Safe Finnish Food

Safe Finnish Food
Finnish Food Safety Authority
Senior Officer Sanna Kiuru

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Suomi – Finland,
where on earth is that?

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Photos: Visit Finland; Gary Wornell; Sakari Piippo – Finnish Promotion Board Picture: moomin.com

Organisation of food safety
in Finland
 Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
 Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira
 Regional State Administrative Agencies (RSAA)
 Local Municipal Authorities (MFCA)

EVIRA’S MISSION:
1. High levels of food safety, animal health and plant health are maintained.
2. Animal welfare is improved.
3. The conditions for high-quality food production are secured and the
productivity of agriculture and the food industry is growing.
4. The farming, forestry and food industries adapt sustainably to climate change.
5. The food supply chain responsibility for its operations is verifiable.
6. Welfare is promoted by safe nutrition.
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Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira
Evira promotes safety, quality and reliability within the food supply chain, all the
way from nature to the plate.

What makes Finnish food safe?
 Arctic position: cold winters and light summers
→ Only few dangerous diseases of plants and animals
 Low use of pesticides and herbicides
 Responsible veterinary use of antibiotics
 Abundant sources of clean fresh water
 Low levels of heavy metals in soil
 Clean, fresh air
 Open communication between farmers, authorities and the
food industry
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Finnish systems for safe food
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 The Oiva system – public information to consumers
 The broader the smile, the better the food safety
– Four alternative smileys
– Published on the internet and at company
entrances
 Hygiene passport
– More than 1,1 million passports issued
– 20% of the total population of Finland
EXCELLENT
GOOD
ROOM FOR
IMPROVEMENT
POOR

Control programs - safe food
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 Stringent animal disease control and surveillance programs
− For more than 50 diseases
 Salmonella
‐ Salmonella occurrence in cattle, pigs, poultry, food and
feed < 1 %
 Campylobacter
‐ Low occurrence in poultry meat
 Residues and contaminants
‐ Extremely low levels (including heavy metals)

Finland has an excellent animal
health status
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*
Disease Last recorded
Aujeszky’s disease Never
Bluetongue Never
Foot and mouth disease 1959
Fowl typhoid Never
Classical swine fever 1917
African swine fever Never
PRRS Never
Pullorum disease 1961

Welfare of animals is strictly regulated
 Animal welfare is not only an ethical issue
‐ Happy animals produce better quality food, when
animals experience less stress and pain
 Excellent management practices, e.g.
‐ Dedicated producers
‐ Piglets’ tails are not cut, sufficient space and activities
are provided
‐ Beaks are not trimmed from chicks
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ONE HEALTH
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Image: Med-Vet-Net Association on zoonoses research

Finland’s food production chain
promotes One Health
 Responsible veterinary use of antibiotics since 1970`s
 Antibiotics prescription only
– Mostly only single animals treated
– Very low level of group treatment
 Use for growth promotion is prohibited
→ Very low level of antimicrobial resistance
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Organic production and
certification in Finland
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 The system for controlling organic production has
been defined in EU legislation
 The processing, importing and marketing of organic
products are controlled through the Finnish Food
Safety Authority Evira
 Evira operates the inspection system for organic
farming through 15 regional Centres for Economic
Development, Transport and the Environment, who
certify production on organic farms
 Evira coordinates, audits and provides regular
training for inspectors
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Certification and control of organic
production

 All organic farms and other operators must undergo a mandatory
inspection, at least once a year.
 All organic farms and companies involved in organic production
have an organic production plan, to help them fulfil the
requirements set for organic farming and production.
 There were 5000 operators in organic primary production and
over 700 operators organic food production in 2017
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All operators that produce, store,
import, export or market organic
products are subject to organic control

 The EU organic logo is used in Finland on all certified organically
produced foodstuffs
 The EU organic logo can only be used by operators who have
submitted their activities to the organic control system and who
follow the rules and regulations regarding organic production.
 In addition to the EU organic logo, the Finnish “Luomu” logo may
be used in Finland.
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Organic labelling

 A total of 4,587 organic farms in Finland
 The average size of an organic farm is 56.6 hectares.
 The number of organic livestock farms was 974. Most of
them produce beef or milk.
 There were 13 organic pig farms and 3 organic poultry farms.
Organic eggs were produced in 51 farms.
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Organic farms in Finland (2017)

Oats - the most important organic cereal
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Organic milk and egg production
increased by 10% in 2017

Source_ FIBL & IFOAM: The World of Organic Agriculture 2017
Wild harvested products
 The world’s largest certified organic wild collection areas for
wild berries are in Northern and Eastern Finland.
 The most important berries are wild bilberry (Vaccinium
myrtillus) and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea).
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THANK YOU!
Come and visit us at the Food from
Finland pavilion (E30)!
www.evira.fi/en
Twitter: @Evira_Export

Safe Finnish Food

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