Finnish authorities did not react to fur farmers’ unwillingness to protect their animals from getting bird flu – SEY Animal Welfare Finland filed a complaint with the European Commission

SEY, Animal Welfare Finland, investigated the actions taken by fur farmers who received compensation for culled fur animals during and after the most severe avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak. Documents of the Finnish Food Authority showed that wild birds had free access to fur animals, their enclosures or feed on at least 26 fur farms that received full compensation.

According to the interpretation of SEY, Animal Welfare Finland, these fur farms acted in violation of The EU Animal Health Law Article 10. According to the Article, operators shall minimise the risk of the spread of diseases as regards kept animals and products under their responsibility and take biosecurity measures regarding wild animals.

The EU animal health law is implemented at the national level by, for example, The Criminal Code and the Animal Diseases Act. SEY, Animal Welfare Finland, estimates that there was reason to suspect at least 26 fur farmers for causing a risk of spreading an animal disease as defined in the Criminal Code.

– As I see it, there were grounds for denying compensation as specified in the national Animal Diseases Act 88 §, says Toni Lahtinen, Senior Specialist at SEY, Animal Welfare Finland.

SEY, Animal Welfare Finland, also found out that the police and the prosecutor had not in any way assessed the fur farmers’ actions in the light of The EU Animal Health Law Article 10. In addition, the Finnish Food Authority had not taken into account violations against the article when making decisions on compensations. 

According to SEY, Animal Welfare Finland, authorities violated The EU Animal Health Law Article 268 which states that the Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of the animal health Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that those rules are implemented.

– I find it problematic that the authorities disregarded the provisions of this EU regulation that is directly binding on Member States, when assessing the measures taken by fur farmers, Toni Lahtinen states.

SEY, Animal Welfare Finland filed a complaint on the matter with the European Commission on the 28^th of March, 2026.

The bird flu epidemic has killed millions of birds  

The most widespread avian influenza outbreak ever recorded has been raging in Europe since the autumn of 2020. Millions of birds have died, and it has been necessary to cull a large number of poultry. Avian influenza was first detected in fur animals in 2022, when an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus occurred at a Spanish mink farm.

The risk of avian influenza at fur farms had already been identified in a report by the Finnish Food Authority in early 2023. In July 2023, infections of the highly pathogenic avian influenza were detected for the first time in animals at Finnish fur farms. According to the Finnish Food Authority, wild birds were the most significant source of avian influenza infection for fur animals.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland reacted then by classifying avian influenza in fur animals in the category of Other animal diseases to be combated. This measure showed the seriousness of the situation and gave the authorities additional possibilities to curb the spread of the epidemic.

The Finnish Wildlife Agency described the situation in the last week of July 2023 in bleak terms: According to The Finnish Wildlife Agency, the transmission risk of the highly pathogenic avian influenza was extremely high and the situation with the disease was exceptional and posed an actual and significant risk to the health and welfare of fur animals. Cases of avian influenza had already been detected at 20 Finnish fur farms.

In August of the same year, for example, The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) noted that conditions at fur farms lacking effective bird protection enabled viruses to spread from wild birds to farmed animals. Serious concerns were also raised regarding the danger posed to people.

As a result of the infections, the Finnish Food Authority ordered the culling of animals at 71 fur farms. The Finnish Food Agency fully compensated the owners for the value of the animals. The total amount of compensation rose to approximately 40 million euros.

In Finland, both The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and The Finnish Food Agency have in 2024 continued to express their concern about the pandemic risk posed by fur farms.

Interviews

Toni Lahtinen
Senior specialist
+358 45 7885 0342
toni.lahtinen@sey.fi