Developing a national Veterinary Law

The draft Veterinary law includes 7 Chapters and 124 Articles. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) takes the main responsibility and cooperates with related ministries and agencies in the development of the Law.

Notable points in the draft Veterinary Law from a One Health perspective include:

-          The concept of veterinary public health is incorporated, noting the potential impacts of animals and animal health on both human health and environmental health and focusing strongly on the need for effective prevention activities;

-          The scope of the Veterinary Law includes wildlife as well as livestock, marine animals and other species;

-          The roles and responsibilities in relation to animal health of other sectors, including human health, industry and trade, science and technology, natural resources and environment and others, are defined; and

-          The basic framework for the establishment of disease control coordination mechanisms is set out, emphasizing the protection of human health in the case of zoonotic diseases and providing for chairing at the appropriate level, up to the level of the Prime Minister, depending on the nature of the disease outbreak.

Current progress of the Law development

From 10-14 July 2014, the delegation of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment examined the actual enforcement of the veterinary legislation in Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa.

On 1 August 2014, the Standing Committee on Science, Technology and Environment of the National Assembly organized a consultation workshop on Veterinary Law project in Hanoi in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

It is expected that the draft Veterinary Law will have a preliminary examination by the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment of the National Assembly in early August 2014. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly will provide comments and suggestions on 30 August 2014 before submitting the draft Law to the National Assembly for consultation.