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9.4.2026 | The transaction concerning nature values agreed between a private landowner and the retail and service company Pohjois-Karjalan Osuuskauppa is among the first ones in Finland. The surface area of the site concerned, the Kuikkasuo mire, is about 12 hectares, and it will be restored to a state that is as close to natural as possible.

10.11.2022 | On 10 November 2022, the Government submitted to Parliament its Report on the future of the retail sector. The report provides information on the sector and development proposals for the next ten years. The aim is for the Finnish retail trade sector to succeed nationally and internationally in the future too.

5.7.2024 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a government proposal that would allow the delivery of alcoholic beverages from domestic retail outlets directly to recipients. This proposal is part of the implementation of the Government Programme. Comments on the government proposal can be submitted between 5 July and 30 August 2024.

21.2.2022 | Datahub, the centralised information exchange system for the electricity retail market, went live on 21 February 2022. Datahub centralises the data from about 3.8 million electricity accounting points in a single system, and it significantly accelerates the exchange of information in the electricity retail market. Datahub is a key part of the flexible power system of the future.

21.10.2021 | The legislative amendments required for the introduction of centralised information exchange services for the retail electricity market, the Datahub, will enter into force on 27 October 2021. These include the Act on amending the Electricity Market Act and the Act on temporary measures related to the introduction of centralised information exchange services in retail electricity market. The President of the Republic is scheduled to approve the legislative amendments on Friday 22 October 2021.

16.1.2024 | An adequate number of companies have made the committed to the Green Deal agreement on single-use plastic portion packs. This year, companies will define ambitious reduction targets for their own operations. In Finland further measures are needed to achieve the recycling targets set in the EU for plastic packaging waste.

19.12.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a draft government proposal that would extend the right of small alcohol producers to sell their products for takeaway. In future, a larger number of domestic alcohol producers could sell alcoholic beverages produced by them directly to consumers at production premises. Comments on the draft proposal can be submitted between 19 December 2025 and 13 February 2026.

20.3.2026 | The leaders of the European Union met in Brussels on 19 March to discuss the war in Iran and its effects on energy prices. The EU is making preparations to mitigate the war’s effects on energy prices, while Finland’s energy system remains stable due to its low dependency on fossil energy.

10.10.2024 | The Government proposes an amendment to the Alcohol Act that would allow the delivery of alcoholic beverages to customers. In practice, the amendment would allow, for example, home deliveries and online sales of alcoholic beverages.

27.1.2025 | Discrimination in recruitment based on ethnic background has decreased in Finland, but jobseekers with a foreign background still have to submit more applications in order to receive an invitation for a job interview than equally qualified applicants with a Finnish background. Potential workforce remains untapped due to ethnic prejudices.

20.6.2024 | On 20 June 2024, the Government appointed a National Emergency Supply Council for the period of 1 July 2024–31 December 2026. Topi Manner, Chief Executive Officer of Elisa Oyj, was invited to chair the Council, while Timo Jaatinen, Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, will serve as vice-chair. The Council will have 26 members.

11.5.2023 | A new playbook ‘Circular Economy in Consumer Trade’ offers companies in the retail sector information, solutions and examples of how to introduce and implement the sale, rental, maintenance and repair of used products in brick-and-mortar shops and online stores and platforms. The retail sector plays an important role in enabling people to make sustainable consumer choices.

11.5.2023 | A new playbook ‘Circular Economy in Consumer Trade’ offers companies in the retail sector information, solutions and examples of how to introduce and implement the sale, rental, maintenance and repair of used products in brick-and-mortar shops and online stores and platforms. The retail sector plays an important role in enabling people to make sustainable consumer choices.   

19.10.2023 | An amendment to the Alcohol Act is being circulated for comments until 23 November 2023. At present, retail trade licences can be granted for the sale of alcoholic beverages containing up to 5.5 per cent alcohol by volume. The proposed amendment would also allow the sale of alcoholic beverages produced by fermentation and containing 5.5 –8.0 per cent alcohol.

13.10.2023 | The Government proposes that nicotine pouches and other smokeless nicotine products be more comprehensively covered by the Tobacco Act than now. The aim is for legally sold nicotine pouches to replace illegally obtained snus. The proposal also aims to prevent the use of nicotine pouches among young people. 

2.3.2023 | The acts on the temporary retroactive reimbursement for electricity costs, the extension to payment period of electricity bills and the temporary support to secure the liquidity of electricity companies and other related legislation will enter into force on 6 March 2023. The acts are set to be approved at the presidential session on Friday.

8.5.2023 | Finland is currently constructing a green deal for the circular economy that brings together the most critical sectors and leading experts from Finland. The heart and soul of the green deal are scientific scenarios that are unique in terms of scope and coverage.

3.10.2022 | The Development Policy Committee commissioned a report on sustainable development investing. While significant sums are already being invested from Finland in the world’s least-developed countries, private investment could bolster the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) even more systematically. It would be essential to create clear criteria for sustainable development investing.

12.8.2021 | The Government issued a new decree on electricity supply settlement and measurement on 12 August 2021. The decree lays down provisions on the 15-minute balance settlement period, the transition towards the so-called single price model in the electricity market, and the changes in electricity supply settlement caused by the introduction of Datahub – a centralised information exchange system for the electricity retail market.

21.1.2022 | The EU’s environment and energy ministers will convene in informal meetings in Amiens, France on 20–22 January 2022. Emma Kari, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, and Jukka Ihanus, State Secretary to Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä, will represent Finland in the meetings hosted by France.