Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Act is to contribute to improving animal veterinary, to encouraging the livestock industry, and to promoting national health by reasonably performing affairs concerning the epidemics control, inspection and research of animals and livestock products by establishing animal veterinary service laboratories.
Article 2(Establishment) #
(1) There may be established an animal veterinary services laboratory (hereinafter referred to as a "laboratory") in the Special Metropolitan City, a Metropolitan City, the Special Self-Governing City, a Do, and the Special Self-Governing Province (hereinafter referred to as a "City/Do").
(2) Matters necessary for establishing a laboratory shall be prescribed by municipal ordinance of the relevant City/Do.
Article 3(Establishment of branches) #
The Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, the Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor and the Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as a "Mayor/Do Governor") may establish branches by municipal ordinance of the relevant City/Do where he or she deems it necessary to establish them in consideration of the number of bred livestock, workload, local conditions, etc., in a district under his or her jurisdiction. <Amended on Sep. 14, 2023>
Article 4(Prohibition of use of similar name) #
No person which is not a laboratory under this Act shall use the name of an animal veterinary services laboratory or similar. <Amended on Sep. 14, 2023>
[Title Amended on Sep. 14, 2023]
Article 5(Business affairs) #
(1) Laboratories shall conduct business affairs on the following matters: <Amended on Sep. 14, 2023>
1. Matters concerning the diagnosis, inspection, testing, investigation, and research of livestock diseases (including contagious animal diseases defined in subparagraph 2 of Article 2 of the Act on the Prevention of Contagious Animal Diseases), and guidance, supervision, and education of veterinary inspectors;
2. Matters concerning the inspection, sanitary control and removal of livestock products under the Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act;
3. Matters concerning the technical guidance and check-up of the inspection affairs of the institutions related to animal disease control and livestock product sanitation, which are under the jurisdiction of the relevant laboratory;
4. Matters concerning the diagnosis of diseases (including infectious diseases) of companion animals under subparagraph 7 of Article 2 of the Animal Protection Act, and the conduct of animal testing under subparagraph 12 of that Article;
5. Matters related to the diseases (including infectious diseases) of wild animals under subparagraph 8 of Article 2 of the Wildlife Protection and Management Act, and the diagnosis of diseases under subparagraph 9 of that Article;
6. Other matters concerning the inspection, test, investigation, and research deemed necessary by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister of Food and Drug Safety, or the Mayor/Do Governor for the purposes of animal quarantine, livestock product sanitation, and livestock promotion.
(2) Necessary matters concerning the scope and procedures of inspection, testing, investigation, etc., when conducting the business affairs under paragraph (1) and the scope of the institutions related to animal disease control and livestock product sanitation, which are under the jurisdiction of the relevant laboratory, shall be prescribed by municipal ordinance of the relevant City/Do. <Amended on Feb. 11, 2020>
Article 6(Head of laboratory) #
(1) A laboratory shall have one director and necessary public officials. <Amended on Sep. 14, 2023>
(2) The head of a laboratory shall be appointed by the Mayor/Do Governor from among those who have engaged in animal quarantine and livestock product sanitation for at least 8 years and who possess substantial knowledge and experience in animal quarantine and livestock product sanitation. <Amended on Sep. 14, 2023>
(3) The head shall, upon the order of the relevant Mayor/Do Governor, exercise overall control of the business affairs of the laboratory and shall direct and supervise the public officials belonging to the laboratory.
(4) The ranks and the statutory number of public officials assigned to a laboratory or its branch office shall be prescribed by Municipal Ordinance of the relevant City/Do. <Added on Sep. 14, 2023>
Article 7(Use of facilities) #
A laboratory may permit veterinarians, medical doctors, dentists, Korean traditional medical doctors, and pharmacists, as well as persons engaged in the fields of veterinary science, animal husbandry, ecology, or environment, to use its facilities for research and testing concerning animals and livestock products, or may conduct experiments or tests concerning animals and livestock products at the request of others. <Amended on Sep. 14, 2023>
Article 8(Charge) #
(1) A laboratory may receive a charge or a usage fee from a person who uses it facilities or requests any experiment or inspection.
(2) Charges or usage fees under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by municipal ordinance of the relevant City/Do in accordance with the standards determined by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Minister of Food and Drug Safety.
Article 9(State subsidization) #
The State may partially subsidize the expenses incurred in conducting business affairs of laboratories and branch offices within the budget.
Article 10(Guidance) #
(1) Where the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or the Minister of Food and Drug Safety deems it necessary to enhance the capacity of City/Do governments in animal quarantine and livestock product sanitation, they may provide technical guidance to the relevant laboratories concerning quarantine, livestock product sanitation management, inspection, testing, investigation, and research. <Amended on Sep. 14, 2023>
(2) Matters necessary for technical guidance under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Minister of Food and Drug Safety.
Article 11(Administrative fine) #
(1) A person who uses the name of an animal veterinary services laboratory or similar in violation of Article 4 shall be punished by an administrative fine not exceeding 10 million won. <Amended on Feb. 11, 2020; Sep. 14, 2023>
(2) Mayors/Do Governors impose and collect administrative fines under paragraph (1).