Act on Communicable diseases. Country/Territory Finland Document type Legislation Date 2016 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Livestock, Environment gen., Food & nutrition Keyword Biosecurity Public health Monitoring Food quality control/food safety Hygiene/sanitary procedures Animal health Pests/diseases Geographical area Arctic, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, North-East Atlantic, Northern Europe Abstract This Act reforms the Finnish system for the prevention and control of infectious diseases. It, among other things, will increase the expertise and decision-making power of infectious disease specialists both in the municipalities and in the Regional State Administrative Agencies. Municipalities will remain responsible for actions against infectious diseases in their area. In order to control infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance, the act clarifies the obligations and division of responsibilities among healthcare and social service units. This target will be reached by creating new practices in collaboration with national and regional experts in the field of infectious diseases. Under the new Infectious Diseases Act, all levels of administration will have the obligation to prepare for exceptional outbreaks, such as a pandemic. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will have the main responsibility in such situations, as is currently the case. In exceptional outbreak situations the municipalities’ obligation to organise vaccinations can be supplemented by extending the right to administer vaccinations even to other healthcare and social service units and occupational healthcare. Provisions on extended vaccinations rights will be given by Government regulation. Full text English/Swedish Website www.finlex.fi References - Legislation Implemented by Government Regulation on Communicable diseases (146/2017). Legislation | Finland | 2017 Keyword: Biosecurity, Public health, Monitoring, Animal health, Pests/diseases, Data collection/reporting Source: FAO, FAOLEX