Private veterinary care provision

If you are a licensed or a temporarily authorised veterinary surgeon, you can provide private veterinary care services in Finland. Businesses that provide veterinary care services must employ a senior veterinary surgeon who satisfies the aforementioned criteria.  

Private veterinary care providers must have access to suitable premises, equipment and staff. The services provided must be based on sound veterinary science.

Filing notices

The competent authority is the Regional State Administrative Agency in whose jurisdiction your practice is located. If you do not have a practice, you can send your notice to the Regional State Administrative Agency in whose jurisdiction you primarily intend to operate. A link to the contact information of Regional State Administrative Agencies’ registries is provided at the bottom of this page.

You must file your notice before you open your practice. You also need to let the competent Regional State Administrative Agency know of any material changes in your services or if you decide to close your practice.

Regional State Administrative Agencies have prepared a special form for private veterinary care providers. You must complete all sections of the form. In addition to your contact information, your notice must include relevant details about 

  • your services,
  • your staff, and
  • your practice.

A link to the form is provided at the bottom of this page. Send your form to the registry of the competent Regional State Administrative Agency. 

We will enter your information into the Finnish Food Authority’s database of private veterinary care providers. We also act as the enforcement authority for private veterinary care provision.

Links to legal texts