Please see page "topical"
Animals and animal products imported from outside the EU require veterinary border inspection. The importer is responsible for ensuring that the import conditions are met. Each product and animal species has its own requirements, which can be found in their respective section on our website.
It is the duty of the importer to bring the batch through a border crossing point with a veterinary border inspection post and arrange for the batch to be inspected. Veterinary border inspection is subject to a fee.
The border veterinarian from the Finnish Food Authority conducts veterinary border inspection for imported animals and animal products. The border veterinarian verifies that the batch meets the required conditions for import into the EU and either approves or rejects the batch. A batch approved by the border veterinarian is allowed to enter the EU market. A rejected batch is either returned to the country of origin, euthanized (for animals), or destroyed under the supervision of Customs (for products).
Import of live animals
You can find information about the border inspection of animals and their germinal products on this page.
Import of animal products
If a batch is transloaded to a different mode of transport at the arrival border inspection post in the EU, for example from an airplane to a truck, the border inspection must be carried out at the border inspection post where the transloading takes place. In the same mode of transport (e.g., airplane to airplane), the batch can continue to the next border inspection post after transloading if the batch does not deviate from the transloading area. Transloading must be performed within the following time limits:
- Airports: 3 days
- Ports: 30 days
If the time limits are exceeded, the batch must undergo a veterinary border inspection at the place where it is located. Please contact the relevant border inspection post in such cases. Batches requiring a veterinary border inspection that have not been properly presented for inspection will be rejected.
Please also check the page "Topical".
Veterinary border inspection posts
You can find the contact information for Finnish veterinary border inspection posts and their inspection categories (pdf) on this page.
To see the contact information and opening hours of Finnish border inspection posts, click on the boxes below and use the arrows on the right.
Veterinary border inspection post at the Port of Helsinki (Vuosaari)
- Only packed foodstuffs and other animal products
Contact information
Seilorinkatu 13, 00980 Helsinki. The building's identification is V28, and it is located next to the Customs building.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 - 15:45. The batch must arrive for inspection by 15:00.
Phone: +358 40 146 7551
Email: rajatarkastus@ruokavirasto.fi
Veterinary border inspection post at Helsinki-Vantaa airport
- Packed foodstuffs and other animal products, as well as small animals
Contact information
Address: Turbiinitie 4, Vantaa (in Finnair Cargo COOL Terminal)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 - 15:45 (appointment required for inspections). The batch can be inspected if it is unloaded from the aircraft before 15:00. Veterinary inspections are not available on weekends.
Phone: +358 40 146 7551
Email: lentoasema@ruokavirasto.fi
Veterinary border inspection post at Vaalimaa border crossing point
- Packed foodstuffs and other animal products, as well as animals
Contact information
Address: Vaalimaantie 2990, 49930 Vaalimaa
Opening hours: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 09:00 - 14:45 (appointment required for inspections)
Phone: +358 40 489 3362
Email: vaalimaa@ruokavirasto.fi
Batches subject to border inspection
The importer must bring the batch through a veterinary border inspection post. Before importation:
- Verify the import conditions for the batch. Links on the left.
- Check for safeguard measures.
- Submit a pre-notification to the veterinary border inspection post using the TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) system.
- Submit the pre-notification no later than the previous workday.
- Arrange an inspection appointment via email with the border veterinarian for Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and Vaalimaa separately. The border veterinarian is not present at all times.
- Also, remember customs clearance.
- For business customers
- For private persons
The border veterinarian will inspect the following:
- Document check and identity check.
- The border veterinarian verifies the batch and the coherence of the documents.
- The border veterinarian inspects the condition of the animals.
- The border veterinarian performs sensory examination of foodstuffs and products if the origin and quality of the batch require it.
- The border veterinarian may take samples for laboratory testing for official control or other reasons.
- The border veterinarian makes a decision in the TRACES system.
- The original health certificate is archived at the border inspection post, and the batch is issued a CHED-A (Animals) or CHED-P (Products) (Common Health Entry Document) certificate, which serves as proof of acceptance into the EU. The border veterinarian indicates the price on the CHED certificate. However, the invoice is sent separately to the address provided by the importer.
- Present the CHED certificate to Customs and make the payments.
- Customs releases the batch.
- The border inspection fee is charged afterward, according to the price list (in Finnish).
- If the batch does not meet the requirements for acceptance into the EU, the official veterinarian will reject it.
Customs does not release rejected batches.
The importer must either:
- Return the batch
- Dispose of/destroy the batch
at their own expense under the supervision of Customs.