Press releases

Tourism to Finland is growing fast, and especially the number of tourists from outside the EU is increasing rapidly. This provides significant opportunities for tax-free sales, which are an important part of the retail trade. However, the current tax refund system is inefficient and complicated – a reform would be urgently needed.

The European Commission has proposed the introduction of a processing fee of two euros to the member states as part of a customs reform that would only enter into force at the end of the decade. 4.6 billion parcels flow from online marketplaces to the EU market, a significant proportion of which do not meet the requirements of EU regulation. The proposed processing fee will not change the current situation.

Last year, the consumer market for cosmetics* in Finland reached nearly EUR 1.4 billion. However, growth in the coming years will be slower than international development. Export potential for Finnish brands and online stores could be found, for example, in the rapid growth of the world market for natural cosmetics. Another international trend is the increasing use of men’s cosmetics. In Finland, men’s use of cosmetics is mainly limited to dental care and cleanliness, but the increasing use of perfumes, for example, can also be seen here.

The Finnish Commerce Federation proposes measures to promote economic growth in the Government’s mid-term review. The federation emphasises reducing the taxation at all income levels and demands equal competitive conditions for online stores in relation to operators outside the EU. In addition, the federation proposes reforming regulations and promoting investments to support economic growth. 

According to the Verkkokauppapulssi survey by Digital Commerce Finland, the Federation of Finnish Special Commodity Trade ETU and the Finnish Commerce Federation, the majority of online stores believe that their business will strengthen, especially in the domestic market, but international growth is also seen as a promising opportunity. However, the lack of competence and resources is slowing down the growth prospects.