Animal Diseases (Control) Act, no. 12 of 2022.

This Law, consisting of 50 sections, provides for animal diseases control and related measures. The Law concerns the following matters: restriction on importation of animals, animal products, pet food, feed, feed additives; disinfection and quarantine measures; authorisation for trade in species and animal products; issuance of international veterinary certificate; restriction on importation of veterinary biologics, veterinary medicinal products, pesticides, infectious agents and products of biotechnology; exportation of animals and animal products; seizure or destruction of animals and animal products; inspection and surveillance on imported animals and related products; biosecurity and biosafety measures; disease prevention measures disease control measures; and epidemiological record keeping; surveillance of diseases of wildlife species; related offences in case of misconduct; measures to be taken in case of transport of an infected animal or an animal suspected to be infected; notification of outbreak of a disease; disease traceability and identification of animals, in order to ensure animal health and food safety; specific measures to be taken in case of an outbreak of a disease: vaccination programmes, herd or flock husbandry, zoning, surveillance, utilisation of proper veterinary medicinal products, early response and notification system, exchange of data and information.
Further matters covered by this Act include: disposal of carcasses of infected animals and animal feed; measures concerning animal semen and reproductive material; registration and control of hatcheries; issuance of licences for animal farms; registration and control of live animal markets; certification of butchers in abattoirs and slaughterhouses; control of animal movement and related permits; specific veterinary licences; compliance of all farms and hatchery establishments with biosecurity measures included in the National Biosecurity Plan; duty to protect animal welfare; measures for preventing animal cruelty and related prohibited and permitted actions; experimentation and experiments involving surgical or invasive procedures on animals; responsible pet ownership; vaccination and prevention and control against rabies; prevention and control of diseases of bees; prevention and control of transboundary and zoonotic animal diseases; specific measures for prevention, management and control of diseases of fish and other aquatic animals; design and implementation of national contingency plan and preparedness plan for specified diseases; role of the National Coordinating Centre for Animal Health Emergencies; compensation to be paid to the owner of an animal destroyed due to the consequences of an epidemic; enforcement of animal diseases control and prevention measures; disease prevention and control through food of animal origin, including fish and seafood products ; control of hazards that have effects on human health, and control of anti-microbial resistance.
This Law also concerns the establishment and the functions of the National One Health Advisory Committee; powers and duties of the Authorities and of the Minister; use and administration of veterinary medicinal products in clinics among the wildlife; general offences and penalties.