Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on zoonoses (No. 316 of 2021).

The present Decree lays down rules for the prevention, detection and control of zoonotic diseases, including the use of antimicrobials and vaccines on animals. It contains 61 sections divided into the following chapters: 1) General provisions; 2) Salmonella monitoring in facilities; 3) Control measures in case of suspicion or confirmation of salmonella infection in facilities; 4) Control of salmonella in authorized food premises used in the meat industry; 5) Control of campylobacter in broilers; 6) STEC follow-up; 7) National BSE provisions supplementing Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council; 8) Final provisions.
The Decree contains rules for monitoring and inspecting salmonella outbursts in different types of animal facilities. It prohibits the use of vaccines or antimicrobials to prevent, eradicate or treat salmonella outbreaks in cattle, swines, poultry and turkey facilities. The Decree contains different measures to be taken by animal health authorities to prevent the spreading of salmonella in cattle and swines facilities, poultry and turkey facilities, and in hatcheries. When a salmonella outbreak has been confirmed, the Decree requires that tests be taken from animal feed to determine the source of infection. The Finnish Food Authority shall elaborate a yearly sample-taking plan for the control of salmonella in slaughterhouses for swines and bovines, as well as for the control of campylobacterbacter in broilers. In addition, yearly sample-taking plans for bovine slaughterhouses for STEC surveillance.
The Decree contains the following Annexes: 1) Submission to laboratories of salmonella samples taken in animal facilities; 2) Salmonella sampling in cattle and swine facilities; 3) Salmonella sampling in poultry and turkey facilities; 4) Salmonella sampling in authorized food premises used in the meat industry; 5) Sampling of campylobacter in slaughterhouses and sample analysis; 6) STEC examinations of carcases.