Animal Health Act Overview

Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954

• Synonym: Gujarat Cow Slaughter Act
• Purpose: Preserve animals suitable for milk production, breeding, or agriculture.
• Applicability: Specific to Gujarat, Western India.
• Prohibits cattle slaughter.
• Restrictions on transportation: Person transporting cattle from one region or state to another is assumed to be doing so for slaughter unless proven otherwise.
• Restrictions on sale of beef: Prohibits sale, storage, transport, or offering of beef and beef products.
• Allowed slaughter (of other animals): Animals other than cattle may be slaughtered only after a certificate from the Competent Authority is issued.
• Penalties: Offenses are cognizable, allowing arrest without a warrant. Penalties include imprisonment or fines.

Glanders and Farcy Act of 1899

• Passed by the Governor-General of India.
• Definition (diseased): Animals affected by glanders, farcy, or other dangerous epidemic diseases.
• Inspection rights: Inspectors are allowed to enter and search a designated area (e.g. a field, building) to check for diseased horses.
• Seizure power: Inspectors can seize horses suspected to be diseased.
• Examination: Horses seized must be examined as quickly as possible by a veterinarian designated by the local government.
• Reporting to authorities: Owners of diseased horses have to report the disease of their horse to designated local authorities.
• Penalties: Whoever does not comply with the reporting procedures or removes a diseased horsed from the designated area will receive penalties, that are outlined in the act.
• Destruction of diseased animals: If a veterinarian determines that a horse is diseased, the horse must be destroyed. Exceptions may apply, where the state government may permit alternative treatment.
• Disposal of diseased areas: Places where diseased horses have been are subject to disinfection and/or destruction of fittings/material.
• Disposal of healthy animals: If upon examination, a horse is not diseased, the horse will be returned to its owner.

The Dourine Act, 1910

• Act 05 of 1910
• State government power: Can create regulations for registering horses for breeding.
• State government appointment: Can appoint inspectors and veterinary practitioners.
• Inspection: Inspectors can enter and search for horses with dourine
• Prohibition/order: Owners of horses suspected of having dourine prohibited from using the horse, or obliged to remove them
• Seizure authorization: Orders for segregation to designated areas may be issued
• Veterinary examination: A veterinarian must examine suspected horses.
• Castration/destruction: If dourine is confirmed, horses may be castrated or destroyed.
• Compensation: The state government will pay compensation based on market value to the affected horse owner.

The Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984

• Purpose: Regulate veterinary practice.
• Key responsibility of the VCI: Maintains registers of veterinarians and related information.
• State authority: Parliament has no power to create laws concerning veterinary matters in different states.
• Registered practitioners: Defines "registered veterinary practitioner", a title for individuals properly registered.
• Council membership: Outlines who may be nominated as a member of the advisory council, including different roles (e..g. Directors of Animal Husbandry).

Minimum Standards of Veterinary Education (Act page 17)

• Council authority: The Council may set the minimum standards of veterinary education
• Regulations compliance: State needs to comply to the Council's specified regulations
• Comments review: The Central government needs to check all comments from different states and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, before it approves or disapproves any regulations or amendments from the council.
• Committee reports: A committee (mentioned in section 12) from time to time will provide an update on the efficacy of the veterinary education standards and recommend changes/updates to the council.

Rights of Enrolled Individuals (Act page 18)

• Restrictions on who may hold veterinary positions within the government/institutions
• Restrictions on what services can be performed by individuals in relevant states, and under what conditions
• Conditions for veterinary services: Permits for veterinary services to be provided by people who are not enrolled members of the veterinary council.

Establishment and Composition of State Veterinary Councils (Act page 19)

• State establishment: State governments have a requirement to assemble veterinary councils
• State register preparation: Each state is required to register practitioners.
• Fee payment: Individuals may register by paying a specified fee, and this fee may be renewed every few years.
• State transfer: Transfer of registration between states is a possibility.
• Penalties: Penalties for falsely claiming registration may involve fines or imprisonment.

Miscellaneous

• Penalty: For practicing veterinary medicine outside of one year from the date outlined in the act.
• Practicioners after the expiry of one year from the date mentioned in the act.