Notification for Keeping Animals

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.

Requirements

  • Location notification first: Before notification of keeping animals, notification of the location of animal keeping must be made
  • Registration: Can be made if animal keeper has completed all required information and there are no obstacles to animal keeping
  • Animal register: If you keep bovines, pigs, sheep or goats, their numbers must be maintained in the animal register
  • Change notification: Animal keeper must notify municipal rural business authority of interruption or cessation of animal keeping
  • EEA operators: Operators established in another EEA state providing services temporarily in Finland require the same notifications

Procedure

  • Notification: Made via the register of animal keepers electronic service or on a form to the municipal/joint municipal rural business authority
  • Registration: Authority registers the animal keeping in the register of animal keepers