Environmental damage legislation

Provisions on the obligation to take action and the liability for costs related to preventing, limiting and combating environmental pollution and on compensations related to environmental damages are laid down in a number of different acts.

The key premise of the legislation is the polluter-pays principle. If the liability cannot be attributed to a causing agent or other liable party laid down by law, costs and compensations can in certain situations be paid from secondary liability systems, such as the Environmental Damage Fund.

• Finlex: Environmental Protection Act (527/2014)
• Finlex: Waste Act 646/2011
• Finlex: Nature Conservation Act (1096/1996)
• Finlex: Gene Technology Act (377/1995)
• Finlex: Government Decree on the Remediation of Certain Environmental Damages (713/2009)
• Finlex: Water Act (587/2011)

Provisions on environmental damages and liabilities are also laid down in other legislation, including:

• Finlex: Rescue Act (379/2011)
• Finlex: Maritime Act 674/1994
• Finlex: Nuclear Liability Act (484/1972)

Website on the topic:

• Environmental Damage Fund