Prior consultation on a planned project or change can be arranged, or the project can be presented to Tukes after the application has been submitted.

A presentation and a prior consultation are recommended, as they will allow the processing officer at Tukes to get a more accurate picture of the scope and risks of the project and to provide information to the operator on required clarifications.

Other authorities (e.g. the rescue department, the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, the Regional State Administrative Agency and the municipality) may also be invited to the prior consultation.

The operator may request consultation on the changes from the supervisor in charge (the inspector who carries out the periodic inspections). In the case of a new site, consultation requests should be addressed to the Head of the Industrial Processes Unit.

Online meetings (e.g. Teams) are preferred for project presentations and consultations.

The permit application or change notification should be submitted to Tukes via the online service. The use of the online service requires appropriate authorisation from the operator’s representative. See the required level of authorisation.

See instructions on the use of the online service and the content of the application (pdf, in Finnish).

An application completed in accordance with the instructions will speed up the processing of the matter. A list of chemicals for an application or change notification must be prepared in the KemiDigi system. There are instructions in KemiDigi on how to use the lists of chemicals.

Describe the main content of the application in the fields provided. You may include references to attachments as necessary, but each field must contain a description of the matter in such a way that the reader will understand the matter even without the attachment. More detailed instructions for each field can be viewed by clicking the question mark symbol. Only enter in the application information that is public. If it is necessary to provide information classified as confidential, use attachments. If an attachment contains confidential information, add the word LUOTTAMUKSELLINEN to the name of the file. 

There must be grounds for the confidentiality of information in accordance with the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999). Confidential information includes but is not limited to trade secrets and documents containing detailed security arrangements. 

The received application or notification will be assigned a register number and a processing officer.

Tukes may request additional information or a supplement from the operator at any stage of the processing of the permit application or change notification.

It may be necessary to supplement the application even before the consultation or requests for comment.

Tukes will send requests for additional information and supplements to the operator via the online service. The contact person for the application will be alerted by email.

Each request for further information or a supplement will include a time limit by which the operator must submit their reply. Tukes will continue the processing of the matter after having received the additional information/supplement.

Applications for permits for new installations and major changes (change permits) are announced by means of a public notice. 

The purpose of the hearing is to give residents, communities and stakeholders in the vicinity of the facility the opportunity to comment on the application. 

The public notice and public application documents will be published on the Tukes website. Information on the public notice of the application will be published in the local newspaper and on the municipality’s website. 

The public notice and the application documents will be kept available for at least 30 days. 

If necessary, Tukes will request the operator’s response to any complaints and opinions received. Requests for reply will be submitted via the online service.

Tukes will request comments on both permit applications and change notifications. 

Comments may be requested from parties such as the rescue department, the Regional State Administrative Agency (occupational safety and health branch), the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (environmental protection branch), the municipality and the police. 

Where appropriate, the operator will be asked to respond to the comments received. The request for a reply will be submitted via the online service. 

The procedure for obtaining comments typically takes approximately 30 days. 

The processing officer will prepare the decision, taking into account the issues raised during the processing of the application or change notification. 

Further information from the operator may be requested also during the preparation of the decision. 

The decision may contain conditions to be complied with by the operator. 
Each decision is appointed a rapporteur and a deciding official. The processing officer acts as the rapporteur. Depending on the scope of the matter, the decision will be made by the director of the department, the unit head or an experienced senior adviser. 

Decisions on both permit applications and change notifications will be delivered to the operator via the online service. An email about the decision will be sent to the operator. 

Decisions on permit applications (permit decisions) will also be sent to the operator by post with a certificate of service. 

The decision will also be submitted for information to other authorities and to those who have issued a complaint or an opinion.

The processing is subject to a fee in accordance with the Tukes price list.

If a public notice regarding the application was issued, one will also be issued for the decision. 

Public notices on decisions are published on the Tukes website. 

The parties will have the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Administrative Court during the period for hearing. 

The decision will become final at the end of the period for hearing. 

The period for hearing is 30 days from the service of the decision. The date of service is determined in the appeal instructions (enclosed with the decision).

The commissioning of new facilities and significant changes (change permits) requires a commissioning inspection by Tukes.

The operator must request for the commissioning inspection from Tukes in good time before the planned commissioning. Permitted operations are not to be started prior to the commissioning inspection.

An invitation to the commissioning inspection will be delivered via the online service. The invitation will contain preliminary questions to be answered by the operator by the given date.

The invitation will also be sent to other authorities (e.g. the rescue department, the occupational safety and health authority, and the environmental authority). The other authorities will inform Tukes and the operator whether they will attend the inspection.

Answering the preliminary questions requires the operator to have the appropriate authority for electronic services. Please note that different types of authorisation are required for permit applications and inspections.

During a commissioning inspection, the operator demonstrates that they are compliant with the application and the terms of the decision in terms of the technical safety of the facility, safety management systems and policies. 

The commissioning inspection consists of a document review and a site visit. 

Documents to be reviewed during the commissioning inspection include but are not limited to tank records and piping documentation, test documents related to the locking and alarms of the automation system, inspection protocols for the commissioning and verification of electrical installations, inspection protocols for safety automation systems, operating and maintenance manuals, an internal rescue plan and a major accident prevention policy document.

Depending on the scope of the facility or change, the commissioning inspection can take anything from a few hours to a full working day.

On the basis of the operator’s answers to the preliminary questions and the matters dealt with during the inspection, Tukes will prepare an inspection protocol and a decision.

On the basis of the inspection, measures may be required to ensure safety before the facility or change is commissioned.

The inspection protocol and the decision will be delivered to the operator via the online service. An email about the decision will be sent to the operator.

If deficiencies that require action before commissioning were detected during the inspection, they will have to be resolved by the operator through the online service. A deadline will be set for these tasks. 

The operator’s replies regarding the deficiencies will be processed by Tukes within 14 days of receipt. 

On the basis of the replies, the deficiencies will be deemed to have been remedied or additional requirements will be imposed.

The operator will receive a notification via the online service when the matter has been closed.