This Law consists of 121 articles, divided into 12 sections and defines the framework of principles, rules and regulations related to the organisation, management and inspection of livestock production and veterinary activities in order to boost, promote and develop the national potential in animal production, related livestock resources and agricultural development. This Law applies to individuals, legal entities or organisations, both domestic and foreign, engaged in animal husbandry and veterinary activities in Lao PDR Section 1, general provisions, concerns the purpose of the Law; the definition of relevant terms, including: livestock, veterinarians, animal, animal welfare, animal products, veterinary products, hazardous substances, animal diseases, risk of spread of harmful substances, risk assessment, slaughterhouse, livestock breeding grounds, disease free-zone, epidemic control area, family animal husbandry, animal cruelty, registration of livestock breeds; genetic products of livestock; government policies on animal husbandry and veterinary; principles on animal husbandry and veterinary. Section 2 concerns animal husbandry and provides for the following matters: livestock activities, including: livestock development plan; livestock survey; land use for livestock; research and experimentation; animal species and animal feed development and management; registration of animal prints; use of pets.
Section 3 concerns veterinary functions and it is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 provides for: prevention and control of animal diseases, including: animal diseases to be notified, outbreaks of animal diseases; strategies for prevention and control of animal diseases; veterinary epidemiology network; application of pre-disease measures and vaccination; animal disease surveillance; notification of sick or dead animals; certification of animal epidemic; proclamation and abolition of animal disease control zones; measures to respond to animal disease outbreaks; slaughter of animals and destruction of carcasses to control the spread of animal diseases; compensation; health of stray aquatic animals, wildlife and stray livestock; support plans and emergency plans to control the spread of animal diseases; early warning system; sanitary and dissemination measures; animal health education. Chapter 2 provides for treatment of animals and use of veterinary medicines. Chapter 3 concerns movement of animal products, including: veterinary checkpoint; movement of domestic animal products; improvements in the importation of animal products; inspection of animal products; revision of export and transit of animal products; issuance of international veterinary certificates; animal quarantine facilities. Chapter 4 concerns slaughter and inspection of meat, including: slaughter of cattle, buffaloes, herds, goats, sheep, poultry; meat hygiene inspection in accordance with international food safety codes; processing, storage, packaging and transformation of primary animal products. Chapter 5 concerns animal welfare, including: raising of animals; transportation of animals; killing of animals; treatment of experimental animals for public benefit; treatment of stateless animals. Further sections concern: animal husbandry and veterinary promotion; livestock business and veterinary business, including: control of livestock farms and small-scale animal husbandry, control of use of drugs and veterinary medicines; livestock and veterinary professions; rights and obligations of livestock and veterinary employees, entrepreneurs and consumers; general prohibitions; dispute resolution; management and inspection of livestock and veterinary work; national animal vaccination day; measures against violators; final provisions.