This is part of a broader reform of the regional state administration aimed at harmonising and streamlining licensing and supervision practices across Finland.

The duties of Valvira, such as licensing and supervision tasks in social welfare and health care, alcohol administration, and environmental health care, will be transferred to the Finnish Supervisory Agency. So will the majority of the duties of the Regional State Administrative Agencies. The Finnish Food Authority will take over the Regional State Administrative Agencies’ responsibilities related to animal health and welfare and food. Competition and consumer administration-related duties will be transferred from Regional State Administrative Agencies to the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.

During the transition phase, it is essential for business owners to follow public announcements and ensure that their company’s licensing processes are up to date by the beginning of 2026.

• Read more about Finnish Supervisory Agency: Valvira’s operations to end; duties will be transferred to the new Finnish Supervisory Agency
• Read more about the regional state administration’s reform

How will the reform affect entrepreneurs?

After the turn of the year, the majority of matters related to licences, notices and enforcement will be handled by the Finnish Supervisory Agency. If your company operates in areas such as social welfare and health care, early childhood education, or environmental services, the channels through which these services are offered will change.

For example, issues relating to rights to practise and registers (for example, for social welfare and health care professionals) will be transferred to the new agency. Alcohol serving licences and some environmental health monitoring tasks will also fall under the Finnish Supervisory Authority in the future.

The aim of the new organisation is to harmonise and digitise service processes. This may mean new electronic forms, a new online service and updated instructions and contact details.

Even though the name and organisation of the agency are changing, legislation and obligations will remain largely unchanged, meaning that business owners’ legal obligations will remain the same. The Finnish Supervisory Agency will apply the same laws and regulations that Valvira and the Regional State Administrative Agencies have previously enforced.

What should you do as a business owner?

1. Check what permits and licences your company has and what notifications you have to submit. Find out whether they will be automatically transferred to the new agency or whether you need to do something about it.
2. Follow official announcements and the new website of the Finnish Supervisory Agency (coming soon).
3. Update your contact information and internal guidelines. If your company regularly handles permits and licences, make sure that the persons responsible know where to send the documents from the beginning of 2026.