The history of Tukes

Finland has a long history of technical safety and reliability inspection and supervision. For example, the official supervision of gold dates back to the 16th century, and the regulation of pressure vessel safety to the 19th century. Tukes has promoted safety and reliability in the society of Finland since 1995, originally under a different name.

1995

Turvatekniikan keskus (“The Safety Technology Centre”) is created by the merging of Teknillinen tarkastuskeskus and Sähkötarkastuskeskus.

2010

Consumer safety supervision duties are transferred from Kuluttajavirasto to Turvatekniikan keskus. Some of the activities are located in Tampere.

2011

Tukes takes over chemical product supervision duties and is renamed Turvallisuus- ja kemikaalivirasto (“The Safety and Chemicals Agency”, Tukes). Tukes is designated as the mine authority stipulated by the Mining Act.

Some 70 new experts transfer to Tukes from Elintarviketurvallisuusvirasto (Evira; now Ruokavirasto, the Finnish Food Authority), Suomen ympäristökeskus (Syke), and Sosiaali- ja terveysalan lupa- ja valvontavirasto (Valvira).

2013

Tukes is tasked with overseeing the chemicals market.

2015

The Finnish Accreditation Service (FINAS) joins Tukes. FINAS begins operations as an independent and impartial unit within the Tukes organisation.

2016

Tukes is tasked with monitoring the safety of consumer services.

2021

Tukes is chosen to host the single-liaison office for market surveillance (Fipoint). Among other things, Fipoint coordinates the cooperation of authorities related to EU market surveillance in Finland.