Exporters who need phytosanitary certificates
If you need a phytosanitary certificate for exporting your product, register with the plant health register maintained by the Food Authority (in Finnish). The registration requirement applies to regular and continual operations. You will get a phytosanitary certificate for the occasional export batch even without registration.
Exporters of animals and products of animal origin
Only exporters in the export register of the Food Authority can export live animals and products derived from live animals from Finland to countries outside the EU for commercial purposes.
If you are an operator with a business ID and your company exports animals or products of animal origin, register in the export register in the eCert system. You can also view and edit your registered information in the system.
Register for the export register in the eCert system (in Finnish)
Log in to the eCert system using Suomi.fi e-Identification. You can use the system if you are a person in charge at a company and have the right to sign or a person authorised by them.
If you are a private person and export such things as pets for commercial purposes, register with the export register as a private customer using an electronic form. You can also use the same form to report changes to your original registration.
Register for the export register as a private customer (in Finnish)
Registration in the export register is invoiced according to the Finnish Food Authority's price list (in Finnish). The registration is valid for three years from the date of registration or the last date on which the registration data is edited. Please note that an exporter is not granted an export licence or approval for its destination countries by registering in the export register. The destination country’s authority will decide on whether to approve export.
When registered in the export register the Food Authority gives targeted information on for example current projects related to market access, the limitations on exports set by different countries of destination and the effects of any cases of animal diseases on the exports.
You need to register if you export the following to countries outside the EU for commercial purposes:
- Live animals and germinal products
- Food of animal origin
- By-products of animal origin, products derived from these or compound feed containing these.
Registration is not required when
- pets are transported outside the EU for a purpose that is not commercial
- a private individual travels with or sends to another private individual a small quantity of products of animal origin for a purpose that is not commercial (e.g. a gift or a packed lunch)
- small quantities of products of animal origin are transported or sent as samples
- the animals are leaving Finland after a temporary stay in the country (circus animals, sled dogs, animals brought to animal shows and competitions)
- live animals or products of animal origin are transported from another country via Finland to a country outside the EU.
Animal health certificates are only granted to registered exporters
Before the animal health certificates are issued, the official veterinarian has to ensure that the exporter is recorded in the export register. Print out or save the receipt showing that you are recorded in the export register and show it to the official veterinarian if necessary. The Food Authority does not issue a separate decision on the recording in the export register.
Make sure that the information in the export register is up-to-date. The official veterinarian cannot issue an animal health certificate for products or countries of destination that you have not recorded in the export register.
Remember to renew the registration every three years.
The registration is valid for three years from the date of registration or the last date on which the registration data is edited. After that you have to re-register. You also need to report any changed information.
If you wish, you can remove your registration in the eCert system or ask for the registration to be removed before the three-year period has ended. Send the request and a copy of the receipt of the registration to be removed by e-mail to vienti@ruokavirasto.fi .
Find out the following before you register:
1. Do you operate as an exporter?
Are your exports of animals or products of animal origin such that you make a notification of your exports to Customs? If so, your business has to be found in the export register. Always register in the name of the export business. Do that also if a freight forwarder or another agent you have authorised does for example the export notifications on your behalf. If you wish, you can nominate the authorised agent as your contact person.
Private persons exporting for example pets for commercial purposes must also register in the export register.
2. Animals or products of animal origin to be exported
You can only make one notification to the register per animal group or product group at any one time. If your business exports several products of animal origin to countries outside the EU, a separate notification has to be made to the register for each product group. You will find a detailed list on animals and products of animal origin requiring registration in the Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (331/2021, annex).