The Defense Command of Finland has issued a decree for the Finnish Defense Forces on the process of reviewing the legality of new weapons, means or methods of warfare in accordance with Article 36 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I to the 1949 Geneva Conventions.) The decree further describes Finland’s national procedures. The use and development of the internal control mechanism falls under the responsibility of the Legal Department of the Defense Command, which carries out a legal assessment under Article 36 for new weapons and weapon systems. The legal assessment is carried out in broad consultation with relevant stakeholders so that for example in addition to the legal consideration, the environmental, technical and health related views are also taken into account. The legal assessment is not legally binding. A legally binding national statement that a weapon or weapon system complies with international obligations binding Finland, is a decision to acquire a weapon or weapon system, unless otherwise stipulated by law or by the Ministry of Defense or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Finland, CCW National Annual Report on Compliance (31 March 2020) form C
