Finnish dog chew brands pledge to improve manufacturer identification after labeling issues

Many Finnish brands of dog chews are produced in China, with some packaging lacking the required manufacturer identification numbers. Brands such as Best Friend Group, VIPstore, and Tokmanni have pledged to rectify this issue promptly.

Products marked with the “Avainlippu” label, such as Oscar and Rauh!, are manufactured in Finland, but may sometimes use leather sourced from within the EU. A recent investigation revealed that three out of nine popular chew brands did not include the mandatory manufacturer identification code on their labels. The missing information was noted on packaging for Ami and Rokka, as well as some offerings from Tokmanni’s Real Dog brand.

Mika Holappa, CEO of Best Friend Group, acknowledged the oversight, attributing it to a human error after previously complying with the regulations. VIPstore’s CEO, Hannakaisa Raiskinmäki, confirmed that the identification code will be added to upcoming batches. Tokmanni’s communications officer, Maarit Mikkonen, indicated the company is investigating the absence of the code on some packages, emphasizing that both Tokmanni and Rokka utilize a single factory, ensuring the origin is known.

The Finnish Food Authority monitors labeling compliance and typically requires corrections in subsequent production runs if information is missing unless deemed a severe violation.

The primary raw material for these dog chews is cattle hide, predominantly sourced from China due to the country’s substantial leather and textile industries. Manufacturers claim they observe EU and U.S. standards in their Chinese factories, employing various quality control measures. However, the law does not mandate the disclosure of raw material origins on packaging, making it challenging for consumers to trace the source of materials.