Another reason why I am reluctant to write about animals is there is usually not good news to tell, except this time. Good things also happen; a new regulation has passed to improve conditions at animal hospitals in Turkey. The legislation, called “Hayvan Hastanelerinin Kuruluş, Açılış, Çalışma Ve Denetlenme Usulve Esaslarına Dair Yönetmelik” (Regulation on Veterinary Hospitals, their Establishment, Duties, Auditing Methods and its Principles) and dating back to 1999, has recently been significantly modified, and the new, amended regulation is now in force with a better and shorter name, Veterinary Hospitals Regulation (Hayvan Hastaneleri Yönetmeliği). This, at least, is a fantastic name change considering the former name was ridiculous. The previous regulations have been changed as part of Turkey's efforts to conform to EU standards.
Since the Veterinary Hospitals Regulation has come into effect, new rules apply, and a veterinary hospital license issued during the previous regulation period must now be modified within two years, according to Temporary Article 1 of the new regulations. Failing to renew the license within two years will result in its cancellation.
Like all others, the regulation also sets forth some requirements for the bureaucracy, but this time, I see the requirements are aimed at hospitals. Article 5 of the new regulation stipulates the requirements to obtain permission to establish a veterinary hospital are: (i) a declaration made by the intended owner (ii) a plan for the location of the hospital and its surroundings that has been approved by the “imar müdürlüğü” (the development directorate -- this means no more ridiculous basements will be used as animal hospitals, and an animal hospital will be built with a zoning license (iii) providing the lease contract or title deed, or its notarized copy. For legal persons, providing a commercial registry gazette, signature declaration (an official document signed before a notary by company directors which determines the directors' powers) and board decision. As you can see, it has been ensured that opening an animal hospital is no joke.
Article 6 of this law stipulates the required documents, and I will only mention the important ones here to demonstrate the improvements in the regulation: (i) contract, which must be signed by the hospital director (now, we have a hospital director who is jointly responsible with the owner of the business) and veterinary surgeon. This contract must be certified by the regional chamber of veterinary surgeons, and it must be notarized. (ii) a recent Veterinary Chamber (union) certificate of membership and a Turkish Atomic Energy Authority License. I was really surprised to see this atomic energy license when I first read about it, and I wondered if there was a mistake. Then I realized that animal hospitals now are required to have X-ray equipment, and the license for this equipment is provided by this fantastic department, which is authorized for several things you would not believe. I even once had to obtain a report for a client to export marble to Austria that showed the marble was under a specified level of radioactivity.
NOTE: Berk Çektir is a licensed attorney at law and available to answer questions on the legal aspects of living in Turkey. Please send inquiries to b.cektir@todayszaman.com. If a sender's letter is published, names may be disclosed unless otherwise expressly stated by the sender.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided here is intended to give basic legal information. You should seek legal assistance from a licensed attorney when conducting legal transactions and not rely solely on the information in this column.
