Appraisal and Disposal

Mandates on appraisal and disposal of records and other documentary information of the public administration are defined in the Archives Act (831/1994 Section 8). Determining the records and parts of other documentary information of the public administration that should be preserved permanently is a task of the National Archives Service. Records may not be disposed of before the National Archives Service has, through either a general decision on appraisal and disposal or a decision concerning one organization, been able to assess the value of their permanent preservation.

The records creators must specify the periods and methods of retention for other records accrued as a result of performing their tasks and maintain a records management plan for their records and other documentary information. The aim is to determine the archival value of the records and other documentary information even before when it is created. This is called appraisal in advance, with a records management plan as a main tool.

Mandates of the National Archives Service and of records creators of archives as stipulated in the Archives Act are limited by regulations on retention periods for records and other documentary information set out in some special acts.