Import and Export Restrictions for Travelers

A traveler is allowed to bring in medicinal products as well as homeopathic and anthroposophical products, covered by the registration referred to in Section 21 a of the Finnish Medicines Act (395/1987), from the EEA countries (= the EU countries and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) for a maximum of one yearดs treatment and from non-EEA countries for a maximum of three monthsด treatment for personal use.

If required, the traveler must be able to prove that the medicinal product is intended for his personal medication. The intended use of prescription medicines must be proved by a prescription or medical certificate duly issued by a person authorized to prescribe the medicine. The traveler must bring the required documents with him when importing the medicinal product into Finland.

A traveler is allowed to bring in medicinal products classified as narcotic drugs from the Schengen states (= Iceland, Norway and the EU countries except the United Kingdom and Ireland) for personal use for a maximum of 30 daysด treatment. For importation from a Schengen state it is required that the traveler can produce a certificate, referred to in Article 75(2) of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement (E 3/1995), showing that he is entitled to import a medicinal product having a particular trade name. The certificate and the prescription for the purchase of the medicine must be issued in the state where the importing person has his normal residence.

From non-Schengen states a traveler is allowed to bring in medicinal products classified as narcotic drugs for personal use for a maximum of 14 daysด treatment.

Veterinary Medicinal Products

A traveller is only allowed to bring into Finland veterinary medicinal products which are legally acquired and intended for pet animals for a maximum of one monthดs treatment. The products may not contain narcotic drugs. No vaccines or other immunological products may be imported.

The veterinary medicinal products must be imported at the same time as the animals to be treated.

Live Animals

Dogs and Cats

Requirements concerning Vaccination against Rabies

A traveler is allowed to bring to Finland dogs and cats for which a veterinarian in the country of departure has issued a certificate confirming that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine approved by the Food and Health Department of the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, at least 30 days and at most 12 months before the importation.

Vaccination is required neither for dogs nor for cats brought in by the traveler from a rabies-free country provided that the importation takes place directly from the country in question, via another rabies-free country, or via a rabies country exclusively by air so that the animal has not left the transit hall or the cargo facilities of the airport before the departure of the connecting flight.

Vaccination is neither required for a dog or cat younger than 3 months coming from an EU country. For a dog or cat older than 3 months coming from an EU country, vaccination is required but not the waiting period of 30 days. For the importation of dogs or cats older than 3 months coming from non-EU countries, the waiting period of 30 days is not required in case of revaccination. Revaccination is involved when evidence by a veterinarian proves that the animal has been vaccinated at least two times.

Requirements concerning Echinococcosis

Dogs and cats imported into Finland must be accompanied by a certificate issued by a veterinarian and showing that no more than 30 days before the arrival in Finland the animal has been given an appropriate dosage of medicine approved for the species concerned containing praziquantel against tapeworm which causes echinococcosis. The relevant information on the owner and the animal as well as the name and dosage of the medicine and the method of medication must also appear from the certificate.

Medication against tapeworm is not required if the animal is imported directly from Sweden, Norway (except the Spitzbergen), the United Kingdom or Ireland, or if the animal is under 12 weeks old and comes from the EU countries, the United States, Canada or Switzerland, or if the animal is brought back to Finland from a journey abroad lasting less than 24 hours.

Further information on the approved rabies vaccines and on importation of dogs and cats otherwise than arriving together with a traveler can be obtained from the Food and Health Department of the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 9 1605 3387 or +358 9 1605 3382.

Rabbits and Rodents

A traveler is allowed to bring in rabbits and other rodents such as guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice etc. without a permit of the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry or other veterinary certificates from the EU territory and from the following countries: Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and the United States.

Importation from other countries is possible only with an import permit given by the above Ministry and by observing the permit conditions. Further information can be obtained from the Food and Health Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 9 1605 3387 or +358 9 1605 3382.

Birds

Importation of birds is possible only with an import permit given by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and by observing the permit conditions. Further information can be obtained from the Food and Health Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 9 1605 3387 or +358 9 1605 3382.

Turtles, Amphibians, Reptiles and Tropical Fish

A traveler is allowed to bring in turtles, amphibians, reptiles and tropical fish without an import permit of the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry or other veterinary certificates. (See below endangered animal species)

Other Animals

Information on the veterinary regulations applying to the importation of other animals can be obtained from the Food and Health Department of the Finnish Ministry of Agricultre and Forestry, tel. +358 9 1605 3387 or +358 9 1605 3382.

Endangered Animal and Plant Species and Products Derived Therefrom

The importation and exportation of endangered animal species and products derived therefrom requires a permit. Accordingly, it is not allowed to import without a CITES import permit i.a. furs of wolves, bears and wild felines, products prepared of whale, and ivory, birds of prey, parrots, corals, various reptiles, and products derived therefrom.

Even the importation and exportation of endangered plant species and products derived therefrom requires a permit. Accordingly, it is not allowed to import i.a. orchids or cacti without a CITES import permit.

For importing endangered animals and plants and products derived therefrom from the EU territory, a copy of the import permit/re-export certificate, or a separate EU CITES certificate is sufficient.

Further information can be obtained from the Finnish Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 9 1603 9371, and the Finnish Environment Agency, tel. +358 9 4030 0721.

Plants

Importation from the EU Countries

A traveler may bring in plants, parts of plants and other plant products, such as fruit, vegetables and seeds, from the EU countries (incl. the Azores and Madeira) for own use without quantitative restrictions. However, wild plants may only be imported with a permit granted by the Plant Production Inspection Centre (KTTK). Potatoes need a plant protection registration number and host plants of fire blight* need ZP (protected zone) plant passports. Importation of coniferous plants and products from Portugal is subject to restrictions.

Importation from European Countries Not in the EU

From European countries not in the EU (incl. the Canary Islands) a traveler may not import host plants of fire blight*, potatoes (whether for food or seed), wild plants (except their seeds, fruits and berries) or soil, compost or manure. Importation of other plants and plant products for own use is allowed without a phytosanitary (plant health) certificate as follows:

5 nursery plants with root balls (e.g. trees, shrubs and perennials)

5 pot plants with soil pots, except chrysanthemums and carnations

3 kg of flower bulbs, tubers and corms

3 kg of fresh citrus fruit

3 kg of seeds

without restrictions: other plant products (e.g. cut flowers, except chrysanthemums and carnations, fruit other than citrus fruit, timber, raw wood and billets) for which phytosanitary certificates are not required

Importation from outside Europe

From countries outside Europe (incl. Turkey and Cyprus) a traveler may bring in parts of plants, e.g. cut flowers (except orchids from Thailand, chrysanthemums and carnations) and seeds, and such plant products (e.g. vegetables) for which no phytosanitary certificates are required. A phytosanitary certificate is needed for importation of pot plants, plants for aquariums and nursery plants. Wild plants (except their seeds), host plants of fire blight*, soil and potatoes may not be imported.

Other importation of plants, parts of plants and plant products is subject to a phytosanitary certificate issued by the plant protection authorities of the country of exportation and plant inspection by Finnish Customs.

Additional information: Plant Production Inspection Centre (KTTK), tel. +358 9 576 5111.

* Host plants of fire blight: flowering quinces (Chaenomeles spp.), Cotoneaster spp., hawthorns (Crataegus spp.), quinces (Cydonia spp.), loquats (Eriobotrya spp.), apple trees (Malus spp.), pear trees (Pyrus spp.), medlars (Mespilus spp.), firethorns (Pyracantha spp.), rowans (Sorbus spp., except Swedish whitebeam (Sorbus intermedia)) and Chinese Stranvaesia.

Firearms and Ammunition

Transfer and importation into Finland for private purposes of firearms, ammunition and parts of firearms from any country, including the EU countries, is subject to restrictions. These restrictions are also applied to gas atomizers. Information on the restrictions can be obtained from the Police Department of the Finnish Ministry of the Interior, tel. +358 9 16001, the Customs Information Service, tel. +358 20 391 100, fax +358 20 492 1812, and the Customs Internet sites www.tulli.fi.

Cultural Goods

Exportation to Another EU Country

An export permit is required for exporting objects of cultural history value. These are such works of art and applied arts and handicraft that are of Finnish origin and other Finnish objects 50-100 years old, as well as objects of foreign make which have been in Finland at least 50 years. An export permit is also required regardless of the age of the object when the object is related to national history or nationally prominent persons, or when it is a valuable manuscript, or a scientifically important collection.

Export permits are issued by the National Board of Antiquities and Historical Monuments, State Art Museum, Museum of Ostrobothnia (Vaasa), War Museum, Pietarsaari City Museum, Turku Provincial Museum, K. H. Renlund Museums (Kokkola), Museum of North Ostrobotnia (Oulu), Museum of Satakunta Province (Pori), Provincial Museum of Tornio River (Tornio), National Archives, and the various Provincial Archives.

Exportation outside the EU

A licence prescribed by the EU legislation is required for exportation of objects exceeding the age and value limits laid down in the relevant EU Regulation. The export licence is issued by the National Board of Antiquities and Historical Monuments. For other objects, a permit specified by the Finnish export legislation is required, as explained under the heading Exportation to Another EU Country. Further information can be obtained from the National Board of Antiquities and HistoricalMonuments, tel. +358 9 40 501.

Goods Requiring Export Licences according to the EU Regulation, with Respective Age and Financial Thresholds

Category of Cultural Object	Financial Threshold in EUR
1. Archaeological objects more than 100 years old which are the products of: excavations and finds on land or under water archaeological sites archaeological collections	0
2. Elements forming an integral part of artistic, historical or religious monuments which have been dismembered, of an age exceeding 100 years	0
3. Pictures and paintings executed entirely by hand, on any medium and in any material(1)	150 000
4. Mosaics other than those in categories 1 or 2 and drawings executed entirely by hand, on any medium and in any material(1)	15 000
5. Original engravings, prints, serigraphs and lithographs with their respective plates and original posters(1	15 000
6. Original sculptures or statuary and copies produced by the same process as the original(1), other than those in category 1	50 000
7. Photographs, films and negatives thereof(1)	15 000
8. Incunabula and manuscripts, including maps and musical scores, singly or in collections(1)	0
9. Books more than 100 years old, singly or in collections	50 000
10. Printed maps more than 200 years old	15 000
11. Archives, and any elements thereof, of any kind or any medium which are more than 50 years old	0
12.(a) Collections(2) and specimens from zoological, botanical, mineralogical or anatomical collections;	50 000
(b) Collections(2) of historical, palaeontological, ethnographic or numismatic interest
13. Means of transport more than 75 years old	50 000
14. Any other antique items not included in categories 1 to 13	50 000

(a) between 50 and 100 years old:

toys, games

musical instruments

tapestries

glassware

articles of goldsmithsด or silversmithsด wares

articles of wood

clocks and watches and parts thereof

wallpaper

furniture

pottery

carpets

arms

optical, photographic or cinematographic apparatus

(b) more than 100 years old.

(1) Which are more than 50 years old and do not belong to their originators.

(2) As defined by the Court of Justice in its judgment in Case 252/84, as follows: "Collectorsด pieces within the meaning of heading No 97.05 of the Common Customs Tariff are articles which possess the requisite characteristics for inclusion in a collection, that is to say, articles which are relatively rare, are not normally used for their original purpose, are the subject of special transactions outside the normal trade in similar utility articles and are of high value."

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สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงเอเธนส์
Royal Thai Embassy, Athens

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