PUNJAB ANIMAL HEALTH ACT 2019

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THE PUNJAB ANIMAL HEALTH ACT 2019 
(XXXII of 2019) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Declaration of controlled areas  
4. Contents of a disease-free area notification 
5. Contents of eradication area notification 
6. Identification of animals for purposes of certification 
7. Vaccination and other preventive measures with regard to controlled 
 areas 
8. Movement into and removal of animals from controlled areas 
9. Cleansing and disinfection 
10. Duty of certain persons to report the existence of scheduled diseases 
11. Separation of animals 
12. Biosecurity measures 
13. Authorization as Competent Officers 
14. Vaccination and issuance of vaccination certificate  
15. Check posts and quarantine units 
16. Welfare of animals 
17. Powers of entry and inspection 
18. Powers to hold post-mortem examination 
19. Enforcement of orders and disposal of carcass 
20. Prohibition for throwing infected animal or carcass in river, etc 
21. Prevention of escape of causative organism 
22. Penalties 
23. The Tribunal 
 
 
24. Cognizance of offence 
25. Appeal 
26. Indemnity 
27. Power to amend the Schedule 
28. Power to remove difficulties 
29. Power to make rules 
30. Power to frame regulations 
31. Repeal and savings 
SCHEDULE 
[see sections 2(u) & section 27] 
 
 
 
  
 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB ANIMAL HEALTH ACT 2019 
 (XXXII of 2019) 
    [13th December, 2019] 
An 
Act 
to regulate the prevention, control, containment and eradication of scheduled animal 
diseases. 
It is necessary to enac t law for prevention, control, containment and eradication of 
animal diseases to meet the international standards of import and export of animals 
and animal products and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. 
Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Animal Health Act 2019. 
(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.– In this Act: 
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Animal Health Act 2019; 
(b) “animal” includes cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, camel, horse, ass, mule, 
wild animal’s poultry, pheasant, quail, geese, ostrich, zoo birds; and 
any other animal or bird as the Government may, by notification, 
specify; 
(c) “animal market” means a place where persons assemble for the sale 
and purchase of livestock or animals and includes any place which 
may be notified as an animal market under the local government law 
for the time being in force; 
(d) “animal product” means anything originating or made, whether in whole 
or in part, from an animal or from a carcass and includes blood, bones, 
casings, dairy products, eggs, fat, feedstuffs of animal origin, fish 
products, hair hides, horns, hooves, hormones and their biological 
preparations and other substances of animal origin which may be 
specified by the Government;  
(e) “animal welfare” means the condition in which an animal is required to 
be kept in view of its physical and mental needs; 
(f) “carcass” means the carcass of an animal and inc ludes any part or 
portion thereof; 
(g) “check post” means any site declared as such by the Government to 
carry out checking of animals for purposes of the Act; 
(h) ‘Chief Veterinary Officer’ means an officer designated as such by the 
Government for purposes of the Act; 
                                                      
1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 2 5 November 2019; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab 
on 10 December 2019; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13 December 2019, pp.2627-2634. 
 
 
(i) “competent officer” means an officer authorized to perform functions 
under the Act; 
(j) "compulsory vaccination" means vaccination of any animal against any 
scheduled disease in respect of which vaccination is made mandatory 
under the provisions of the Act; 
(k) “Department” means Livestock and Dairy Development Department of 
the Government; 
(l) “diseased” means suffering from or carrying any infectious or 
contagious disease or such disease as included in the schedule; 
(m) Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(n) “infected animal" means an animal which is infected with any 
scheduled disease or has recently been in contact with, or in close 
proximity to an animal so affected; 
(o) “person” includes a company or other entity incorporated under any law 
for the time being in force; 
(p) “person in charge of an animal” means the owner of the animal or any 
other person for the time being in possession or custody of the animal; 
(q) "prescribed" means prescribed by the rules or the regulations made or 
framed under the Act; 
(r) "quarantine unit" means a site or premises provided to be declared by 
the authorized officer for segregation and examination of apparently 
healthy animals before entry and exit from the controlled area; 
(s) “regulations” means the regulations framed under the Act; 
(t) “rules” means the rules made under this Act; 
(u) "Schedule" means the Schedule appended to the Act; 
(v) “scheduled disease” means any disease included in the Schedule 
appended to the Act; 
(w) “traceability” means the methods and tools used for linking the 
identification of live animals and the products of animal origin; 
(x) “vaccination certificate” means a certificate issued by the authorized 
officer after inoculation of vaccine; and  
(y) “vehicle” includes every vehicle used as a means of transport. 
3. Declaration of controlled are as.– (1) The Government may, by notification 
in the official Gazette, declare an area to be a disease -free area or an eradication 
area in respect of any scheduled disease. 
(2) A notification shall be issued after a general survey or such other 
checks as may be found necessary, which shall be publicly available. 
(3) A notification under subsection (1) shall remain valid for a period of five 
years unless modified, varied or annulled before that period due to occurrence of a 
disease in a disease-free area or increase in disease in an eradication area. 
(4) Delimitation of a disease -free area or an eradication area shall be 
made in a manner that entry of animals in the area is effectively controlled.  
(5) The areas subject to a notification under subsection (1), shall 
collectively be called controlled areas.  
 
 
 
4. Contents of a disease -free area notification .– (1) Where the Government 
declares an area as a disease-free area, it shall specify in the notification: 
(a) disease(s) of which the area is completely free; 
(b) certification that is required in order to move an animal into the 
area; and  
(c) points where regular checking shall take place. 
(2) Where an area has been declared to be a disease -free area, the 
Government shall have the status of the area verified through independent 
inspectors once in every five years period. 
5. Contents of eradication area notification. – (1) Where the Government 
declares an area as an eradication area, it shall specify in the notification: 
(a) disease(s) of which the area is substantially free; 
(b) certification that is required in order to move an animal into or 
out of the area; and 
(c) the areas where regular checking shall take place. 
(2) Where an area has been declared as an eradication area, the 
Government shall take such measures, including vacc ination, disease treatment or 
culling, as are necessary for complete eradication of the disease from that area. 
6. Identification of animals for purposes of certification .– (1) The 
Government shall prescribe by rules or regulations mechanism for traceability of 
animals including but not limited to: 
(a) the time of marking identification; 
(b) the maintenance of information regarding marked animals or 
animals carrying identification; and 
(c) the passport that an animal shall carry when entering a disease -
free area or eradication area for purposes of the Act. 
(2) Any person who violates any provision of the rules or the regulations 
made or framed under subsection (1), shall be g uilty of an offence punishable with 
fine which may extend to rupees two hundred thousand. 
7. Vaccination and other preventive measures with regard to controlled 
areas.– (1) All animals in a controlled area shall be subjected to compulsory 
vaccination against such scheduled diseases and such other preventive measures, 
in such manner and within such time as may be provided in a notification to be 
issued by the Government. 
(2) Where an area has been declared as a disease -free area, no animal of 
any other susceptible species, with regard to which it is a disease -free area, shall be 
allowed to enter into that area unless duly immunized by vaccination against that 
particular disease. 
(3) Where samples are taken for identification of diseases from a 
controlled area, they shall be checked from a laboratory which the Government may 
notify after the requisite quality checks. 
 
 
8. Movement into and removal of animals from controlled areas .– The 
Government shall by regulations provide for: 
(a) regulating the movement of a nimals generally and into or out of a 
disease free or an eradication area; 
(b) regulating the grazing of animals for purposes of disease control; 
(c) removal or disposal of carcasses of diseased animals; 
(d) removal of fodder, litter, dung or any article which has had  contact with 
diseased animals and may cause the spread of a disease; 
(e) prescribing and regulating the issue and production of licenses 
respecting movement and removal of animals and the use of vessels or 
vehicles for carrying animals or for any connected purpose; and 
(f) recovery of expenses from an owner of an animal for enforcing the 
regulations framed under this section. 
9. Cleansing and disinfection .– The Government shall by regulations provide 
for: 
(a) cleansing and disinfection of places used for holding or ar ranging 
animal fairs, animal markets, animal exhibitions, or of places of 
animals, sheds and stables used for animals; 
(b) cleansing and disinfection of vehicles, vessels and aircraft used for 
carrying animals; 
(c) disinfection of clothes of a person coming in con tact with or employed 
about diseased animals or suspected animals; and  
(d) modes of cleansing and disinfection. 
10. Duty of certain persons to report the existence of scheduled diseases. – 
(1) In every controlled area, a report that an animal is infected by on e or more 
scheduled disease(s), shall be made to the local veterinary officer by: 
(a) every person in charge of an animal who comes to know that an animal 
is infected; 
(b) every veterinary practitioner who is called for veterinary treatment or to 
whom an animal is brought for treatment; 
(c) every veterinary assistant who visits an animal for provision of any 
veterinary service; and 
(d) every person who is in charge of certifying animal health in a public or 
private slaughter house. 
(2) The veterinary officer to whom report has been made under subsection 
(1), shall immediately transmit the same to the Chief Veterinary Officer where the 
report indicates that an animal afflicted with  a disease has been found in an area 
which was free of that disease. 
(3) The veterinary officer in addition to transmitting the report mentioned in 
subsection (2), shall immediately proceed to the place where the reported animal is 
present and determine wh ether the report is authentic and whether any measures 
are required to be taken to ensure control of disease. 
 
 
(4) The veterinary officer shall intimate the measures to be taken to ensure 
control of disease to the Additional Director Livestock and the perso n in charge of 
the infected animal. 
 
11. Separation of animals.– (1) Every person having in his possession or under 
his charge an animal affected with disease shall as far as practicable keep that 
animal separate from animals not so affected and shall abid e by any instructions 
given to him by the local veterinary officer for control of disease. 
(2) The Government may by regulations provide for the manner of 
separation of animals suspected of diseases and rendering of information regarding 
such animals. 
(3) Any person other than a person having a duty to report the existence of 
disease under section 7(1), who comes to know that an animal is affected by rabies, 
shall give notice of the fact with all practicable promptness to the nearest police 
officer. 
12. Biosecurity measures: – (1) The  Government shall issue regulations to 
provide for appropriate biosecurity measures to be taken in relation to Foot and 
Mouth Disease and such other diseases as may require such measures. 
(2) The biosecurity measures under subsec tion (1), shall be issued after 
appropriate consultation with biosecurity experts. 
13. Authorization as Competent Officers .– The Government may, by 
notification in the official Gazette, authorize such number of officers, to undertake 
such powers under the Act in specified local limits of their respective jurisdiction, as 
may be specified in the notification. 
14. Vaccination and issuance of vaccination certificate .– (1) The Government 
may by notification in the official Gazette require that one or more vacci nations in a 
controlled area or outside of it shall be administered by such officers or officials as 
may be notified.  
(2) Where vaccination has been carried out by a notified officer or official, 
such officer or official shall issue a certificate in the prescribed manner.  
15. Check posts and quarantine units .– (1) The Chief Veterinary Officer may 
declare as many quarantine units within the province as may be required for the 
quarantine of animals suffering from any scheduled disease or suspected of being in 
close proximity of such animals, and the quarantine unit in the close proximity of a 
controlled area shall act as temporary animal stay before entry or exit from such 
controlled area. 
(2) Any animal required to be inspected, vaccinated, or marked may be  
kept in the quarantine unit for such period as the competent officer may direct. 
(3) The officer in charge of the quarantine unit shall, at the time of release 
of an animal from the station, grant a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed 
by the Department, to the person taking charge of the animal, and every such person 
shall be bound to produce the certificate whenever required to do so by the 
competent officer. 
16. Welfare of animals.– (1) The Government may, by regulations, provide for: 
 
 
(a) holding, feeding and treatment of animals which is necessary for 
animal welfare; 
(b) use of animals for transport; 
(c) prevention of cruelty to animals; 
(d) prevention of neglect to animals; and 
(e) charges which a person shall be liable to pay on account of a local 
government or any other organization providing for animals which have 
been subjected to cruelty or neglect by him or by persons acting under 
his instructions. 
(2) A violation of the regulations framed under subsection (1), shall be 
punishable wi th fine which may extend to rupees fifty thousand, and in case of 
cruelty, it shall also be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three 
months. 
17. Powers of entry and inspection .– The Additional Director livestock 
concerned or an officer author ized by him  may inspect animals kept in open area, 
close premises, building, vessel or vehicle for the purpose of ensuring compliance of 
the provisions of the Act, the rules or the regulations made or framed thereunder. 
18. Powers to hold post -mortem exami nation.– Where a competent officer, 
has reason to believe that the death of an animal has been caused by an infection 
with any scheduled disease, he may make or cause to be made a post -mortem 
examination of the animal and for that purpose he may cause the carcass of any 
such animal to be exhumed wherever required followed by the proper disposal after 
necessary examination and post-mortem. 
19. Enforcement of orders and disposal of carcass .– Where a person or 
authority is required to take any measures regarding an animal or carcass of an 
animal in his custody or charge, by any rules, regulations, notification, notice, 
requisition, order or direction made under the Act, the owner or the person in custody 
shall immediately do the same: 
Provided that in ca se of a stray or ownerless animal, carcass of such animal 
or parts thereof, the same shall be immediately disposed of by the local government 
concerned. 
20. Prohibition for throwing infected animal or carcass in river, etc .– 
Whoever throws or causes or per mits to throw in any river, lake, canal or any other 
water channel, the carcass or any part of the carcass of any animal which at the time 
of its death was known to be infected, shall be guilty of an offence which shall be 
punished, in case offence committed for the first  time, with fine which may extend to 
fifteen thousand rupees and in case of non-payment of fine with imprisonment of one 
month and in case of any subsequent offence with a fine which may extend to twenty 
five thousand rupees or imprisonmen t for a term which may extend to three months 
or with both. 
21. Prevention of escape of causative organism .– (1) In very institution or 
laboratory engaged in the manufacture, testing or research related to vaccines, sera, 
diagnostics or chemotherapeutic dr ugs aimed at the prevention or treatment of any 
scheduled disease, adequate precautionary measures shall be taken to:  
(a) ensure that the causative organism of any scheduled disease 
does not escape or otherwise get released; 
 
 
(b) guard against any such escape or release; and 
(c) warn and protect all concerned in the event of any escape. 
(2) Every person who is in charge of or has the control of an institution, 
laboratory or clinic referred in subsection (1), shall comply with the provisions of 
subsection (1) and in the  event of non -compliance, he shall be guilty of an offence 
punishable with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees or imprisonment 
for a term which may extend to six months or with both, and in case the 
establishment is in commercial manufacturing of vaccines or medicine, a temporary 
suspension of license up to a period of one year.  
(3) Any animal infected with a scheduled disease, particularly of zoonotic 
disease, shall be segregated for observation and if required shall be euthanized 
upon approva l by the Additional Director livestock concerned to prevent spread of 
disease to other animals in best interest of public health. 
(4) In order to prevent spread of causative organism, no organization or 
institution shall hold any animal market, animal fare , animal exhibition or carry any 
other activity which involves grouping or gathering of any species of animals within a 
notified controlled area without permission of the Chief Veterinary Officer. 
22. Penalties.– Any person who contravenes the provisions o f the Act, except 
sections 16 and 17, or obstructs any competent officer in performance of his duties 
shall be guilty of an offence punishable with fine which may extend to ten thousand 
rupees and in case of non -payment of fine with an imprisonment for a t erm which 
may extend to one month; and in the case of any subsequent offence, with a fine of 
twenty thousand rupees and in case of non -payment of fine with imprisonment for a 
term which may extend to two months. 
23. The Tribunal.– (1) An offence punishable  under the Act shall be exclusively 
triable by the Tribunal constituted under section 38 of the Punjab Livestock Breeding 
Act 2014 (XIII of 2014), in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal 
Procedure 1898 (V of 1898), as if the Tribunal were a court of sessions. 
(2) The Tribunal may try an offence under the Act in a summary manner in 
terms of Chapter XXII of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (V of 1898). 
24. Cognizance of offence .– The Tribunal shall not take cognizance of an 
offence punishable under the Act except on the complaint of the Deputy Director 
Livestock concerned. 
25. Appeal.– Any person aggrieved by a final order of the Tribunal may, within 
thirty days from the date of c ommunication of the sentence, prefer an appeal to 
Lahore High Court. 
26. Indemnity.– A suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall not lie against 
an officer of the Livestock and Dairy Development Department of the Government for 
anything done or intended to be done in good faith under the Act. 
27. Power to amend the Schedule.– The Government may, by notification in the 
official Gazette, add to, or omit from the Schedule any animal disease. 
28. Power to remove difficulties .– (1) If any difficulty aris es in giving effect to 
the provisions of the Act, the Government may, within two years of the enactment of 
the Act, by notification in the Official Gazette, make such provisions, not inconsistent 
with the provisions of the Act, as appear necessary for removing the difficulty. 
 
 
(2) Every notification issued under subsection (1) shall, as soon as may be 
after its issuance, be laid before Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. 
 
29. Power to make rules .– The Government may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the provisions of the Act. 
30. Power to frame regulations .– Subject to the Act and the rules, the 
Government or the Department, by notification in the Official Gazette, may frame 
regulations for carrying out the provisions of the Act. 
31. Repeal and savings.– (1) The Glanders and Farcy Act, 1899 and the 
Dourine Act, 1910 in their application to Punjab are hereby repealed. 
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Acts under subsection (1), the repeal 
shall not: 
(a) affect the previous  operation of any such provision of law or 
anything duly done or suffered thereunder; 
(b) affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued 
or incurred under any such provision of law; 
(c) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of 
any offence committed against any such provision of law; or 
(d) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of 
any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or 
punishment as aforesaid; and e very 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. 
(3) Anything done or any action taken under any p rovision of the repealed 
Acts, including any notification, order, notice or receipt issued or declaration made, 
shall in so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act, be deemed to 
have been done, taken, issued or made under the correspon ding provisions of the 
Act, and shall continue in force accordingly, unless and until superseded by anything 
done or any action taken under the Act. 
 
 
  
 
 
SCHEDULE 
[see sections 2(u) & section 27] 
 
1. Anaplasmosis 
2. Anthrax 
3. Avian influenza 
4. Babesiosis 
5. Black Quarters 
6. Blue Tongue 
7. Brucellosis 
8. Bovine Ephemeral Fever (BEF) 
9. Bovine Spongiform  Encephalopathy (Mad Cow) 
10. Bovine Tuberculosis (BTb) 
11. Bovine Viral Diarrhoea 
12. Buffalo Pox/Cow Pox 
13. Camel Pox 
14. Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia 
15. Contagious Caprine Pleuro-pneumonia 
16. Caprine Pustular Dermatitis 
17. Enterotoxaemia 
18. Equine Influenza 
19. Foot and Mouth Disease 
20. Glanders 
21. Haemorrhagic Septicaemia 
22. Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) 
23. Newcastle’s Disease 
24. Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) 
25. Rabies 
26. Scrapie 
27. Sheep and Goat Pox 
28. Strangles 
29. Surra 
30. Theileriosis 
31. Trypnosomiasis 
32. Vesicular Stomatitis 
33. Johne’s Disease