A Chinese company named Hengan International said that they will send the next round of protective masks to Finland. The equipment is expected to arrive in Helsinki next week.
A press release issued by Punda Global, a consulting company representing Hengan International in Finland, said that deals were made with Security of Supply Center (Huoltovarmuuskeskus, in Finnish) on hospital face shields that meet the Chinese standard. However, the masks do not have the CE marking.
The CE marking is a certification that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA).
Security of Supply Center made the deal
According to Yle, Riika Hackelius-Fonsén, CEO of Punda Global, admits that the masks do not have the CE marking.
However, they will be delivered "based on the fact that at the end of March the EU issued a recommendation for the crisis situation, where products other than the CE marking can be placed on the market, in order to accelerate the possible use of protective goods entering Europe," said Hackselius-Fonsén.
Punda Global also said Security of Supply Center would have accepted the previously sent sample and placed its order based on it.
Hackselius-Fonsén does not want to disclose the transaction amount but mentioned that the protection lot and the transaction amount is large. However, not several million euros.
Trash-masks scandal
Yle say they did not receive confirmation from the Security of Supply Center.
Finland already once ordered a shipment of 2 million surgical protective masks from China by plane. But when the aircraft was received in Helsinki, it was found that they did not meet the quality requirements and could not be used in hospitals.
The case provoked a scandal that ended up with the resignation of the CEO of the Security of Supply Centre.
