An environmental impairment liability insurance policy must be obtained by a private law corporation whose activities involve an essential risk of environmental damage, or whose activities generally cause damage to the environment.

The obligation to insure applies to corporations whose operations require one of the following:

• An environmental permit granted by the state environmental authority (the Regional State Administrative Agency)
• A permit granted by the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) for processing or storing hazardous chemicals or explosives

Compliance with the obligation to insure is controlled by Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY centres). The ELY Centres or the Finnish Environmental Insurance Centre is the party to consult when you need to find out whether your company has the obligation to take out insurance.