Amendments to the Statistics Act

The act on the amendment of the Statistics Act was approved at the presidential session on 24 May 2013. At the same time, the act on the amendment of Sections 2 and 3 of the act on rural industry statistics was also approved.

The Statistics Act will be supplemented with a provision relating to the professional independence of statistical authorities. The processing of the data collected for statistical purposes in scientific studies and statistical analyses on social conditions will be extended, and at the same time, the regulation concerning researchers' obligation to maintain secrecy will be clarified. A provision on the formation and use of files intended for public use will also be added to the act. Such files are particularly suitable for teaching purposes.

Statistics Finland's mandate for data collection will be expanded. The act will be supplemented with provisions concerning the release of confidential data between authorities belonging to the European Statistics System and national statistical authorities and the members of the European System of Central Banks for compiling statistics. In addition, provisions will be added related to the duration of storage of data and the manners and means of releasing data, as well as to the use of demands for rectification as an appeal stage prior to a complaint, and to the electronic communication of administrative actions.

The amendments to the legislation will come into force on 1 September 2013.

Further information: Johanna Rantanen, tel. +358 9 1734 2730