Research laboratories according to the Health Protection Act
Examinations according to the Health Protection Act are carried out in an approved laboratory. Laboratories are approved by the Finnish Food Authority. Before the Finnish Food Authority approves a laboratory, Valvira checks that the laboratory and the methods it uses meet the requirements of legislation.
The Finnish Food Authority supervises the operation of laboratories. If a laboratory does not follow the regulations set out in law, the Finnish Food Authority can issue regulations for the laboratory to correct its operations or even cancel the laboratory’s approval for a fixed period.
See the Finnish Food Authority’s website for a list of approved laboratories.
Official tests of drinking water, swimming water and swimming pool water must be performed in a laboratory approved by the Finnish Food Authority. Before a laboratory is approved, Valvira checks that the laboratory and the methods it uses meet the requirements of the legislation.
Drinking water samples included in regular supervision must be examined in an accredited laboratory. The accreditation of a laboratory means that the FINAS accreditation service annually checks the appropriateness of the laboratory’s operation, and that reliable results are obtained with the methods the laboratory uses.
Swimming water samples and swimming pool water samples must be examined in an evaluated laboratory. The legislation stipulates which methods may be used to examine water samples from beaches. The laboratory evaluation criteria differ only slightly from accreditation. The FINAS accreditation service also carries out laboratory evaluations. However, an evaluation does not need to be performed every year, but at least every three years.
Housing health examinations for the authorities according to the housing health decree (Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 545/2015) must be performed in a laboratory approved by the Finnish Food Authority.