tullit

Tullit is the Finnish plural form of tulli, meaning customs. It can refer to the customs authorities as a whole, or to the network of customs offices and operations at border crossings across Finland. In Finnish, tullit is commonly used to denote the institutions, offices, and personnel collectively; the official government agency uses the brand name Tulli (capitalized) in Finnish communications. In English, tullit is typically translated as “the customs” or “the customs authorities.”

Functions and scope: The Finnish Customs, branded as Tulli, is responsible for border control, the collection of customs duties, and the enforcement of import and export regulations. It processes customs declarations, inspects goods and travelers, and enforces rules concerning restricted or regulated items, quarantine, origin and labeling requirements, and intellectual property protections. Tulli also combats smuggling and fraud and cooperates with other national authorities and EU bodies. Customs checks take place at ports, airports, and land border crossings, and personnel issue permits, reliefs, or exemptions as appropriate.

Organization and context: Tulli operates as a government agency under Finland’s Ministry of Finance. As a member of the European Union, Finland’s customs system aligns with EU Customs Union rules, tariffs, and procedures, while coordinating with EU-wide agencies and other member-state customs authorities on enforcement, risk management, and information sharing.

Etymology: The term tulli is of Finnish origin and has cognates in neighboring languages (for example, the Swedish tull). The plural form tullit simply indicates multiple customs entities, offices, or activities. See also: customs, tariffs, excise.