Report: Lasting solutions to problems of cheap imports require EU-level influence
Finnish consumers are increasingly ordering low-cost goods online, mostly from manufacturers based in China. Based on the proposals of a recent report, the Government will begin to prepare legislation to address problems caused by these cheap imports. There is also emphasis on consumer responsibility.
In 2025, the number of orders of low-value goods arriving in Finland totalled 40.5 million. Such imports raise many concerns, including risks to consumer health and safety, environmental damage and lack of consumer protection. An inspection carried out by the European Commission found that 84 per cent of such products tested contained chemicals classified as hazardous to health in the EU.
The working group appointed to explore solutions to problems of cheap imports submitted its report to Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen and Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala on 9 March 2026.
“The phenomenon of cheap imports is a challenging one. As the report states, national measures can tackle it in part, but common solutions for more comprehensive changes require influencing the issue at the EU level,” says State Secretary Mika Nykänen, who chaired the working group.
According to the report, more effective customs rules and market surveillance combined with increased producer liability could help solve the problems related to cheap imports. Based on the report, the Government will shortly launch a study to explore necessary legislative amendments in more detail.
Beyond national measures, the Government’s efforts to exert influence on the issue at the EU level will continue in a more concerted manner, as the report recommends. Already this year, changes that will increase the import costs of low-value goods bought online will enter into force in the EU. In July 2026, the duty exemption threshold of EUR 150 will be abolished and a flat-rate customs duty of EUR 3 will apply to items valued under EUR 150. A EUR 2 handling fee for parcels will also be introduced later this year.
“The rapid increase in cheap imports from outside the EU has not been entirely unproblematic. Non-EU operators often evade their obligations, which makes it more difficult for companies that abide by the rules to do business and compete fairly. We should not compromise product safety and quality in the name of junk flooding our country. The same rules must apply to everybody and that is why the Government is promoting measures at both national and European level,” Marttinen says.
Low-value imports hamper fair competition and strain waste management systems
“Cheap online shops that totally disregard product safety, environmental concerns and other common rules cause serious problems for our waste management system and the environment in general. The Government will begin preparations to find regulatory solutions while I will promote the issue at the EU with determination,” Multala says.
In addition to problems affecting consumers, imports of low-value goods from online platforms put pressure on fair competition and harm domestic businesses that comply with the law.
According to the report, increased monitoring of cheap imports alone would not solve the problem because of the huge number of shipments containing such goods. To improve monitoring, new digital tools and closer cooperation between the authorities would be necessary. More inspections could be carried out at customs warehouses for distance selling, for example. At the national level, the Finnish authorities could launch a market surveillance project targeting large online platforms and support ongoing investigations by the European Commission.
Another issue highlighted by the report concerns producer liability, which requires manufacturers and importers to organise and pay for waste management of certain products, such as electrical devices. This obligation will soon apply to textiles too. The report urges the Government to investigate whether Finnish Customs could charge producer liability costs from non-EU distance sellers. At the moment, such sellers barely participate in the costs.
Inquiries:
Mika Nykänen, State Secretary, tel. +358 29 504 7266 (chair of the working group)
Teresa Salminen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 29 504 7318 (questions to the Minister of Employment)
Emma-Stina Vehmanen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 40 847 1992 (questions to the Minister of Climate and the Environment)
Niina Etelävuori, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7022
Sirje Stén, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 29 525 0276