Any tables, chairs, canopies or other structures may not be set up in parks without an advance permit, and any sales and events in parks and on streets that involve such structures requires a permit from the City.
“In recent years, there have been a lot of sales activities in the Esplanadi Park that have not complied with the common rules or the City’s guidelines. Vendors have continually set up tables and chairs in the park, and these items have been left lying around in the park when the vendors are not selling their items, disregarding continued notices. Because of this, we have decided to experiment with a prohibition on short-term sales. Sales from fixed sales points in the parks without the City’s permit is already prohibited,” says Elina Airaksinen, Head of the Land Monitoring Unit of the City of Helsinki.
The Senate Square and the Esplanadi Park are historically valuable areas that are important to both the city’s residents and tourists. Residents and companies have contacted the City about unauthorised sales in both areas.
Sales operations must be fair and equal for everyone
Mobile sales points have been a common feature in the Esplanadi Park in the summer for a long time, and they have become increasingly popular in recent years.
“We want to make the city’s parks and streets available to everyone and to provide equal business opportunities. It is only positive that the eventfulness and sales activities in the city centre are on the rise, but it is also important that the hygiene of the food items is in order and that the Food Act and common rules are complied with,” says Unit Manager Suvi Tuiskunen from the City of Helsinki.
The City would like to remind everyone that all operations in the park must be fair and equal for all parties, which is why unauthorised sales will be addressed more regularly in the future. Unauthorised sales activities are not fair to the authorised entrepreneurs active in the park who pay a rent for their kiosks. Sales activities have been previously prohibited in the protected work heritage site of Suomenlinna.
Poor hygiene may lead to food poisoning
In the worst-case scenario, poor hygiene or variations in the temperatures of food items may cause food poisoning. Adequate protection of the sales point, proper food item storage and serving temperatures and the possibility to wash hands are key aspects of selling food safely outdoors. Regular outdoor sales of food always require a notification concerning the start of operations as per the Food Act.
Monitoring is carried out in cooperation with various authorities
In order to improve the level of monitoring, the City is increasing the number of staff present in the area who can provide guidance on how to comply with the City’s rules and agreements. The quality of food in outdoor sales is also controlled more tightly, and any serious deficiencies detected have been addressed with coercive measures.
The policy on limiting sales was made by the Land Use and Monitoring Unit that controls the public areas of the City of Helsinki. The policy was made after long discussions and joint control measures carried out in cooperation with other control authorities.