Working group to support the reform of the Mining Act

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has appointed a working group to support the reform of the Mining Act, which aims to improve the level of environmental protection and ensure the operating conditions of mines, while also improving local acceptance and influencing opportunities.

The working group will discuss various aspects related to the reform of the Mining Act and keep abreast of progress made with other legislative projects related to mining activities. The reform of the Mining Act is based on the Government Programme. In October 2019, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment set up a legislative drafting project for the purpose of implementing the objectives set out in the Government Programme. The newly appointed working group will support this work. 

“When preparing legislative amendments in the mining sector, we must take into account multiple, and often conflicting interests. We are very pleased to have extensive representation from the sector’s key interest groups in the working group,” says Director-General Ilona Lundström, Chair of the working group.

The working group’s members represent the following organisations: the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Sámi Parliament, the Finnish regions, ELY Centres, the Regional State Administrative Agencies, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (TUKES), Geological Survey of Finland, the Reindeer Herders’ Association, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, the Finnish Mining Association, the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, the Central Union for Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the Finnish Hospitality Association MaRa, and Technology Industries of Finland.

In addition, a review on the effectiveness of the Mining Act, completed last June by Pekka Vihervuori, Doctor of Laws, supports the legislative drafting work conducted by civil servants. The working group’s term ends on 30 November 2020. The government proposal on the reform of the Mining Act is due to be submitted to Parliament in December.

Inquiries:

Ilona Lundström, Director General, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7186 (available on Mon 24 Feb), [email protected]
Niklas Vartiainen, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7317, [email protected]