Firearms dealers’ obligation to report stock to the police’s firearms database

 As of 1 November 2020, firearms dealers have a legal duty to report the details of all firearms, high-powered air weapons, gas sprayers and firearm components that they have in their possession to a national firearms database. 

Please note that this only applies to firearms dealers, not private individuals. 

Submitting data

The National Police Board has prepared a set of Excel templates for reporting stock to the firearms database. An online reporting service is also available as of the beginning of November. 

• Form 1 (“Notice of a new firearm”, in Finnish) is designed for reporting firearms and firearm components that you have in your possession but that have not yet been entered into the firearms database. You can use this form whenever you need to let the police know about a new firearm, high-powered air weapon, gas sprayer or firearm component that you have manufactured, imported or brought to Finland. New stock must be reported within 10 days of the date on which an item is manufactured or you take possession of it.
• Form 2 (“Notice of sale, acquisition or modification”, in Finnish) is designed for letting the police know when you acquire, modify or sell a firearm, high-powered air weapon, gas sprayer or firearm component to another firearms dealer. You can also use this form to let the police know when you export or take a firearm, high-powered air weapon, gas sprayer or firearm component out of the country. You have 10 days from the date of the transaction to report it. Form 2 in open office format (in Finnish).
• Sales to private individuals or clubs subject to a firearms licence can still be reported to the police as before. The deadline is 30 days from the date of the transaction. Similarly, private individuals have 30 days from the date of the transaction to report their sales to the local police department.
• Deactivations are reported in connection with the deactivation inspection.

Reporting the disposal of a firearm or a firearm component

Firearms and firearm components are disposed of by handing them over to the police. The police disposes of the firearm or firearm component and updates the firearms database accordingly. 

If any part of the firearm remains after the disposal process, the police will make a note of this in the database. This also takes care of the obligation to report the disposal of a firearm or firearm component.

Use online reporting

Please use the online reporting service if possible. Instructions for using the online reporting service can be found here. 

Inventory of ammunition

Firearms dealers with a permit to sell, store and manufacture cartridges or especially dangerous projectiles must keep a record of their cartridges and especially dangerous projectiles, which must include the following information:

1. number, type and calibre of cartridges and especially dangerous projectiles manufactured, acquired, stored and sold;
2. date of acquisition, period of storage, and date of sale; and
3. details of the seller’s and the buyer’s firearms business licences or other authorisations to keep cartridges or especially dangerous projectiles in their possession.

The inventory of ammunition can be kept in a separate book or a file in a computer system.