The Finnish government said Wednesday that the country's animal welfare enforcement system had room for improvement.

Jaana Husu-Kallio, the director-general of the Food Safety Authority (Evira), and Matti Aho, a senior official at the agriculture ministry, underscored that Finland's animal welfare legislation was fit for purpose.

"It does not need amending," Mr Aho said.

"What do need to be bolstered are the actions of the overseeing authorities."

The European commission's Food and Veterinary Office said in a report released on Wednesday that while Finnish food safety and animal welfare oversight was on a sound footing overall, local councils' human resources were too low.

Last month, the Finnish authorities were spurred into action by the airing of shocking footage shot on Finnish fur farms by Oikeutta Eläimille, an animal rights group.

STT