Export and import of used products
Find out the requirements for export or import
Before exporting or importing, make sure that it is possible to transfer the used substance or article from one country to another as a product.
Used vehicles, tyres, electrical and electronic equipment, spare parts etc. may be exported from Finland for reuse if they are in good condition and the exporter is able to demonstrate that they are not waste and do not contain such prohibited substances whose export is prohibited.
Vehicles, tyres, electrical and electronic equipment, spare parts etc. classified as a product must be intact, functional and intended for reuse as such. There must be document-based evidence of functionality. The goods must be adequately protected against damage caused by transport and loading. The exporter is responsible for the appropriateness of the export and is obligated to investigate any import restrictions imposed by the country of import. Below are more detailed instructions for specific product groups.
Obligation imposed by the Waste Shipment Regulation
According to the EU Regulation on transfrontier shipments of waste, the exporter, importer, or the person holding the substance or object must prove that it is not a waste when requested. If the authorities do not receive sufficient evidence that the shipment is not waste, the shipment is likely to be considered an illegal shipment of waste. The purpose of the regulation is to ensure that waste is not treated in a way that is harmful to the environment or human health. The transport of a substance or object classified as waste must comply with the procedures specified in the Waste Shipment Regulation. (Article 50 of the Waste Shipment Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006)
Used vehicles
Upon request, the exporter of used vehicles shall demonstrate that they are not waste. The vehicle may be proven to be in working order with a valid inspection certificate or ‘Vehicle is repairable’ Certification. When assessing whether a vehicle can be repaired, the market value of the vehicle and repair costs in the country of origin are taken into account. Only roadworthy vehicles or vehicles which, according to an expert's ‘Vehicle is repairable’ Certification, only require minor repairs may be considered as products.
Used tyres
Used, undamaged and roadworthy tyres exported as reusable vehicle tyres as such shall be considered as products. The tread depth of the tyres must be at least 1.6 mm and the tyres must be less than 10 years old. The tyres must be packaged appropriately.
Used vehicle spare parts
Used vehicle spare part shall be considered products if they are intact, fit for use as such, and exported for re-use. Spare parts must be appropriately marked (car make and year of manufacture) and listed for export. In addition, spare parts must be adequately protected against damage during loading and transport. During transport, no liquids or oils may leak from spare parts.
Examples of car parts classified as waste
Examples of car parts classified as waste.
- half cars
- tyres whose features do not meet the requirements of Finnish legislation, e.g. on tread (minimum 1.6 mm) or
- tyres packed inside each other as they are likely to become damaged;
- tyres older than 10 years
- parts containing substances or parts that must be disposed of or whose export is prohibited under national or EU legislation (e.g. PCB, CFCs);
- unlabelled, unpacked or partly broken spare parts
- the parts are being exported for processing (e.g. scrapping or landfill) and not for reuse
Electrical and electronic equipment
Used electrical and electronic equipment classified as a product must be usable for its original purpose. Only minor defects that do not prevent or interfere with the use of the product are allowed. In addition, it shall not contain dangerous parts or substances the export of which is prohibited or which must be decommissioned in accordance with the requirements. Upon request, the carrier must provide documentation on the electrical and electronic equipment demonstrating the assessment of hazardous substances and the functionality of the equipment. The documents shall be drawn up before the intended export. The requirements are laid down in Annex 6 to the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE).
For more detailed instructions on demonstrating the functionality of electrical and electronic equipment, see the export instructions. Below is also a test form for electrical and electronic equipment.
Electrical and electronic equipment test form (in Finnish and English) (docx, 65 KB) Appendix to the test form for electrical and electronic equipment test form (Finnish and English) (docx, 28 KB)
Deviations from the performance testing of equipment and the requirement to assess hazardous substances
Shipping electrical and electronic equipment to the manufacturer or a third party acting on their behalf for repair under the guarantee or shipping electrical and electronic equipment in professional use for replacement, repair or root cause analysis may, under certain conditions, take place without documentation of the testing of the equipment and the assessment of hazardous substances. This requires, inter alia, that the exporter can provide document-based evidence that the shipping takes place under an inter-company transfer agreement for re-use.
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