Keeping animals

Registration of animal husbandry and animal holdings

An animal keeper who has at least one bovine, porcine, ovine or caprine animal or poultry under their control is required to register as an animal keeper of the relevant animal species on the Finnish Food Authority's website. Keepers of fur animals, camels, deer, bees and bumblebees must also register. 

The registration obligation applies to keepers of both production animals and companion and hobby animals.

If the eggs are intended to be sold outside the household, the chicken keeper must ensure that salmonella samples are taken in accordance with the salmonella control of poultry.
Instructions and further information can be found on the Finnish Food Authority's website.

If the keeping of registered animals has ceased, a notification of the cessation of operations will be made to the animal register and the animal species will be removed from the holding.

Animal keeper and holding register service

Using the Finnish Food Authority's electronic service, operators can make notifications about animal holdings, animal keeping and waste disposal sites themselves. Operators can also make notifications about activities subject to notification under the Animal Welfare Act. The necessary additional information is added either in the Additional information section or as an attachment to the notification.

Animal marking and registration

Instructions for marking and registering cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and equines can be found on the Finnish Food Authority's website. If necessary, further information can also be obtained from the Rural Affairs Secretary.