Contact Request and Personal Data Processing

Updated 24.8.2026

Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to be informed about how your personal data is processed by Mela (the Farmers' Social Insurance Institution) when you request to be contacted by us.

Why We Process Your Personal Data and the Legal Basis for Processing

We need your personal data in order to process and respond to your contact request. Mela cannot contact you without processing your personal data. In addition to the contact details you provide, we process information about the network connection you use (such as your IP address) and other technical data related to data transmission when you submit a contact request.

Mela processes your personal data on the basis of its legitimate interests.

Mela’s Right to Obtain and Disclose Your Personal Data

In connection with your contact request, Mela does not obtain information about you from other sources and will not disclose your personal data to third parties without your consent.

Your personal data may also be processed by companies acting on behalf of Mela, such as IT service providers. For technical reasons relating to data processing, personal data may be transferred outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) within the limits permitted by law. Personal data may be transferred provided that:

the European Commission has determined that the country or organisation concerned ensures an adequate level of data protection;

the parties processing the data have entered into an agreement with Mela incorporating the European Commission’s approved Standard Contractual Clauses, ensuring the lawful processing of personal data;(https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FI/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021D0914), or

another transfer mechanism permitted under data protection legislation applies.

Your Right to Access Your Personal Data

You have the right to find out what personal data Mela holds about you. You can obtain a copy of your personal data.

You have the right to request the rectification of inaccurate or incorrect personal data. You also have the right to have incomplete personal data completed where this is relevant to the purpose of the processing.

Other Data Protection Rights

Where the processing of your personal data is based on Mela’s legitimate interests, you have the right to request that your personal data be erased. You also have the right to object to the processing of your personal data if you have reasons relating to your particular situation. In such cases, you may request that your personal data is no longer processed.

You may also ask Mela to restrict the processing of your personal data if you believe it is inaccurate or is being processed unlawfully. In such cases, Mela may process your personal data only with your consent or for the specific purposes set out in the General Data Protection Regulation.

Personal data requests and the right to lodge a complaint

If you wish to request a copy of your personal data, request the erasure of your data, or restrict or object to the processing of your personal data, you can submit your request by secure email to tietosuoja(at)mela.fi. Requests concerning personal data and the responses provided are generally free of charge. If Mela does not take action on your request concerning your personal data, you will be notified of this within one month of submitting your request.

If your request cannot be fulfilled, Mela will explain the reasons why. If you are not satisfied with Mela’s decision concerning your personal data, or if you consider that Mela has not complied with the EU General Data Protection Regulation in the processing of your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Ombudsman.

Retention of your personal data

We generally retain personal data processed in connection with a contact request for one year from the date the request is submitted.

Data controller

Mela is the data controller for the personal data processed in connection with contact requests.

Contact details of Mela’s Data Protection Officer

You can send a secure email to the Data Protection Officer through the secure email service available at mela.fi/tietosuoja>Tietosuojavastaavan yhteystiedot. Select “Data Protection” as the recipient.

You can call Mela’s switchboard on 029 435 11 or send a letter to Mela’s postal address. Please address the envelope to: Data Protection Officer / Mela.