The Finnish Food Authority promotes, supervises and examines food safety and quality, animal health and welfare, plant health, and fertilisers, animal feed, plant protection products, soil conditioners, plant propagation material and raw materials used in agricultural and forestry production. The Finnish Food Authority began its operations on 1 January 2019 when the Finnish Food Safety Authority, the Agency for Rural Affairs and part of the IT services of the National Land Survey of Finland were merged into one single Authority. The Authority operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and its head office is located in Seinäjoki.