vaatimustenmukaisuusmääräykset

vaatimustenmukaisuusmääräykset (Finnish for compliance regulations) are legal provisions that set minimum standards and requirements that businesses, public sector bodies, and other organizations must meet to ensure lawful and responsible conduct. The concept originates from the broader European Union directives on corporate responsibility and risk management, which Finland implements by integrating them into national law. These regulations cover areas such as environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product safety, data protection, consumer rights, and anti-corruption practices.

In Finland, vaatimustenmukaisuusmääräykset are codified in various statutes, including the Environmental Protection Act, the Working Environment Act, the Personal Data Act (Piiriinottuen EU:n yleinen tietosuoja) and the Act on Misconduct Prevention. The Finnish Competent Authority for Inspection and Enforcement (Valvira) and the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö) play key roles in monitoring compliance. Multinational corporations operating in Finland are required to demonstrate adherence to these standards through internal audits, compliance programs and public reporting.

The enforcement framework provides for administrative fines, sanctions and, in severe cases, criminal liability. Recent amendments in 2019 introduced stricter penalties for data breaches and required companies to establish designated data protection officers. Additionally, recent EU directives on sustainable finance have led to the adoption of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting requirements for listed companies.

Compliance officers often use international frameworks such as ISO 37001 (anti-bribery management systems) and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety) to align internal policies with vaatimustenmukaisuusmääräykset. The continuous evolution of EU legislation and global best practices necessitates that organisations remain vigilant and regularly update their compliance procedures to avoid regulatory breaches.