Act on the medical treatment of animals (No. 617 of 1997).

The 45 sections of the Act are divided into 11 chapters: General provisions (1); Competent authorities (2); Manner of use and limitation of use (3); Identification of animals (4); Time lapse required between administration and slaughter (5); Information reports (6); Book-keeping (7); Supervision (8); Modification of application (9); Penal provisions (10); Miscellaneous (11).
This Act aims to prevent and reduce harm which medical treatment of animals may cause to human beings, to animals and the environment. The production, marketing and use of medicines are regulated by Act No. 395/1987; the production, marketing and use of feedingstuff preparations is regulated by the feedingstuff Act (No. 234/1993); hygienic quality of feedingstuff is regulated by Act No. 1195 of 1996 (sect. 3). The overall implementation of this Act shall be the duty of the responsible Ministry, whereas at the local level, the county councils, assisted by veterinarians, shall be responsible (sects. 5-7). Chapter 3, inter alia, provides for the prohibition of use of certain drugs in certain cases by the Ministry. Chapter 4 provides for the marking and other identification of animals for purposes of tracing the use of drugs. Chapter 8 provides, inter alia, for inspection in accordance with legislation of the European Community (sect. 24).