Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1) This Act may be called ‘The Mizoram Licensing and Regulation of private Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics Act, 2021". 2) It shall extend to the whole State of Mizoram: Provided that the Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt any area from the operation the whole or any portion of this Act but not so as to affect anything done or any offence committed or any fine imposed or penalty incurred or any proceedings commenced already in such area before this Act comes into force and may, in like manner, vary or cancel such notification. 3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of the Act, or for different areas.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires: a) “animal” means pet animals or commercial animals or exotic animals; b) “applicant” means a registered professional person who applies for a license to run for a veterinary establishment; c) “area” means a non-enclosed space forming part of a room/building; d) “Department” means Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, Government of Mizoram; e) “Director” means the Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department; f) “Government” means the State Government of Mizoram; g) “Hazardous Waste Materials” means blades, injection needles and other sharp objects, expired medicinal products and surgically removed organs or part of organs/carcass; h) “Inspection Team” means a group of members appointed for inspection and recommendation under this Act; i) “Licensee” means a person who is licensed to run a veterinary establishment; j) “MPCB” means Mizoram Pollution Control Board; k) “Notification” means notification published in the Official Gazette; 1) “Official Gazette” means the Mizoram Gazette; m) “premises” means a physical structure consisting of one or more rooms of a building; n) “professional and ethical standards” include the standard of the general conduct of the members of the registered veterinary profession, as well as the behavior of any such member towards his client or the patient under his care or being attended by him, during or consequential to his profession; o) “registered veterinary practitioner” means veterinary graduate registered under State Veterinary Council; p) “room” means a space enclosed by fixed walls of fixed partitions, wherein there is sufficient correct light and air proportions, as well as possessing closable doors; q) “State Veterinary Council” means the Mizoram State Veterinary Council; r) “the practice of Veterinary Medicine” means Veterinary Disease Investigation (including consultancy), diagnosis or treatment (including prophylactic measures to control or prevent disease), performed on animals by veterinary surgeons in the course of their professional duties, which ensure the health and welfare of animals entrusted to their care. The professional duties of a veterinary surgeon include private or academic clinical practice,duties in animal welfare organizations, government service and commerce; s) “Veterinary Establishment” means the premises where a veterinary surgeon carries out veterinary practices and may be called a veterinary hospital or a veterinary clinic; t) “Veterinary Hospital” means a veterinary establishment having an autonomous and more composed organization and identity, in which a group of veterinary surgeons, generic or specialized, exercise their veterinary practices, and wherein animals are kept for more than one day, and a 24-hours emergency service is obligatory, basic clinical and required surgical services are offered, as well as a specialized service; u) “Veterinary Clinic” means a single building or a room with access to animals, wherein a basic clinical and surgical service or specialized services are offered. Basic diagnostic procedures on animal samples may be allowed. In this type of veterinary practice, the clinic may have an autonomous organization and identity, in which one or more veterinary surgeons exercise their act of profession and the practice, is carried out in the name of all the veterinarians considered as one unit. However, each veterinary surgeon may retain fiscal and professional individuality but share the premises, equipment or staff. The clinic will not provide for overnight stay of animals.