State regional administration to undergo reform in 2026 – Most of the Regional State Administrative Agencies’ tasks to be transferred to the Finnish Supervisory Agency
The activities of the Regional State Administrative Agencies will end at the end of this year. Most of the tasks of the Regional State Administrative Agencies will be transferred to the new Finnish Supervisory Agency, which will launch its operations on 1 January 2026. Tasks related to animal health and welfare and to food will be transferred to the Finnish Food Authority. Competition and consumer administration tasks will be transferred to the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.
In addition to the tasks transferred from the Regional State Administrative Agencies, all of Valvira’s tasks and most of the tasks of the ELY Centres related to the environment will be assigned to the Finnish Supervisory Agency. The reform is part of the regional government reform, for which legislation was adopted on xx.x.2025. The aim of the regional government reform is to harmonise and streamline permit and supervision practices at the national level. The State Department of Åland will continue to be responsible for the state administration of the Åland region.
Finnish Supervisory Agency present throughout the country
The new Finnish Supervisory Agency is a multisector government agency. The agency’s tasks are related to the health and social services sector, environmental matters, occupational safety and health, rescue services, preparedness, education, culture and early childhood education and care as well as business in certain sectors. The agency will have offices in 18 locations. Its headquarters will be located in Tampere. The new agency will employ approximately 2,000 people.
The Finnish Supervisory Agency has national competence. This will ensure uniform practices throughout Finland. The agency will operate in close interaction with central government authorities, municipalities, wellbeing services counties, business life and civic activities in the regions.
Tasks of the Finnish Supervisory Agency
Health and social services sector
Official tasks related to social welfare and health care, health protection, alcohol and tobacco administration, and the administration and appeal of adoption matters.
Early childhood education and care, education, and cultural sector
Tasks related to early childhood education and care, education and teaching, youth, library, and sports services, as well as tasks related to the Funeral Services Act.
Environmental sector
One-stop-shop environmental procedures (environmental impact assessment, permits and monitoring), land use-related tasks, nature and environmental protection tasks, water and marine resources management planning tasks.
Division of Occupational Safety and Health
Occupational safety and health administration tasks related to permits, supervision, and guidance as well as product supervision.
Rescue services and preparedness sector
Supervision and evaluation of rescue services, organisation of regional cooperation in preparedness, promotion of regional and local government security planning and support for the Ministry of the Interior.
Tasks related to other sectors
Registration and supervision of real estate agents and debt collection agencies, supervision of municipal employment services, steering, registration and supervision tasks under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, permit and legal protection tasks directed at certain organisations, processing of complaints concerning municipalities and wellbeing services counties.
Some tasks will be transferred to the Finnish Food Authority and the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority
The Regional State Administrative Agencies’ duties related to animal health and welfare and to food will be transferred to the Finnish Food Authority. The purpose of transferring these duties is to harmonise the supervision of animal health and welfare, and food control and to streamline the prevention of animal diseases. Regional expertise in this topic will remain, as most of the experts transferred to the Finnish Food Authority will keeping working in the current locality.
Competition and consumer administration-related duties will be transferred from Regional State Administrative Agencies to the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority. This transfer will concern a relatively small set of tasks and number of employees.