Authority services

Syke is the competent licensing and supervisory authority for transfrontier waste shipments in Finland. We issue waste shipment permits and supervise international waste shipments in cooperation with Customs and other supervisory authorities. We advise operators on issues related to transfrontier waste shipments and participate in national and international cooperation. In addition to the EU Regulation, the international waste shipments are statuted by the Basel Convention and the OECD Decision.

• Read more about transfrontier waste shipments (ymparisto.fi).
• For questions on transfrontier waste shipments, please contact wasteshipments@syke.fi.

Syke is the competent authority for CITES permits and certificates (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). We issue CITES permits and certificates for different activities with species subject to CITES regulation. As CITES experts, we advise operators and permit applicants on permit and licensing issues. We provide information on current issues on a target group basis. We cooperate and participate with other authorities in national, EU level and international expert cooperation. We participate in the EU CITES meetings and in the meetings of the CITES Convention of the Parties.

• Read more about CITES permits (ymparisto.fi).
• Contact us about permits and obligations for CITES species at cites@syke.fi.

Syke is the designated national authority under the EU PIC Regulation. We process export notifications of banned and severely regulated chemicals, seek the consent of the recipient country for exports if necessary, and compile data on exports and imports reported annually by companies. We also monitor compliance with the PIC Regulation and the Rotterdam Convention.

• Read more about the regulation of chemicals (ymparisto.fi).
• For more information, please contact Emma Nurmi, Senior officer, Finnish Environment Institute, forename.surname@syke.fi.

The Finnish Environment Institute acts as an expert and supervisory authority under the Gene Technology Act. We also represent the Ministry of the Environment in the Board for Gene Technology, which is the competent authority under the Gene Technology Act. We give statements on environmental risk assessments of gene technology notifications, inspect domestic field trials and participate in decision-making in the Board for Gene Technology. We participate in meetings of the EU Competent Authorities and the EU Council Working Group on the reform of the regulation of gene technology.

Syke serves as the national focal point for the Convention on Biological Diversity's Protocol on Biosafety (Cartagena Protocol) and the Protocol on Genetic Resources (Nagoya Protocol). Syke participates in the meetings of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols, assisting the Ministry of Environment, in particular in relation to biosafety, genetic resources and digital sequence information (DSI) and synthetic biology.

In addition, Syke is a member of the Bureau of the OECD Working Group on the Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology and an observer member of the Board of Nordgen (Nordic Gene Bank and Centre of Excellence for Genetic Resources), representing the environment and climate sector.

For more information, visit

Marja Ruohonen-Lehto, Senior Adviser, Finnish Environment Institute, forename.surname@syke.fi
•    Katileena Lohtander-Buckbee, Senior Adviser, Finnish Environment Institute, forename.surname@syke.fi

If foreign genetic resources or associated traditional knowledge are to be used for research and development, prior informed consent (PIC) is usually required. Syke and the Natural Resources Institute Finland receive notifications of genetic resources whose country of origin requires PIC for the use of its genetic resources.

• Read more about the use of genetic resources (ymparisto.fi).
• For more information, please contact Katileena Lohtander-Buckbee, Finnish Environment Institute, firstname.surname@syke.fi.

In Finland, the Finnish Environment Institute is responsible for registering organisations to the voluntary environmental management system EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), which is based on an EU regulation. We issue EMAS certificates to registered organisations, provide advice on EMAS-related matters and participate in EU cooperation.

• Read more about environmental schemes (ymparisto.fi).
• For more information, please contact emas@syke.fi

The HNS Convention obliges recipients to report cargoes of dangerous or harmful substances carried in bulk by sea that exceed the threshold value. The Finnish Environment Institute receives the HNS reports annually.

• Read more about HNS reporting (ymparisto.fi).
• For HNS reporting, please contact hns@syke.fi.

Syke is the competent authority in Finland for the EU Mercury Regulation. We receive information on mercury waste and its treatment from operators subject to the reporting obligations of the Regulation.

• Read more about reporting under the Mercury Regulation (suomi.fi).
• For more information, please contact Emma Nurmi, Senior officer, Finnish Environment Institute, forename.surename@syke.fi.

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure aims to identify, reduce, or prevent harmful environmental effects of projects. The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) refers to the assessment of the impacts of plans and programmes prepared by authorities during their preparation process.

Our responsibilities include projects, plans, and programmes planned both in Finland or in other countries that are contracting parties to the agreement that are likely to have significant transboundary environmental impacts. Regarding projects and plans planned in Finland, we maintain contact and engage in dialogue with the national authorities. We also take care of the notification procedures for the parties affected and are responsible for negotiations with the project proponent.

We publish announcements on Syke's website about ongoing projects in other Parties to the Convention and maintain related web pages on the website of Finland’s environmental administration. Based on feedback received during the consultation, we compile Finland’s response, which is submitted to the Party of origin along with individual statements. We also participate in negotiations with the parties affected.

• More information on cross-border environmental impact assessments and projects (environment.fi).
• Notices relating to transboundary environmental impact assessments (in Finnish and Swedish).
• Contacts related to transboundary environmental impact assessments (EIA) and impact assessments of strategic programs and plans (SEA): transboundaryEIA.SEA@syke.fi

Syke is responsible for market surveillance of the EU Ecolabel scheme in Finland. The monitoring is carried out in the form of product monitoring and focuses primarily on products that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel in Finland and are on the Finnish market. Syke monitors both online and bricks-and-mortar stores.

• For all matters relating to the EU Ecolabel, please contact: markkinavalvonta_ecolabel@syke.fi

Syke's quality control of transport fuels is based on the EU Fuel Quality Directive 98/70 EC. The various fuel directives are an essential part of the drive towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable transport.
Through quality control of transport fuels, Syke ensures that transport fuels are safe and environmentally friendly, meeting the required quality standards (Vna 883/2022). The quality control of transport fuels is carried out in cooperation with Customs: Customs is responsible for fuel sampling and analysis, and Syke is responsible for handling non-compliances found in fuel samples. Syke is also responsible for checking the labelling of transport fuel distribution stations.

• For all matters relating to the quality control of transport fuels, please contact: markkinavalvonta_lpa@syke.fi

The Finnish Environment Institute is the national competent authority for the EU F-gas and Ozone regulations. We provide expertise on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and ozone-depleting substances and their regulation, and information and guidance on correct practices. As a market surveillance authority, we monitor the sale of refrigerants and equipment containing them.

F-gases are used as heat transfer fluids and refrigerants in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment as well as in other applications. F-gases are highly global warming substances and must not be released into the atmosphere.

• Read more about F-gases and ozone-depleting substances (ymparisto.fi)
• For information on F-gases and ozone depleting substances, please contact: f-gas@syke.fi.