Agriculture & Farming

If you produce, rear or grow primary products, you must submit a written notification of your primary production premises to the municipal food control authority. Primary production covers milk and egg production, livestock rearing, fishing and fish farming, vegetable and fruit cultivation, grain growing, and honey production. Harvesting, milking and animal production stages before slaughter are also included.The notification must include your business ID, the address and name of the premises, and a description of your operations. You must also prepare a written self-monitoring plan. No notification is required for hunting or wild berry and mushroom picking. If your operations change significantly or you cease production, you must notify the authority.

Issued by: Municipal Food Control Authority

If you keep certain terrestrial animal species, you must register the holding and the animal keeping in the Animal Keeper and Holding Register (eläintenpitäjärekisteri) before starting operations. The notification requirement covers cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry, bees, bumblebees, fur animals, production rabbits, horses, camels, deer (except reindeer of herding cooperatives), and captive wild mammals.Notifications are submitted through the Finnish Food Authority's electronic service using Suomi.fi authentication. You must report the location, the animal species kept, and the purpose of keeping. Any changes to your operations must be reported within 30 days, including suspension or cessation of animal keeping. The register also covers germinal product establishments.

Issued by: Municipal rural business authority / Finnish Food Authority

If you operate a facility that stores derived animal by-products, runs an intermediary plant, or incinerates animal by-products under the EU Animal By-Products Regulation, you must obtain approval from the municipal veterinarian before starting operations. This applies to facilities handling category 1, 2 or 3 animal by-products that require processing, incineration or controlled disposal.The municipal veterinarian grants approval after verifying that your facility meets the requirements of the Animal By-Products Regulation and conducting an on-site inspection. Approval can be suspended temporarily or revoked permanently if the facility no longer meets the requirements. You must notify the municipal veterinarian of any significant changes to your operations or if you cease activity.

Issued by: Municipal Veterinarian

Certain animal by-product facilities must apply for registration from the municipal veterinarian before starting operations. Registration is required for collection centres, on-farm feed mills, plants producing technical products from animal by-products, and technical storage facilities. These are lower-risk operations that do not need full approval but must still comply with the EU Animal By-Products Regulation.Registration is granted when the facility meets the requirements of the regulation. The Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto) maintains the register. You must notify the municipal veterinarian of any changes to your operations or when you cease activity. If a significant operational change occurs, you must apply for approval of the change before the new operations begin. Registration can be revoked if the facility no longer meets the conditions.

Issued by: Municipal Veterinarian

Export certificates for foodstuffs and other products of animal and plant origin are used to ensure that the product fulfils the requirements set for the export outside the EU. The requirements for export certificates vary depending on the product and the country of destination. For instance, a veterinary certificate (eläinlääkintötodistus) or a free sale certificate is required for exports of animal-based products, an export certificate for organic products is required for exports of organic products, and a free sale certificate or a phytosanitary certificate (kasvinterveystodistus) is required for exports of plant-based feed.Depending on the product, the export certificate is issued by the local control authority or the Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto). The company is responsible for ensuring that their product meets the requirements of the country of destination. An export certificate may cover one export consignment only or be valid for one year, depending on the certificate type.

Issued by: Finnish Food Authority / local control authority