Regional Law No. 502-OZ “On some issues of keeping agricultural animals”.

This Regional Law regulates relations in the field of keeping agricultural animals (livestock). It shall not be applicable to scientific research, service animals of the ministries and to agricultural organizations that are part of agro-industrial complex. Agricultural animals (farm animals) shall be intended tamed and bred by man livestock with a view of meeting economic needs, kept by the owner in non-residential premises, in farm buildings (including cattle, small animals (goats, sheep), pigs, horses, rabbits, fur-bearing animals, nutria (Myocastor coypus), chickens, geese, ducks, quails, turkeys, etc.), for the production of traditional foodstuffs and raw materials of animal origin. Owner of agricultural (farm) animals shall have the following duties: (a) to keep an animal in compliance the requirements of this law, local requirements related to keeping farm animals, with the consideration of legal rights and interests of other persons; (b) to ensure safe keeping of farm animals avoiding risks for wider public; (c) to ensure to farm animals living conditions, vital activity and care in accordance with their biological particulars; (d) to comply with sanitary, hygienic, anti-epidemiological and veterinary requirements applicable to keeping of farm animals; (e) to notify timely public veterinary authority of all cases of sudden death or simultaneous mass illness of farm animals, as well as their unusual behavior, and to take measures for isolation of animals suspected of disease before the arrival of veterinary specialists; (f) to follow the guidelines of veterinary experts aimed at disease prevention and control of farm animals; (g) to grant access to farm animals by veterinary experts for veterinary examination, vaccination and preventive arrangements; (h) to prevent inclusion of one’s own farm animals to public herd without accompanying veterinary certificate attesting the state of health of farm animals; (i) to graze private farm animals under one’s own supervision or by shepherd; (j) to drive farm animals under one’s own supervision or by shepherd along authorized routes; (k) in case of refusal of keeping farm animals they must be transferred (sold) to other owner or sent for slaughtering; abandonment (leaving without care) of farm animals are prohibited; (l) to register farm animals at veterinary institutions; and (m) to undertake measures for disposal of the deceased farm animals in accordance with veterinary and sanitary regulations.