Finland is internationally recognised as a country with high level of food safety. Food safety is ensured through co-ordinated actions all the way along the food supply chain.
The basic responsibility for safety lies with businesses operating in the food chain. Official controls at municipal, provincial and national level together with controls on imported and exported foodstuffs ensure a high level of consumer protection.
Reliable information plays a vital role, making it possible to trace products and giving consumers opportunities to make informed choices.
International dimensions of food safety
Codex Alimentarius is a set of international food standards, guidelines and practices designed to protect consumers’ health and ensure fair practices in the international food trade. These standards are applied by the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the World Trade Organisation through its agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS).
Finland’s Advisory Committee on Foodstuffs works in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The Advisory Committee and its subcommittees consist of representatives of different stakeholders: government sectors, consumer-, trade- retail- and agricultural organisations.
The Committee serves as the Finnish National Codex Committee, and its Secretary General is the Finnish Codex Contact Point.
