Transferring explosives between Finland and an EEA country

In order to transfer explosives between Finland and an EEA country, you need a document authorising the transfer from Tukes, i.e. a transfer document. The recipient of the explosives must apply to Tukes for a transfer document and send a copy of the transfer document to the sender of the explosives. The transfer document must be delivered to the sender of the explosives before the transfer.

In accordance with the Government Decree on Monitoring the Manufacturing and Storage of Explosives, the application must include the following information:

• Names and addresses of the sender of the explosives and the parties organising the transfer

• Amounts of the explosives

• The trade names, descriptions, purposes of use and UN numbers of the explosives

• Information on the conformity of the explosives to requirements, if the explosives are handed over for distribution or use for the first time within the EEA

• The transport method and route and, if necessary, the border crossing points within the EEA

• The anticipated departure and arrival dates.

Some EEA countries require a lot-specific transfer document. In order to be issued a lot-specific transfer document, you must supply substantially more detailed information when you apply to Tukes for the document.

The form ‘Räjähdystarvikkeiden kuljetus yhteisössä’ (Intra-Community transfer of explosives), required for use in the EU, is used for the registration notification of an international transfer. The EU has set certain technical requirements on the form, which is why the form on Tukes’ website cannot be downloaded for the electronic processing of the notification. The official template can be ordered from Tukes.

When importing explosives into Finland, the importer must deliver a transfer document marked with Tukes’ approval to the sender before the transfer. The transfer document means that the explosive in question can be imported into Finland. The authority in the country of dispatch also marks the form with its approval to permit the transfer of the explosives from the country.

When explosives are imported into a country in the EEA, the sender must ensure that the competent authority in the receiving country has marked its approval on the transfer document before sending the explosives. Before the form is sent abroad, it must be marked with Tukes’ approval. Send the form to Tukes as a letter.

If the transfer of explosives in connection with import or export takes place through other EEA countries, the approval of the competent authorities in all transit countries must be obtained for the transfer. During the transfer, the transfer document must be presented to the authority in the country in question upon request.

When the transfer of explosives starts in Finland and ends in a county outside the EEA, or if the explosives arrive in Finland without passing through the EEA, a transfer document must applied from Tukes. The transfer document being applied for concerns the section of the transfer that takes place in Finland.

If the operator is established in another EEA country and provides its services in Finland temporarily, a transfer document application is required in the same way as it is required from operators established in Finland.

If you hand over explosives to other parties, you must keep a record.

A company or person authorised to manufacture, store, use, transfer or sell explosives, i.e. an explosives company, must maintain a file concerning the transfer of explosives that states at least the following information:

• the explosives that have arrived and the names of their senders

• the explosives sent, the names of their recipients and the transfer document numbers

• the explosives in storage

• the explosives used in the party’s own operations.

The file must be kept for at least three years from the end of the calendar year, during which the transfer occurred. If necessary, the file must be presented to the supervisory authority.

The Government Decree on Monitoring the Manufacturing and Storage of Explosives (819/2015) includes more detailed provisions on the records of an explosives company.