Whale meat found in illegal Finnish dog food imports

Finnish authorities have uncovered the illegal import of whale meat from Norway for use in dog food. Investigations revealed that in 2022, approximately 36,000 kilograms of minke whale meat, a species protected under the CITES Convention, was importe

By: helsinkitimes.fi

Jan 04 2025
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Whale meat found in illegal Fi

Finnish authorities have uncovered the illegal import of whale meat from Norway for use in dog food. Investigations revealed that in 2022, approximately 36,000 kilograms of minke whale meat, a species protected under the CITES Convention, was imported into Finland in violation of international and national laws. The whale meat was used to produce sled dog food.

The shipments consisted of 72,000 kilograms of dog sausages, of which half was minke whale meat and the rest poultry.

The food was not sold commercially but was manufactured in Norway specifically for a Finnish importer. Finnish Customs confirmed that cost was a significant factor in the choice of whale meat. "Dog food containing whale meat was essentially imported because of the affordable price," said Tuomo Kunnari, lead investigator. "These imported quantities have fed a large number of dogs."

The case came to light when Swedish Customs intercepted a shipment en route to Finland. They flagged irregularities in the customs clearance documents and redirected the cargo back to Norway. Finnish Customs launched an investigation in cooperation with Swedish and Norwegian authorities, leading to interviews with five individuals linked to the case.

The minke whale, though not endangered globally, is protected under the CITES Convention and Finnish law due to concerns about its population in certain regions, such as the northeastern North Atlantic. Finnish legislation prohibits the import of whale products from all countries, and Norway’s CITES laws explicitly ban the export of minke whale meat for commercial purposes to Finland.

The Finnish Prosecution District of Northern Finland is now reviewing charges related to an aggravated nature conservation offence and customs clearance violations.

This is not the first instance of whale meat being used in dog food in Scandinavia. In 2021, several tons of whale meat were supplied to a dog sledding tourism company in Norway, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation, an environmental nonprofit.

The discovery underscores ongoing concerns about the exploitation of protected species for commercial purposes, even as stricter regulations aim to curb such practices.