Permit for operating a zoo, a permanent or travelling animal exhibition or a circus

If you are planning to display animals in a zoo, a permanent or travelling animal exhibition or a circus, follow these instructions:

• Find out the animal welfare requirements for the keeping of different animal species. If necessary, contact your Regional State Administrative Agency.
• Fill in the online application (available in Finnish and Swedish) well in advance of the planned start of operations.

The following information is required in the application:

1. the species and number of animals involved in the operation
2. an account of the animal premises
3. an account of the qualifications of the keeper(s) of the animals
4. an account of how the care of animals is to be arranged
5. for circuses, a description of the acts in which the animals will participate and an account of the kinds of tricks the animals will perform
6. for a zoo, an account of the implementation of the duties laid down in section 51 of the Animal Welfare Act.

• In the online application, select the Regional State Administrative Agency according to location of the operation. In the case of a travelling animal show, select the Regional State Administrative Agency according to the residence of the owner of the exhibition.
• If you are applying for a permit for operating a foreign circus or similar performance or a travelling animal exhibition, choose the Regional State Administrative Agency according to the city where the circus, performance or travelling animal exhibition enters the country. The permit issued by the Regional State Administrative Agency must be presented to the veterinary border control when entering the country.
• Keep up-to-date records on the animals involved in the operation.
• We will inspect the operations before granting a permit and at regular intervals.

All zoos, permanent and travelling animal exhibitions and circuses must comply with the Animal Welfare Act and other regulations in force. The decree on animal welfare requirements for keeping animals kept in zoos and permanent animal exhibitions by the ministry of agriculture and forestry (2/EEO/2003) lays down detailed requirements for these operations.

Only animal species listed in appendix 1, section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act may be used in circuses or other similar performances where skills taught to animals are on display.

Furthermore, an up-to-date list must be kept of the species and animals involved in the operation.

A zoo must contribute to the protection of wild fauna and preservation of biodiversity. For this purpose, a zoo must provide information to the public on the species displayed and their natural living conditions. In addition, a zoo must participate in

• research promoting the protection of wild animal species
• education related to skills in protecting wild animal species
• exchange of information on the protection of wild animal species
• where appropriate, raising wild animal species in captivity, reintroducing animal populations or restoring wild animal species back into nature.