The Finnish Food Authority has revised the restrictions in the African swine fever infected zone

On 1 September 2026, the Finnish Food Authority revised the decision on the infected zone established due to African swine fever. The new decision harmonises the restrictions in the old and new parts of the zone. Some restrictions will also be eased in the entire infected zone. The easing of the restrictions was considered appropriate, as the area of the infected zone expanded significantly. The decision was last amended on Friday 28 August 2026, when the area of the zone was expanded due to the infection detected in a dead wild boar found in Pyhtää.

Revised restrictions in the infected zone (not applicable to the core area)

Forestry operations and soil preparation are allowed, except for prescribed burning
Outdoor public and sports events are allowed if they involve a maximum of 100 people
Outdoor canine events (e.g. dog competitions) are allowed if they involve a maximum of 100 people and the dogs are kept on a leash
Small predator trapping as well as hunting of cormorants and seals are allowed
Feeding porcine animals with grain or other plants collected from the area is prohibited, unless they have been processed in a feed establishment by a method that destroys the ASF virus or stored out of reach of porcine animals for at least 30 days at a temperature above zero before use.
Motor vehicle use off-road and keeping dogs on a leash in the terrain are no longer prohibited, except for canine events.

Restrictions remaining unchanged in the infected zone

Restrictions on pigs and wild boar, as well as meat, meat products, by-products and germinal products thereof.
Hunting ban, except for the exceptions mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Restrictions on feeding wild animals.
The use of straw collected from the zone area for porcine animals (e.g. as bedding or enrichment) is prohibited, unless it has been stored out of reach of porcine animals for at least 90 days at temperatures above zero before use.
The transfer of machinery used in agriculture and forestry from the infected zone is only permitted if the machinery has been washed and disinfected.

The core area in Virolahti will remain

The core area of the infected zone in Virolahti and the stricter restrictions imposed on it will remain unchanged. A second core area may be established in the western part of the infected zone, once more information becomes available about the presence of the infection there.

An exemption from the restrictions in the infected zone can be applied for from the Finnish Food Authority. The restrictions do not apply to official activities and emergency care.

Additional restricted zone under preparation

The Finnish Food Authority will also establish an additional restricted zone, later this week. The zone will extend around the boundaries of the infected zone and is approximately 5 to 10 km wide. The only restrictions in the zone will be on meat of wild boar living in the wild. Hunters must send samples of all wild boar hunted in the zone for examination.

Wild boar fees

A fee is paid to persons who send in samples of hunted wild boar for African swine fever tests. The Finnish Food Authority will pay an increased fee for sending samples from 1 September 2026 until the end of 2026. The person sending the samples will be paid a fee of EUR 500 for the samples sent from one wild boar. The Finnish Food Authority will pay a notification fee of EUR 500 for reporting wild boar found dead, sick or involved in traffic accidents.

More information:

New decision on the infected zone 1 September 2026 (pdf) (in Finnish)
Appendix 1 Map of the infected zone (pdf) (in Finnish)