Veterinary Public Health Act, 2013

This Act provides for ensuring high level of consumer protection with regard to food safety and improving the quality of life for the public by facilitating advanced methods or primary production in the food chain of food of animal origin. This Act shall apply to unprocessed and processed animal products for human consumption at the level of primary production at national level and those imported from third country. Specifically, the Act, among others, provides for the establishment of the veterinary public health unit; functions of the director; delegations of powers and assignments; termination of appointment of authorized persons; approval of site designs and drawings in respect of slaughter facilities; approval of slaughter facilities or establishment; inspection; powers of veterinary public health officers; food hygiene laboratory; general requirements for animal health rules; general obligations and hygiene provisions for primary production; general requirements for slaughter facilities and establishment; specific requirements for slaughter facilities and establishment; specific requirements for equipment; specific requirements for wrapping and packaging of food; specific requirements for transportation; derogations; import procedures; inspection procedure for import; export procedure; permission of imports and certification of exports; confidentiality; appeals; offences and penalties; limitation of liability; regulations and procedure of this Act.