The most important body dealing with research ethics in Finland is the National Advisory Board on Research Ethics (TENK) appointed by the Ministry of Education. It is an independent expert body in the field of research ethics and it exercises oversight to ensure that the research community observes good scientific practice. All universities, many research institutes and other organizations have voluntary committed to comply with the guidelines “Good scientific practice and procedures for handling misconduct and fraud in science” (2002): http://www.tenk.fi/eng/HTK.

Besides TENK there are other expert bodies with more limited mandates: attached to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health are the National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics (ETENE) and its Sub-Committee on Medical Research Ethics (TUKIJA), the National Advisory Board for Biotechnology (BTNK) and the Board for Gene Technology (GTLK). The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has appointed the Cooperation Group for Laboratory Animal Sciences (KYTÖ).

Only in medicine is there obligatory ethics review of medical research on humans prior to the initiation of the trial. It is done by the ethics committees of hospital districts. In the case of a negative opinion, the research protocol may be referred to the Sub-Committee on Medical Research ethics which also coordinates the cooperation between the ethics committees.

The Board of Gene Technology (GLTK) processes notifications of the use of genetically modified organisms. The National Advisory Board for Biotechnology (BTNK) deals with issues of gene and biotechnology. All institutes conducting research with laboratory animals have committees which process and authorize animal experimentation in cooperation with provincial state offices.

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