A notification must be submitted on the care of wild animals. This will enable the authorities to better monitor the quality of care and ensure that the care of animals is in good hands.
What do I do if I have a wildlife hospital?
If you have a wildlife hospital, you must submit a notification of the facility. You can submit the notification
- directly to the register of animal keepers
- with the online form
- with a free-form written notification.
The prices for chargeable services transferred from the Regional State Administrative Agencies to the Finnish Food Authority are listed in Annex, section 17, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Decree 1093/2025 (in Finnish).
You can find the necessary links at the bottom of this page.
If you will start your operations, submit the notification no later than 30 days before your operations begin.
What information should I include in the notification?
Include in your notification:
- your name
- the name and contact information of the hospital
- a statement on the competence of the keeper(s) of the animals;
- an account of your activities and their scope:
- the species and numbers of animals concerned;
- an account of the conditions in which the animals are housed;
- a statement of how the care of the animals is to be arranged.
If your wildlife hospital activities change or end, submit a written notification also in that case.
How should I submit the notification if not directly to the register?
Send the notification to the Finnish Food Authority.
Please note
Animals may not be kept permanently in a wildlife hospital.
A wild animal taken to a wildlife hospital must be released back into the wild when the animal is fit enough.
Services
Register of Animal Keepers and Establishments
E-service formsLink to an external website
Notification of operations subject to notification under the Animal Welfare Act
Termination of operations subject to notification under the Animal Welfare Act
Follow-up to notifications submitted using e-services forms:
Responding to a request for additional information or responding to other contact from the Finnish Food Authority (It is not possible to use this form to initiate new official matters.)
Links to legal texts
Animal Welfare Act (693/2023), section 29
More information