Notification of operations involving the killing of animals

Familiarise yourself with national animal welfare legislation welfare legislation and the EU regulation on the protection of animals at the time of killing. They contain requirements related to the killing of animals.

If you intend to kill animals professionally or regularly kill large numbers of animals at an establishment, follow these instructions:

1. Write down operating instructions describing the killing and related operations. The supervisory authority may request to see this documentation.
2. Fill in the necessary information in the electronic form (available in Finnish and Swedish). Select the Regional State Administrative Agency in whose operating area you mainly engage in the activities involving the killing of animals.
3. If your operation involves killing fur animals, remember that you need to notify the Regional State Administrative Agency every year before the pelting season begins.
4. When killing fur animals, you also need a certificate of competence for the killing of fur animals. You can apply for a certificate of competence from the Regional State Administrative Agency of your place of residence, once you have passed the examination of competence for the certificate.
5. Remember to notify the Regional State Administrative Agency of any material changes in your operation or if you decide to discontinue your business operations. There is a separate electronic service for submitting a notification of the termination of operations (available in Finnish and Swedish).

When you kill animals or supervise the killing of animals, you must ensure that you do not cause any avoidable pain or suffering. Take into account the requirements of animal welfare regulations for killing animals. Write down operating instructions describing the killing and related operations and provide the supervisory authority with this documentation when requested.