Animal Welfare Act (693/2023). Country/Territory Finland Document type Legislation Date 2023 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Livestock, Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Basic legislation Animal welfare Animal health Pests/diseases Animal production Animal reproduction Data collection/reporting Slaughtering Registration Poultry Marking/identification Swine Inspection Equine-animals Cattle Sheep/goats Birds Enforcement/compliance Offences/penalties Governance Wild fauna Geographical area Arctic, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, North-East Atlantic, Northern Europe Entry into force notes This Act enters into force on 1 January 2024. Abstract The purpose of this Act is to promote animal welfare and to protect animals from harm to the best possible extent. It applies to all animals and is aimed at increasing their respect and promoting good animal treatment. The Act contains 126 articles organized in the following chapters: 1. General provisions; 2. General principles and responsibility for animals; 3. Treatment of animals; 4. Animal care; 5. Animal housing facilities; 6. Import and transfer of animals; 7. Animal competitions and animal exhibitions; 8. Keeping of animals subject to permit or notification requirements; 9. Killing of animals; 10. Authorities and their responsibilities; 11. Supervision; 12. Administrative coercive measures and sanctions; 13. Registry; 14. Punitive provisions; 15. Special provisions; 16. Entry into force and transitional provisions as well as exceptions that apply to certain animal species. Full text Finnish Website finlex.fi References - Legislation Implements Council Directive 2007/43/EC laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production. Legislation | European Union | 2007 Keyword: Animal welfare, Poultry, Hygiene/sanitary procedures, Animal feed/feedstuffs, Inspection Source: FAO, FAOLEX Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. Legislation | European Union | 2010 Keyword: Animal welfare, Authorization/permit, Endangered species, Protection of species Source: FAO, FAOLEX Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No. 1255/97. Legislation | European Union | 2004 Keyword: Animal welfare, Transport/storage, Authorization/permit Source: FAO, FAOLEX Council Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing. Legislation | European Union | 2009 (2018) Keyword: Basic legislation, Animal welfare, Slaughtering Source: FAO, FAOLEX Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. Legislation | European Union | 1998 (2017) Keyword: Farming, Agricultural development, Animal health, Animal welfare, Ranching/captive breeding, Inspection, Registration, Drugs Source: FAO, FAOLEX Council Directive 1999/22/EC relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos. Legislation | European Union | 1999 Keyword: Keeping of live animals, Biodiversity, Data collection/reporting, Wild fauna Source: FAO, FAOLEX Council Directive 1999/74/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Legislation | European Union | 1999 Keyword: Animal welfare, Poultry, Inspection Source: FAO, FAOLEX Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs. Legislation | European Union | 2008 Keyword: Animal welfare, Swine Source: FAO, FAOLEX Council Directive 2008/119/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves (Codified version). Legislation | European Union | 2008 Keyword: Animal production, Cattle, Animal welfare Source: FAO, FAOLEX Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products. Legislation | European Union | 2017 (2021) Keyword: Enforcement/compliance, Basic legislation, Food quality control/food safety, Packaging/labelling, Internal trade, International trade, Ecological production/organic production, Certification, Agricultural commodities, Residues, Drugs, Animal feed/feedstuffs, Animal welfare, Animal health, Plant protection, Pesticides Source: FAO, FAOLEX Repeals Animal Protection Act (No. 247 of 1996). Legislation | Finland | 1996 (2011) Keyword: Animal welfare, Animal health, Basic legislation Source: FAO, FAOLEX Government Decree on Animal Welfare (No. 396 of 1996). Legislation | Finland | 1996 (2010) Keyword: Animal welfare, Animal health, Animal production, Animal reproduction, Slaughtering, Transport/storage Source: FAO, FAOLEX