Shelter poultry during spring
Current issues - Animals and health 11.03.2010 - 13:09
Once again, poultry has to be protected from wild birds from mid-March until the end of May. The birds have to be kept either indoors or have an outdoor area which is thoroughly protected, for example by a net. The protective regulations do not concern free-flying pigeons, zoos and permanent animal exhibitions. The local municipal veterinarian has to be informed of the use of open air areas.
No direct link between VHS disease found in rainbow trout farms and VHS virus carried by lamprey
Current issues - Research on animal diseases and food 08.03.2010 - 09:40
Viral hemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) of rainbow trout is a highly infectious viral disease, which causes high mortality rates in fish and thus results in financial losses in fish farms. Genotype Id of the VHS virus was for the first time found in Finland in 2000 in food fish farms in the Åland Islands and Pyhtää. It has since been detected on an annual basis; primarily in the Åland Islands.
All of the fur farms have been inspected
Current issues - Animals and health 05.03.2010 - 16:00
The provincial veterinary officer of the Regional State Administrative Agency and municipal veterinarians have inspected all of the 30 fur farms from which the organisation Oikeutta Eläimille (Justice for Animals) presented picture material on 17.2.2010. The number of farms increased from the original 29, as there were two different farms on one site. On one farm there were no animals. During the inspections, omissions were found on five farms or 17 per cent of the farms where there were animals. Advice was given to two farms.
Inspections completed on half of fur farms
Current issues - Animals and health 26.02.2010 - 15:17
Municipal veterinarians have so far inspected 15 of the fur farms featured in the video footage released by Justice for Animals organisation on 17.2.2010. The total number of the farms was 29. Violations of regulations were found on three farms.
Prices for collection of carcasses of production animals change
Current issues - Animals and health 19.02.2010 - 13:54
The prices for the collection of carcasses of cattle, pigs and poultry change as of 1 March 2010. Fees will also be imposed on the collection of sheep and goat carcasses. The price changes are due to the new Government Decree, which lays down the permitted maximum amounts of state subsidy for collection of carcasses.
Green Office designation awarded to Evira
Current issues - Evira 19.02.2010 - 11:34
WWF has granted Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira the right to use the Green Office logo. The environmental systems of Evira's Viikki office and two regional offices (Oulu and Loimaa) were inspected in December 2009 and found to fulfil the criteria defined for the Green Office designation.
Public defence of a doctoral thesis on Setaria tundra, an emerging parasite of reindeer
Current issues - Research on animal diseases and food 09.02.2010 - 13:44
LVM Sauli Laaksonen, an employee of Evira's Fish and Wildlife Health Research Unit,(University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences), will defend his doctoral thesis on Fri 12.2.2010.
Only a few cases of severe animal diseases in Finland in 2009
Current issues - Animals and health 08.02.2010 - 12:49
A total of 67 cases of suspected severe animal diseases, or diseases under regulatory eradication, were reported to Evira's Animal Health Control in 2009. Of the reported suspicions, 16 pertained to fish and 14 to companion animals. Reported suspicions regarding sheep and goats, pigs, poultry and horses totalled less than ten for each species. The animal disease status remained good in Finland – only a few of the suspected diseases were verified in further analyses.
Comprehensive information package about food contaminants
Current issues - Food 04.02.2010 - 10:12
”The chemical contaminants of foodstuffs and household water” is a thorough report of about 40 contaminants, which cover in a comprehensive manner the entire production chain of foodstuffs. The renewed report has been published in the publication series of Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira and can also be read in the Evira.fi web service. The report describes the occurrence of contaminants in foodstuffs, studies on the contaminants and their intake estimates, their adverse health effects and the most important food control needs. The report serves both various authorities and researchers, and consumers interested in the topic.
Pesticide residue control efforts focused in 2008 particularly on products imported from Thailand
Current issues - Food 28.01.2010 - 09:41
Similar levels of pesticide residues were found in foodstuffs of plant origin in 2008 as in previous years. The majority (94%) of the analysed products conformed to regulations. Products imported from Thailand, in particular, showed residue levels in excess of the permitted maximum amounts.
Tikes final information on the grain harvest and Evira’s quality analysis: Protein content of the grain harvest is low
Current issues - Plant production and feedingstuffs 28.01.2010 - 09:27
The autumn 2009 wheat harvest broke records. However, the protein content of the harvest was low, and thus only a third of it fulfilled the quality requirements set for bread wheat. Of the malting barley harvest, 86 per cent fulfilled the requirements in terms of grain size and protein content. The average hectolitre weight of the feed grain crop was good, but its protein content fell short of the ten-year average.
Public defence of a doctoral thesis on diagnostics and epidemiology of bacterium Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
Current issues - Research on animal diseases and food 25.01.2010 - 14:33
LVM Taina Niskanen, an employee of Evira's Hygiene Unit,(Helsinki University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene), will defend her doctoral thesis on Fri 29.1.2010.
Rearing of laying hens in unenriched cages only permitted for two more years
Current issues - Animals and health 19.01.2010 - 09:00
The rearing of laying hens in unenriched cages will be prohibited in the member countries of the EU as of 1 January 2012. Regulations pertaining to the protection of laying hens have provided a transition period of almost 12 years, which will end on 31 December 2011. At present, about 60% of production in Finland still takes place in traditional unenriched cages.
Health authorisation is part of disease prevention in aquaculture businesses
Current issues - Animals and health 29.12.2009 - 13:39
The sale or transfer of fish, crayfish or mussels for food, on-growing or restocking from farms or from ponds with natural nutrition is not permitted without a health authorisation. The health authorisation system collects information about the aquaculture industry and promotes the prevention, control and eradication of diseases in aquaculture animals.
No harmful trans fats found in margarines and fat spreads
Current issues - Research on animal diseases and food 10.12.2009 - 10:13
Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira has examined the composition of the margarines and fat spreads on the market. The levels of trans fats in the samples were a special focus of attention. The levels of trans fats in food is being discussed in the EU and some countries have already set limits for them, as trans fats have been found to be harmful to health. In this study, the situation with spreadable margarines and fat spreads on the Finnish market was surveyed.