Proposed amendments to emergency response centre legislation sent out for comments

The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft proposal on amendments to the emergency response centre legislation. The legislative amendments concern the Act on Emergency Response Centre Operations and related acts. Comments on the draft will be accepted until 13 May 2022.

The proposal would clarify the core tasks and other tasks of the Emergency Response Centre Agency. Under the Consular Services Act, which is included in the proposal, the Emergency Response Centre Agency could assist the Foreign Service in auxiliary consular assistance tasks. According to the proposal to amend the Safety Investigation Act, the Emergency Response Centre Agency could assist the Safety Investigation Authority in receiving notifications.

In addition, the proposal would amend the provisions on emergency response centre operations concerning the processing of personal data so that they correspond with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. In future, the data controller of the police would be the National Police Board, the controller of healthcare and social services data would be the wellbeing services county, the City of Helsinki and the joint county authority for the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, the controller of rescue services data would be the wellbeing services county and the City of Helsinki, and the data controller of the Border Guard would be the Border Guard Headquarters. The Emergency Response Centre Agency would be responsible for processing personal data as concerns its own tasks.  

The proposal would also specify the authorities’ right of access to information and the processing of data for purposes other than the original purpose. The proposal would also remove overlaps with the Act on Information Management in Public Administration and make some technical changes. 

The proposed amendments would enter into force in stages in 2023 and 2024. 

Inquiries:

Annika Parsons, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 488 279, annika.parsons@govsec.fi
Juha-Veli Frantti, Senior Officer for Emergency Response Centre Operations, tel. +358 295 488 210, juha-veli.frantti@govsec.fi