Finland tightens medical exports to Russia over military use concerns

Finland will restrict exports of medical and pharmaceutical goods to Russia amid suspicions that such products are being diverted for military purposes, Yle reports.

From July onwards, the Finnish Foreign Ministry will no longer grant exemption permits for shipments including dental equipment, though not all medical exports will be halted. Hospital beds, for example, remain outside EU sanctions and can still be exported without special approval.

The decision follows assessments that medical and pharmaceutical products may be ending up in military use in Russia, according to Elina Rimppi, head of the Foreign Ministry’s sanctions unit. “Finland supports strict sanctions against Russia and their effective implementation,” Rimppi told Yle, though she declined to specify the exact intelligence behind the move.

Exemptions still possible for non-medical goods
While medical exports face tighter controls, exemption permits may still be granted for non-medical humanitarian shipments if they comply with EU sanctions regulations. Some medical and pharmaceutical products also remain entirely outside EU restrictions and require no special permits.

Yle investigated companies that have applied for exemption permits in 2025, identifying three firms seeking approval for medical or pharmaceutical exports. One, PaloDEx Group in Tuusula, received a permit last year for its Dexis dental equipment, produced at a plant employing around 200 people. The company, part of the US-based Envista Corporation, stated it was “aware of changes in export controls” but declined to comment on allegations of military diversion, saying it would “take appropriate measures if necessary.”

Another applicant, Cytomed in Lappeenranta, had all four of its 2025 permit requests rejected before ceasing operations earlier this year, citing geopolitical tensions and the closure of the Finnish-Russian border. A third firm, Espoo-based Pribori Holding, also applied for exemptions.