Chapter VII MISCELLANEOUS

The State Government may, by notification, delegate to any officer or authority subordinate to it, all or any of the powers conferred on it by or under this Act, except the powers to make rules under sub-section (2) of section 42.

All officers and authorities under this Act shall exercise their powers and discharge their duties conferred or imposed on them by or under this Act, in accordance with such orders, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as the Central Government or the State Government may, from time to time, make.

1. (1) The Central Government may, by notification, add to, or omit from the Schedule any animal disease and the said disease shall, as from the date of the notification, be deemed to have been added to, or omitted from, the Schedule.
2. (2) Every notification issued under sub-section (1) shall, as soon as may be after it is issued, be laid before each House of Parliament.

The Central Government may, with the object of prevention, control and eradication of any infectious or contagious disease of animals, issue such directions to the State Government or other authorities under this Act, from time to time, including directions for furnishing such returns and 1[statistics on scheduled diseases, vaccination, animal breeding or any other matter related to health], as it may deem fit and every such direction shall be complied with.

Every Competent Officer, Director and Veterinary

Officer, while exercising any power or performing any duty under this Act, shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

¹ Subs. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch., for “statistics on scheduled diseases, and vaccination” (w.e.f. 01-07-2026).

1. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty: Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act.
2. (2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before each House of Parliament.

1. (1) The Central Government may, subject to the condition of previous publication, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act.
2. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
   • (a) the form of vaccination certificate and the particulars which such certificate shall contain, under section 9; 1[(aa) the form, manner and time of reporting the matter to the Veterinary Officer, State Government and Central Government under subsection (3) of section 4;
   • (ab) the form, manner and time of submission of report to the State Government and the Central Government regarding vaccinated animals under sub-section (7) of section 6;
   • (ac) the form and manner of submission of report to the State Government and the Central Government regarding marking and issuing certificate for vaccinated animals under sub-section (4) of section 8;]
   • (b) the manner of disposal of carcass, under section 26;
   • (c) the manner of conducting examination and post-mortem under sub-section (1) and the form of report of post-mortem under sub-section (2) of section 27; 1[(ca) the manner of recovery of cost regarding measures under sub-section (3) of section 29; (cb) the manner of holding an inquiry and imposing penalties under section 33A;
   • (cc) the form and manner of preferring appeal to the appellate authority against the order of adjudicating officer under sub-section (1) of section 33B;]
   • (d) any other matter which may be prescribed or in respect of which rules are required to be made by the Central Government.

1. (1) The State Government may, by notification and with the prior approval of the Central Government, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
2. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
   • (a) the form of permit to be granted by the officer in charge of a Quarantine Camp, under sub-section (4) of section 14;
   • (b) the manner of inspection and the period of detention of an animal at a Check Post or at a Quarantine Camp for the administration of compulsory vaccination and marking of animals and the form and manner of issue of entry permit, under sub-section (2) of section 15;
   • (c) any other matter in respect of which rule is to be or may be made by the State Government.

¹ Ins. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 01-07-2026).

1. (1) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.
2. (2) Every rule made by the State Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before the State Legislature.

On the commencement of this Act—

1. (i) The Glanders and Farcy Act, 1899 (13 of 1899);
2. (ii) The Dourine Act, 1910 (5 of 1910); and
3. (iii) any other corresponding law of any State, so far as it is inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, shall stand repealed: Provided that nothing contained in this section shall—

1. (a) affect the previous operation of any such provision of law or anything duly done or suffered thereunder;
2. (b) affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under any such provision of law;
3. (c) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against any such provision of law; or
4. (d) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment as aforesaid; and every such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be continued, instituted or enforced, and any such penalty, forfeiture and punishment may be imposed, as if the aforesaid provisions of law had continued: Provided further that, anything done or any action taken under any such provision of law, including any notification, order, notice or receipt issued or declaration made, shall in so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to have been done, taken, issued or made under the corresponding provisions of this Act, and shall continue in force accordingly, unless and until superseded by anything done or any action taken under this Act. 1[THE SCHEDULE [See clause (ga) of section 2 and section 38]
5. (a) Multiple species diseases 1. Anthrax. 2. Aujeszky’s disease. 3. Bluetongue. 4. Brucellosis. 5. Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever. 6. Echinococcosis/hydatidosis/granulosis/ multiloculosis. 7. Epizootice heamorrhagic disease virus. 8. Foot and mouth disease. 9. Heartwater. 10. Japanese encephalitis. 11. Leishmaniasis 12. Leptospirosis. 13. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. 14. New world screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax). 15. Nipah Virus infection. 16. Old world screwworm (Chrysomyabezziana). 17. Paratuberculosis. 18. Q fever. 19. Rabies. 20. Rift Valley fever. 21. Rinderpest. 22. Trichinellosis. 23. Trypnosomiasis 24. Tularemia. 25. Vesicular stomatitis. 26. West Nile fever.
6. (b) Bovine diseases 1. Bovine anaplasmosis. 2. Bovine babesiosis. 3. Bovine genital campylobacteriosis. 4. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy. 5. Bovine viral diarrhoea. 6. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. 7. Enzootic bovine leucosis. 8. Haemorrhagic septicaemia. 9. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis. 10. Lumpy skin disease. 11. Malignant catarrhal fever. 12. Mycoplasmosis. 13. Theileriosis. 14. Trichomonosis.
7. (c) Sheep and goat diseases 1. Caprine arthritis/encephalitis. 2. Contagious agalactia. 3. Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia. 4. Enzootic abortion of ewes (ovine chlamydiosis). 5. Maedi-visna. 6. Nairobi sheep disease. 7. Ovine epididymitis (Brucella ovis). 8. Peste des petits ruminants. 9. Salmonellosis (S. abortusovis). 10. Scrapie. 11. Sheep pox and goat pox. 12. Theileriosis.
8. (d) Equine diseases 1. African horse sickness. 2. Contagious equine metritis. 3. Dourine. 4. Equine encephalomyelitis (Eastern). 5. Equine encephalomyelitis (Western). 6. Equine infectious anaemia. 7. Equine Influenza. 8. Equine piroplasmosis. 9. Equine rhinopneumonitis. 10. Equine viral arteritis. 11. Glanders. 12. Surra (Trypanosoma evansi). 13. Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis.
9. (e) Swine diseases 1. African swine fever. 2. Classical swine fever. 3. Nipah virus encephalitis. 4. Porcine cysticercosis. 5. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. 6. Swine vesicular disease. 7. Transmissible gastroenteritis.
10. (f) Avian diseases 1. Avian chlamydiosis. 2. Avian infectious bronchitis. 3. Avian infectious laryngotracheitis. 4. Avian mycoplasmosis (M. gallisepticum). 5. Avian mycoplasmosis (M. synoviae). 6. Duck virus hepatitis. 7. Fowl cholera. 8. Fowl typhoid. 9. Highly pathogenic avian influenza and low pathogenic avian influenza in poultry. 10. Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease). 11. Marek’s disease. 12. Newcastle disease. 13. Pullorum disease. 14. Turkey rhinotracheitis.
11. (g) Lagomorph diseases 1. Myxomatosis. 2. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease.
12. (h) Bee diseases 1. Acarapisosis of honey bees. 2. American foulbrood of honey bees. 3. European foulbrood of honey bees. 4. Small hive bettle infestation (Aethina tumida). 5. Tropilaelaps infestation of honey bees. 6. Varroosis of honey bees.
    • (i) Fish diseases 1. Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis. 2. Infectious haematopoietic necrosis. 3. Spring viraemia of carp (SVC). 4. Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS). 5. Epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS). 6. Red seabream iridoviral disease (RSID). 7. Koi herpesvirus disease (KHV). 8. Grouper iridoviral disease. 9. Viral encephalopathy and retinopathy. 10. Enteric septicaemia of catfish. 11. Infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. 12. lnfection with Edwardsiella tarda. 13. Infection with Vibrio anguillarum. 14. Infection with Flavobacterium columnare. 15. Infection with Streptococus iniae in Tilapia. 16. Infectious pancreatic necrosis (cold water). 17. Infection with Myxobolus spp. 18. Infection with Ichthyophthirius multifilis. 19. Infection with Saprolegnia parasitica. 20. Infestation with Argulus spp. 21. Infestation with Dactylogyrus spp. 22. Infestation with Lernaea spp. 23. Infestation with Caligus spp.
13. (j) Mollusc diseases 1. Infection with Bonamia exitiosa. 2. Infection with Perkinsus olseni. 3. lnfection with abalone herpesvirus. 4. Infection with Xenohaliotis californiensis. 5. Infection with Marteilioides chungmuensis. 6. Acute viral necrosis (in scallops). 7. Akoya oyster disease. 8. Infection with Bomania ostreae. 9. Infection with Marteilia regringens. 10. Infection with Perkinsus marinus. 11. Infection with ostreid herpes virus.
14. (k) Crustacean diseases 1. Taura syndrome (TS). 2. White spot disease (WSD). 3. Yellowhead disease (YHD). 4. Infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis (IHHN). 5. Infectious myonecrosis (IMN). 6. White tail disease (MrNV). 7. Necrotising hepatopancreatitis (NHP). 8. Milky haemolymph disease of spiny lobster (Panulirus spp.). 9. Monodon slow growth syndrome. 10. Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome (AHPNS). 11. Hepatopancreatic parvovirus. 12. Monodon baculovirus. 13. Loose shell syndrome. 14. Soft shell syndrome. 15. Gaffkemia.
15. (l) Amphibian disease 1. Infection with Ranavirus. 2. Infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.
16. (m) Other diseases 1. Camel pox. 2. Leishmaniosis. 3. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.] STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS Adoption of improved animal husbandry practices by the livestock owners coupled with timely immunizations and treatment of affected animals along with effective prevention of spread of disease pathogens from an infected area to other areas can result in reducing incidence of the communicable diseases significantly. However, in India our efforts to control the major infectious and contagious diseases in animals like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS), Black Quarter (BQ), and Anthrax are constrained in the absence of a uniform legislation in the country. Even though the programme for dealing with the control and prevention of animal diseases has been going on since the second five Year Plan, these major diseases still continue to be serious threats to the livestock sector. 2. India is a member of the Office International Des Epizooties (OIE), Paris. For the import and export of animals and animal products (including milk, eggs, meat and other products and by-products) recognition by the OIE as regards freedom from particular disease or diseases in the country is necessary. This recognition is accorded by the OIE to the member countries, subject to the fulfilment of certain requirements, as prescribed in the International Animal Health Code (IAHC) of OIE. It is obligatory for the member countries to provide to the OIE information regarding animal health status and also to follow the OIE Guidelines on the control of animal diseases in order to get their recognition as regards the absence/presence of certain diseases, particularly the diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Rinderpest (RP), Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia, etc. The provisions of IAHC of OIE are binding on member countries for the purpose of international trade in animals and animal products. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Codex Alimentarius also recognise these provisions of the IAHC of OIE. It has, therefore, become necessary on the part of India to undertake necessary legislative measures to meet its obligations so as to enjoy the benefits under the International Animal Health Code. 3. The movement and transportation of animals from one part of the country to another, having become faster and more commonly in vogue, the spread of contagious diseases has also become easier. Some of the animal diseases such as Tuberculosis and Rabies are zoonotic in nature, ie. these are communicable to human beings. While creating awareness of animal diseases and popularisation of measures such as vaccination, to some extent, contribute to control the diseases, no appreciabie results could be achieved unless the law relating to animal diseases has a nation-wide impact. 4. It is, therefore, proposed to enact a suitable legislation by Parliament under article 253 of the Constitution for the prevention of infectious and contagious diseases in animals which will be a uniform law throughout the country. The proposed legislaltion will take care of outbreak of diseases in animals and provide for effectively controlling and containing infectious and contagious animal diseases including zoonotic diseases and thus prevent the spread of such diseases. 5. The proposed legislation, inter alia, seeks to provide for—
    • (i) monitoring, effective control and containment of infectious and contagious diseases which normally afflict animals so as to prevent the spread o fthe diseases and in due course eradicate them from the nation as a whole;
    • (ii) spelling out the diseases and declare certain areas as “controlled area” vis-àvis any particular disease; (iii)getting freedom from a specific disease in respect of the specified areas for facilitating the international trade of livestock and livestock products;
    • (iv) effective control, containment and eradication of infectious diseases from the country, by declaring the controlled areas;
    • (v) imposing of restrictions to regulate the movement of diseased animals;
    • (vi) allowing free movement of vaccinated and marked animals within the specified
    • (vii) ensuring protection from disease and eliminating the possibility of spreading of infection to healthy animals:
    • (viii) facilitating the implementation of the regulatory measures by providing check posts and quarantine stations. 6. The Notes on clauses explain in detail the various provisions contained in the Bill. 7. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objects. SHARAD PAWAR. NEW DELHI; The 8th December, 2005.

¹ Subs. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch., for “THE SCHEDULE” (w.e.f. 01-07-2026).