New Finnish food regulator in the offing

A new authority named “Finnish Food Authority” comprising the Finnish Food Safety Authority, the Finnish Agency for Rural Affairs and a part of the National Land Survey of Finland’s Centre for ICT Services will come into operation from next year.

The Finnish Food Authority will promote, supervise and examine food safety and quality, animal health and welfare, plant health, and fertilisers, animal feed, plant protection products, soil conditioners, plant propagation material, and raw materials used in agricultural and forestry production, said an official press release.

The authority will be responsible for the use of the assets of the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development in Finland, act as the Finnish paying agency, and manage EU and national subsidies.