Under Government Decree 204, issued on 11/6, which outlines administrative penalties in the veterinary field, allowing dogs to roam unleashed in public areas will also incur fines of 1 to 2 million VND.

These new fines represent a significant increase, ranging from 400,000 VND to 1,2 million VND, compared to previous regulations. A 2017 government regulation stipulated fines of 600,000 to 800,000 VND for dog owners who failed to muzzle, leash, or accompany their dogs in public.

The new regulations also impose fines of 200,000 to 300,000 VND on animal owners who fail to vaccinate their animals or implement other mandatory disease prevention measures.

Failing to vaccinate animals against rabies will result in fines of 1 to 2 million VND. Additionally, individuals who do not isolate, care for, or treat sick animals, or those showing signs of illness, face fines up to 1,5 million VND.

Dogs roaming freely, unmuzzled, in Hanoi, 4/2022. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

Individuals who dispose of dead diseased animals or their products in public areas, or trade in animals with infectious diseases, will be fined 5 to 6 million VND.

Fines of 6 to 8 million VND will be imposed for: using veterinary drugs without a valid circulation certificate in Vietnam or lacking authorization from competent authorities; using veterinary drugs of unknown origin, expired products; or using veterinary drug ingredients, medical drug ingredients, or medical drugs inappropriately.

Individuals who improperly dispose of, or fail to dispose of, diseased or dead animals and their pathogen-carrying products requiring destruction, or fail to comply with measures for handling sick animals, animals showing signs of illness, or pathogen-carrying animal products, will face fines up to 8 million VND.

Illegally transporting diseased animals, their products, or waste carrying dangerous infectious pathogens out of an epidemic zone will result in fines of 15 to 20 million VND.

Fines of 4 to 5 million VND will be levied for: trading animals in markets that do not adhere to planning; lack separate areas for each species; use substandard equipment or water; fail to disinfect or sterilize; or do not collect waste.

Organizations committing these violations will face double the corresponding fines.

The decree takes effect on 1/8.

Vu Tuan