Animal keeping
Who needs to register?
An animal keeper who has in their possession at least one of the animals listed below is required to register as an animal keeper for that animal species.
This obligation applies to all animal keepers, including those who do not have a farm, or who keep animals only for a short period (summer grazing, events).
The animals to be registered are:
- cattle
- pigs (including mini pigs)
- sheep and goats
- bees and bumblebees
- alpacas and llamas
- horses
- poultry
What must be reported to the register?
For each animal species, you must report:
- start of keeping
- interruption of keeping
- resumption of keeping
- end of keeping
For each animal holding (a building or land area), you must report:
- establishment of the holding
- maximum capacity
- additions and removals of the animal species
- closure of the holding
As of 21 April 2021, the EU Animal Health Law requires the registration of premises keeping germinal products (semen, ova, and embryos), even if they do not require separate approval. These premises must be registered in the Register of Animal Keepers and Holdings.
How to register?
Notifications can be submitted using the Animal Keeper and Holding Register online service at http://epr.ruokavirasto.fi (in Finnish and Swedish).
You may also submit the notification using a paper form to the municipality’s rural business authority.
Return the forms either by email to maataloustoimisto@janakkala.fi or by post to:
Maaseutupalveluyksikkö Häme, Harvialantie 7, 14200 Turenki, Finland
Information about animal keeping, registration, and the necessary forms can be found on the Finnish Food Authority’s website or through local rural services.
Ending animal keeping
When you permanently or temporarily stop keeping animals, make sure to update your animal registry information. The animal registers include the Animal Keeper and Holding Register as well as the cattle, sheep, goat, and pig registers.
- Submit the necessary notifications to the relevant animal registers
- Retain the recordkeeping related to the holding
- Invalidate and dispose of any unused animal identification tags
More information about ending animal keeping can be found on the Finnish Food Authority’s website (in Finnish).