National coordination of the Internal Market Information System (IMI)

The Internal Market Information System (IMI) supports cooperation between authorities in the internal market. The system facilitates and enhances cross-border exchange of information, enforcement and cooperation between authorities.

The IMI is a secure web application that allows authorities in different countries to exchange information in several areas of internal market legislation. The IMI is used in 21 different legislative areas and for more than 80 administrative cooperation procedures.

The FCCA acts as the IMI’s national coordinator and administrator. The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority

• registers new competent authorities in the IMI and trains new users
• supervises and ensures that IMI requests, notifications and warnings are handled appropriately and within specified deadlines
• acts as a member of the IMI Committee and the IMI network of national coordinators.

Administrative contact point of the Services Directive at the FCCA

The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority also acts as an administrative contact point under the Services Directive.

The tasks of the administrative contact point include the coordination of the alert system in the IMI as required by the Services Directive.

The Services Directive obliges Member States to inform the Commission and the other Member States of services covered by the Directive which may cause serious harm to human health, safety or the environment.

The FCCA approves and receives warnings sent from and sent to Finland and forwards them to the competent authorities. The warning is issued through IMI.

The FCCA’s tasks also include providing advice to service recipients as required by the Services Directive. In practice, this happens in the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority’s Consumer Advisory Services.

Points of Single Contact (PSCs)

The Suomi.fi website for companies serves as a point of single contact in Finland as required by the Services Directive.

The point of single contact provides information on starting a business, temporary business tendering and country-specific permit requirements and processes. According to the directive,  it must possible to carry out authorisation and notification procedures related to business activities and start-up electronically throughout the EU.