This Law defines the legal, social, organizational, financial and economic basis of activities in the field of veterinary medicine and is aimed at ensuring veterinary, sanitary and epizootic well-being of livestock, protecting the population from diseases common to animals and human beings, safety of products and raw materials of animal and vegetable origin, veterinary drugs, animal feedstuffs and feed additives for animals. Biological safety shall be intended a system of measures and veterinary biological, organizational, engineering and technical means, aimed at protecting objects controlled by the state veterinary supervision, a team of workers and researchers, the population and environment from the influence of pathogenic biological agents, and also taking measures to reduce the risk of biological pathogens or their toxins used as biological weapons. For the purposes of this Law, shall be considered animals - all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, bees, fishes and other animals kept in artificial conditions or free living in nature. The Government shall be responsible for validation of unified rules and requirements on biological safety and veterinary and biological protection. State policy in the field of veterinary is based on the principle of ensuring the requirements of biological safety in the field of veterinary medicine through the adoption of appropriate regulatory legal acts. Veterinary standards are established in the manner determined by the authorized body, as well as international standards, recognized by Tajikistan, and are mandatory for veterinary institutions, individuals and legal entities, in the field of veterinary medicine throughout territory of the Republic of Tajikistan. State veterinary supervision shall ensure control over conditions of storage and use of the national reserve of veterinary drugs. Sale of animals without a veterinary certificate, individual number or veterinary passport is prohibited. Authorized state institution in the sphere of veterinary medicine shall perform the following functions: (a) validation and keeping state registers and accrediting of natural and legal persons importing livestock, materials of animal origin, animal feedstuffs and feed additives for animals; (b) implementation of state policy in the sphere of veterinary medicine; (c) validation of unified rules, regulations and standards in the sphere of veterinary medicine; (d) validation of the procedure of transportation of cargo subject to veterinary supervision; (e) elaboration and validation of biosafety requirements and veterinary and biological protection; (f) performance of the arrangements for the reduction of risks of biological pathogens and/or toxins thereof; (g) validation of import-export requirements and authorization for meat and meat-based products, milk and dairy products, and raw materials of animal origin; (h) validation of veterinary and sanitary requirements for processing and storage of meat, meat-based products, milk and dairy products, fish and fish products, eggs and apiculture products; (i) validation of the procedure for making and certification of livestock; (j) protection of human health against diseases common to animals and human beings; (k) protection of the national territory against introduction and spreading of infectious animal diseases subject to quarantine; and (l) epizootological monitoring of animal diseases. Veterinary and sanitary measures adopted in another country are considered equivalent to those applied in the Republic of Tajikistan, if the authorized body determines that the measures applied in other country provide protection for the lives and health of animals and people equally or at higher level required in the Republic of Tajikistan. Private veterinary medicine practice shall be subject to licensing. Feedstuffs, water and feed additives for animals should be safe for the health of animals and should not contain animal growth stimulants, including hormonal and other substances harmful to animals, environment and human health in quantities exceeding the maximum allowable level. Animals shall be subject to mandatory marking according to the forms and types established by veterinary rules and regulations. This Law consists of 8 Chapters divided into 45 Articles. Chapter I lays down general provisions. Chapter II regards state regulation in the sphere of veterinary medicine. Chapter III regards state veterinary supervision; Chapter IV regards financing of veterinary sector. Chapter V establishes sanitary and veterinary requirements for the prevention of animal diseases and ensuring safety of products of animal origin. Chapter VI establishes protection against dangerous animal diseases common to animals and human beings, and food poisoning. Chapter VII regards scientific substantiation of veterinary sector. Chapter VIII lays down final provisions.