Central
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
- Formulates agricultural, food and rural policy, decision-making systems and organisation
- Directs, manages and monitors legislation;
- Finances aid and support measures and monitors their implementation;
- Provides research and advisory services.
The Finnish Food Authority – This organization includes both the Agency of Rural Affairs and the Finnish Food Safety Authority. It started functioning in the beginning of the year 2019. Its main functions according to its own pages:
- Promotes, monitors and studies the safety and quality of food; the health and wellbeing of animals; plant health; fertiliser products, animal feeds and plant protection products that are used in agricultural and forestry production; and propagating materials i.e. seeds and planting materials.
- Is responsible for the use of the funds provided by the European Union's agricultural guarantee and rural development funds in Finland, operates as the EU's paying agency and monitors the implementation of EU and national grants – farming subsidies, project, entrepreneurship and structural subsidies as well as market subsidies.
Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (State authorities)
- Develop the agriculture and rural industries.
- Support investments and development activities of agricultural farms, reindeer farms, SMEs engaged in first processing of agricultural products and rural microenterprises (there are differences between the level of support and funding available at individual Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment)
- Monitor the use of agricultural subsidies;
- Carry out supervisory duties in the area of plant inspection and food production;
- The Lapland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment is responsible for promoting the living conditions and livelihood of the Skolt community in accordance with the Skolt Act.
Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Regional
Åland competences
- Farming and forestry;
- Regulation of agricultural productions (after consultation with State officials);
- Maintenance of the productive capacity of the farmlands, forests;
- Central authorities have legislative powers with regard to the prices of agricultural products and the promotion of the agricultural products export
Local
Fund and participate in Leader groups ‘working in rural development
Responsible ministries/bodies
Åland Government
Relevant municipalities
Sources:
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Act on the autonomy of Åland (1991/1144), Section 18 and 27
Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Finnish Food Safety Authority
The Finnish Food Authority