Disinfection of livestock transport vehicles
Many contagious animal diseases can easily spread from country to country through animal transport. Vehicles that have visited livestock farms abroad can also carry pathogens, for example, on the inside of the vehicle or on their tyres. This is why livestock transport vehicles must be cleaned and disinfected upon entry to Finland. Vehicles that have been abroad can only be used to transport livestock in Finland after they have been disinfected.
The requirement applies to vehicles that are used to transport cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or poultry.
Advice and guidance
Transport of livestock from Finland to another country
Vehicles that are used to transport livestock from Finland to another country must be cleaned and disinfected in an authorised disinfection facility both before loading in Finland and before the vehicle is used again after its return to Finland.
If a vehicle is to be used to transport livestock within Finland or to another country after unloading, it must be cleaned and disinfected in an authorised disinfection facility before reloading.
Transport of livestock to Finland from another country
Vehicles that are used to transport livestock to Finland from another country must be cleaned and disinfected in an authorised disinfection facility in the country of origin before loading.
If a vehicle is to be used to transport livestock within Finland or to another country after unloading, it must be cleaned and disinfected in an authorised disinfection facility before reloading.
Empty vehicles arriving in Finland must have been cleaned and disinfected in an authorised disinfection facility before they enter Finland or they must be cleaned and disinfected in an authorised disinfection facility in Finland before loading.
Livestock transport vehicles arriving from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine or Moldova must always have been disinfected before they enter Finland. Finnish Customs inspects disinfection certificates and the cleanliness of vehicles at the border.
Disinfection facilities are authorised by Regional State Administrative Agencies.
The criteria for authorisation are that
- safeguards are in place to contain any animal disease pathogens inside the facility,
- appropriate procedures have been introduced for wastewater and waste management to prevent the spread of pathogens, and
- the cleaning and disinfection techniques used are efficient.
You can seek authorisation for your disinfection facility by writing to your nearest Regional State Administrative Agency.
Your application should include
- contact information for yourself and your disinfection facility, i.e.
- name,
- address,
- telephone number,
- email address, and
- business ID,
- a description of your operation, and
- a description of the safeguards that you have introduced to prevent the spread of animal diseases.
Send your application to the competent Regional State Administrative Agency’s registry. A link to the contact information of Regional State Administrative Agencies’ registries is provided at the bottom of this page.
Remember to also let the competent Regional State Administrative Agency know of any material changes in your business.
Disinfection facilities can be inspected by local authority veterinary officers. The objective of inspections is to check that the operation complies with the description given in the application as well as any terms and conditions specified in the authorisation.
Our processing fees are based on the volume of work involved in processing each application.