Statistics legislation

The Finnish international trade statistics are based on the legislation of the European Union as well as on the national Statistics Act and Customs Act.

The statistics legislation of the European Union ensures that the statistics are based on strictly defined norms applied in all EU Member States. In addition, uniform definitions and methods for the practical compilation of international trade statistics have been determined by Commission regulations and decisions.

New statistics legislation of the European Union concerning international trade in goods statistics came into force in 2022. The new legislation applies to statistical data from January 2022 and onwards.

Below is a list of the most essential regulations relating to the compilation of statistics, with links to the EUR-Lex database maintained by the Publications Office of the EU.

  • The European Statistics Code of Practice – Recommendation of the Commission on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities. More information of the Code of Practice on Eurostat’s website. Download the publication as a pdf-file from Eurostat’s website.
  • The nomenclature of countries - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1470 on the nomenclature of countries and territories for the European statistics on international trade in goods and on the geographical breakdown for other business statistics. Read the regulation in EUR-Lex.
  • The national Statistics Act 280/2004. Read the English translation of the act from Statistics Finland’s website.
  • Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics. Read the regulation in EUR-Lex.
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics. Read the regulation in EUR-Lex.
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1704 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council by further specifying the details for the statistical information to be provided by tax and customs authorities and amending its Annexes V and VI. Read the regulation in EUR-Lex.
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1225 specifying the arrangements for the data exchanges pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197, as regards the Member State of extra-Union export and the obligations of reporting units. Read the regulation in EUR-Lex.
  • Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament on European statistics, amendment (EU) No 759/2015. Read the regulation in EUR-Lex.
  • The Combined Nomenclature (CN) - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1101/2014 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff. Read the regulation in EUR-Lex.
  • The national Customs Act 304/2016. Read the act in Finlex.fi (in Finnish or Swedish).