Animal health, welfare and breeding

Ensuring animal health and welfare concerns us all, because it also influences human health, food safety and food security. Outbreaks of animal diseases may also lead to major economic costs. Furthermore, livestock farming and breeding has an impact on biodiversity, climate change and other environmental issues.

In the field of animal welfare, health and breeding, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture aims to ensure a healthy and protected animal as well as safe and orderly food, feed and living environment.

To reach this goal, the Ministry designs the area of Estonia’s feed safety, animal health, animal protection and welfare, as well as farm animal breeding, develops relevant legislation, development plans and national measures and organises their implementation. Furthermore, the Ministry develops subsidies for farm animal breeding and keeping an endangered breed, as well as participates in designing the European Union legislation and policy in this field.

Authorities and agencies

Agriculture and Food Board

The compliance with the applicable rules in the fields of veterinary, feed safety, animal protection and welfare, as well as farm animal breeding and national surveillance is managed by the Agriculture and Food Board.

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Agricultural Registers and Information Board

The registration of farm animals and the award of grants related to breeding, keeping endangered breeds of livestock and other farming of animals is performed by the Agricultural Registers and Information Board (ARIB).

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Estonian Livestock Performance Recording Ltd

The collection, processing, and analysing the data on the farm animal parentage and performance and the independent national milk quality control are ensured by the Estonian Livestock Performance Recording Ltd.

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National Centre for Laboratory Research and Risk Assessment

Studies on the diagnosis of animal diseases and analyses on testing the safety and quality of raw food, water and feeds are performed by the National Centre for Laboratory Research and Risk Assessment.

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Last updated: 28.06.2023

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