 

www.research.fi - Website

Comment: Research.fi -portal contains key statistics and other data on Finnish science and technology. There are also links for more in-depth information: statistical and other publications, documents and databases.

 

Industry

This list of companies, with significant life sciences interests, illustrates the breadth of impact on industry that any changes in regulations governing the availability of life sciences information would have. This may include limitations on publication openness, control or review of experiments and research, or various other factors arising from the sensitive, dual-use nature of some life sciences work. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

Chemical Industry Federation (in finnish only)

Comment: CIF is Finland 's chemical industry association. It has all together ten member- and cooperation organisations including Finnish Crop Protection Association, Finnish Plastics Industries Federation, Printing Inks Association, Finnish Bioindustries, Finnish Cosmetics, Toiletry and Detergent Association, Boat Building Employers Association, the Association of Finnish Paint Industry, the Association of Environmental Enterprises and Oil Product Association. The Federation has four fields of activity; know-how and research, labour markets, environment and health and security.

 

Finnish Bioindustries

Comment: Finnish Bioindustries is Finland's biotechnology industry association.It is a private, independent non-profit organization. It has 55 companies as members which represent all life science areas, from health care and functional food to biomaterials.

 

Pharma Industry Finland

Comment: PIF is an association supervising the industrial policy interests of the research-based pharmaceutical industry. PIF's aim is to develop the competitiveness as well as the research and operation environment of the industry both in Finland and the EU so that the best possible pharmaceutical treatment reaches patients without delays. This is done by influencing economic, industry and socio-policy legislation.

 

Finnish Crop Protection Association

Comment: The Association is working on behalf of its members in the field of crop protection in Finland . The association represents its members in negotiations with the government authorities and organizations and other interest groups. In addition information services belong to key actions.

 

Research Institutes & Non-Profits

Institutes and organisations with a direct or indirect role in biosecurity and scientific oversight are included here. Some groups listed here may have only a marginal interest or role in biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

Helsinki Business and Science Park Ltd.

Comment: The Business and Science Park in Helsinki provides a dynamic business environment with a diversified research and expert network and a Centre of Expertise within biotechnology, drug development and diagnostics, as well as food and environmental technology.

 

Turku Science Park

Comment: Turku Science Park is a large community of experts that speeds up the growth of high-tech businesses in Southwest Finland through its operations. TSP's focal areas are biotechnology and ICT branded BioTurku and ICT Turku.

 

Agropolis Ltd.

Comment: Agropolis Ltd is a development company operating in the agricultural and food sectors. The development of diverse businesses, and the creation of new workplaces - thus maintaining the vitality of rural areas - are the main targets of the company. Agropolis Ltd is owned by MTT Agrifood Research Finland , several local authorities, and local organizations of agricultural producers. 

 

Lahti Science and Business Park

Comment: Lahti Science and Business Park is o ne of the leading environmental technology science parks in the world. It is f ocused on developing the branches of environmental technology, ICT, mecatronics, design and well-being.

 

Finn-Medi Research Ltd.

Comment: Finn-Medi is a pool of expertise in healthcare and biotechnology based in Tampere , Finland . A combination of multi-disciplinary, technological, bio-medical and medical expertise and an efficient operational environment, it gathers experts and services in education, research, healthcare and business.

 

Technopolis Ltd.

Comment: In terms of the number of corporate clients, Technopolis Ltd. is Europe ’s largest technology center. Technology center brings together education, research, financing, various public sector partners and business life. This synergy gives birth to development projects, new business, networking, technology transfer etc. The Oulu Region Centre of Expertise carries out programs in the environmental technology, biotechnology and medicine.

 

Events Top

Though research is ongoing, we currently have no information regarding biosecurity related events in Finland. Any information that should be included on this site can be sent to webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

Legislation Top

Below is a select list of laws in Finland. As biosecurity is a relatively new and rapidly developing field, many countries have yet to devise or implement laws specific to biosecurity. Since biosecurity has much in common with national security, biosafety, bioterrorism, biological weapons, import / export of dual-use materials, and biodiversity, some countries may develop biosecurity legislation by adapting existing laws within these other areas. Therefore, biosecurity legislation and other laws that could potentially be used as background for biosecurity legislation are included here.

• Act on the control of export of dual-use goods (unofficial translation)
• Date: 1996
• Comment: This act governs the export of goods deemed to have both civilian and military purposes.
   
• The Biological Weapons Act
• Date: 1975
• Comment: This act implements the Biological Weapons Convention into the Finnish legal system.
   
• The Penal Code (unofficial translation)
• Date: 1889
• Comment: Prior to this amendment, criminal acts involving biological weapons would have been punishable as warfare offences, health endangerment or aggravated health endangerment. Previous legislation however did not cover certain acts involving biological weapons outside the context of warfare. A specific provision ‘Breach of the Prohibition of Biological Weapons’ was inserted into the Penal Code in 2003 (chapter 11, section 7b). It constitutes a dedicated criminalization of all acts that are contrary to the BWC. This act has been revised numerous times since inception.

 

Biosecurity Code Examples Top

Though research is ongoing, we currently have no information regarding biosecurity codes in use or development in Finland. Any information that should be included on this site can be sent to webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.