Veterinary Law.

The Law on Veterinary Matters establishes the legal framework for protecting animal health, animal welfare, public health, and the safety of food of animal origin in the Republic of Serbia. It defines infectious and especially dangerous animal diseases, prescribes measures for their prevention, detection, control, and eradication, and regulates veterinary‑sanitary oversight in production and trade of animals, animal products, feed, and veterinary medicines. The law sets out obligations for owners and keepers of animals, including proper care, early reporting of disease suspicions, registration of holdings, and identification and traceability of animals. It also outlines Serbia’s international obligations under organizations such as the OIE, WTO, and other relevant agreements related to sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
The law details the types, organization, and responsibilities of veterinary institutions, including veterinary clinics, stations, ambulances, laboratories, specialist institutes, and national reference laboratories. It establishes requirements for licensing veterinary professionals, continuous professional development, and the mandatory membership and supervisory role of the Veterinary Chamber. The text also defines conditions for establishing and operating veterinary facilities, including staffing requirements, technical standards, and mandatory accreditation of laboratories. Furthermore, it regulates veterinary education, internship, professional examinations, ethical standards, and disciplinary measures within the profession.
Comprehensive rules are provided for preventive and emergency disease‑control measures, including vaccination, surveillance, quarantine, movement restrictions, humane culling, disposal of carcasses, and biosecurity obligations. The law governs the official controls of animals before and after slaughter, food safety standards, and the handling of by‑products not intended for human consumption. It also regulates the production and trade of feed, reproductive material, and veterinary medicinal products. Strict veterinary‑sanitary controls apply in domestic trade, transport, markets, and especially at border crossings, where import, export, and transit of animals and animal‑origin goods require certification, inspection, and compliance with health standards to prevent the introduction and spread of animal diseases.