Law of Georgia on Public Health

Law of Georgia

on Public Health

Chapter I – General Provisions

Article 1 − Purpose of the Law

The purpose of this Law is to promote public health and healthy lifestyle practices, ensure environmental health, promote family reproductive health, and prevent the spread of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Article 2 − Scope of the Law

1. This Law shall apply to all natural and legal persons on the territory of Georgia.

2. This Law shall not apply to individual treatment and rehabilitation of natural persons, unless directly proceeding from this Law.

Article 3 − Definition of terms

The terms used in this Law have the following meanings:

a) public health – a set of measures aimed at improving public health, disease prevention and disease control;

b) the Ministry – the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia;

c) a Public Health Office – a public health office of the Ministry;

d) a health care provider – a natural or legal person providing health care, who holds a state certificate for independent medical practice or a licence to engage in a specificmedical practice;

e) epidemic – growing prevalence of a disease, compared to the expected (background) rateon a specific territory or in a specific population group over a particular period of time;

f) anepidemic outbreak – a sharp increase in the incidence of a communicable disease in a limited number of the populationover a short period of time;

g) pandemic – an extremely wide spreading of a communicable disease (throughout several countries, continents, or worldwide), affecting a significant part of the population;

h) epidemicfocus – a location of a source of an infection and its adjacent territory within which a healthy person may, under given conditions, be infected with a pathogen;

i) extremely dangerous infections – diseases caused by highly pathogenic biological agents that posean extreme risk to human and/or animal health;

i¹) extremely dangerous pathogens (EDPs) – highly infectious biological agents and toxins causing those extremely dangerous infections that can severely affect public health and security;

j) epidemiological surveillance – aperpetual systemof collecting, analysing and disseminating public health information;

k) isolation – keeping a diseased or an infected person separatelyfrom others for the period of communicability of the disease by placing him/her in such a place and/or in such conditions thatwould restrict or prevent direct or indirect transmission of the disease from him/her to another person;

l) quarantine measures – a set of measures applied to a person who is not diseased but has been exposed to a communicable disease case during the period of communicability;

m) preventive therapy – medical intervention (vaccination, treatment with specific medicines)  to prevent spread of communicable diseases in the population at risk;

n) preventiveshot – injection of a vaccine in humans (vaccination) for the purpose of developing specific immunity against communicable diseases;

o) the National Immunisation Schedule – a list of infectious diseases obligatorily requiring a preventive shot, and age criteria, time-frames and procedures of immunisation;

p) a nosocomial infection – an infection acquired at health care facilities;

q) a zoonotic disease – a disease transmittable between animals and humans;

r) a pathogenic biological agent – a micro-organism, a biological toxin, as well as any object or material containing them;

s) International Health Regulations (IHR) – a resolutionadopted by the 58^th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization, which is an international legal instrument for theprevention of the spread of diseases;

t) biosafety – a system of organisational, biomedical, engineering and technological measures and mechanisms intended to prevent personnel, population and environment exposure to pathogenic biological agents;

u) turnover of chemical substances – import, export and transit of chemical substances;

v) sanitary norms – mandatory technical regulations determined by the Ministry for ensuring public health;

w) hygiene norms – mandatory norms determined by the Ministry for a specific group;

x) fortified food products – food products enriched with microelements and vitamins intended for the prevention of diseases caused by vitamin and microelement deficiency;

y) a specific group – for the purposes of this Law, persons with limited or nocapability of making independent decision (minors, persons with disabilities, the elderly, inpatients),and those, whose freedom of action has been restricted by the state.

z) the National Public Health Care Recommendations (Guidelines)– evidence-based national recommendations approved by the Ministry for planning and management of the measurements for the prevention and investigation, epidemiological surveillance and epidemiological control of infectious and non-infectious diseases; and the measurements that contribute to human health and ensure safe environment for the health.

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Law of Georgia No 3115 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.7.2018

Law of Georgia No 3115 of 14 November 2018 – website, 3.12.2018

Article 4 − Basic principles of the Law

Basic principles of this Law shall be:

a) to ensure necessary measures to prevent risks related to public health;

b) to ensure explicit delineation of the competences of state authorities in the field of public health and their close informative coordination in planning and implementation of health care measures;

c) to ensure explicit delineation of powers of state authorities and of municipalities in the field of public health;

d) to protect public health by adherence to human rights and fundamental freedoms, as provided for by the international agreements and treaties of Georgia and the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 6890 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.7.2020

Chapter II – Rights and Obligations of the Population and Legal Persons in the Field of Public Health

Article 5 − Rights and obligations of the population and legal persons in the field of public health

1. Every person on the territory of Georgia shall be obliged to:

a) restrain from carrying out activities posing the risk of spreading communicable or noncommunicable diseases, and other risks related to public health;

b) undergo all medical procedures, as required by appropriate authorities,necessary to prevent health risks for other persons, in case of danger of emergence and spread of communicable diseases;

c) terminatean activity,if itposes a public health risk;

d) observe sanitary and epidemiological norms;

e) notify a Public Health Office of all emergency situations caused by violating sanitary norms in production and technological processes;

f) undergo vaccination,in the absence of medical contraindications, in the case of a risk of a possible outbreak or spread of a communicable disease or a threat of an epidemic;

g) undergo immunisation, if his/her occupation is related to a high risk of exposure to communicable diseases.

h) observe the National Immunisation Schedule in accordance with the procedure and within the framework established by the legislation of Georgia.

2. Every person on the territory of Georgia shall have the right to:

a) be protected from communicable diseases at health care facilities;

b) refuse to undergo immunisation procedures, if there is no risk of epidemic or pandemic;a person, whose occupation is related to a high risk of exposure to communicable diseases shall not have the right to refuse to undergo immunisation procedures;

c) live in a healthy environment;

d) be timely provided with comprehensive information on the essence and necessity of a preventive shot, expected clinical outcomes, the risks associated with the preventive shot, and possible consequences of refusing to receive the preventive shot.

3. All the enterprises shall be obliged to:

a) observethe applicable public health legislation of Georgia;

b) notify a Public Health Office of all emergency situations caused by violating sanitary norms in production and technological processes.

3¹. All persons, whose activity is associated with carrying out aesthetic and cosmetic procedures in public places, shall observe the technical regulations – aesthetic and sanitary norms of infection prevention and control while carrying out aesthetic and cosmetic procedures in public places.

3². Persons defined in paragraph 3¹ of this article shall register the relevant activity in the registry of economic activities in accordance with the procedure provided for by the legislation of Georgia, and in the case of commencement or termination of the economic activity, and/or in the case of any change in the registered data related to this activity shall apply to the National Agency of Public Registry, a legal entity under public law operating under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, in order to include the change in the registry of economic activities in accordance with the procedure provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

4. Non-compliance with this article shall be punishable under the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 5571 of 24 June 2016 – website, 13.7.2016

Law of Georgia No 3115 of 14 November 2018 – website, 3.12.2018

Chapter III – Prevention of Communicable Diseases

Article 6 − Obligations of the State in the prevention of communicable diseases

The state shall ensure:

a) organisation and surveillance ofpreventive shots determinedby the National Immunisation Schedule;

b) organisation and surveillance of supply, storage and transportationof preparations necessary for preventive shotsdeterminedby the National Immunisation Schedule;

c) organisation of immunisation and effective detection of communicable diseases, in the case of epidemiological indications.

Article 7 − Obligations of the Ministry in the prevention of communicable diseases

1. The Ministry shall ensure:

a) epidemiological surveillance of communicable diseases;

b) prevention of the spread of communicable diseases, including immunisation ;

c) surveillance ofimmunisation determined by the National Immunisation Schedule and/or by epidemiological indications;

d) production of national statistics on vaccination performed according to the National Immunisation Schedule;

e) production of statistics on prevalence of communicable diseases, including extremely dangerous infections;

f) laboratory confirmation of epidemic outbreaks and epidemics;

g) treatment of infected persons in order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases;

h) accessibily to immunisation determined by the National Immunisation Schedule for persons staying on the territory of Georgia.

2. In order to organise the immunisation process, the Ministry shall:

a) determine times and procedures of immunisation and the forms of medical documents and immunisation cards;

b) decide on the commencement of immunisation to prevent diseases determined by epidemiological indications;

c) ensure maximum coverage of persons residing in Georgia by vaccination determined by the National Immunisation Schedule;

d) control supplying health care providers with high quality, effective and safe preparations necessary for immunisation of the population;

e) determine the procedure for storage and transportation of preparations necessary for immunisation;

f) supervise the storage and transportation of preparations necessary for immunisation.

3. The Ministry shall determine the rules for epidemiological surveillance, prevention and control of nosocomial infections.

4. The following shall be determined by a legal act of the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia:

a) the National Immunisation Schedule

b) a list of occupations requiring mandatory immunisation

c) a list of occupations associated with the high risk of exposure to and spread of communicable diseases, and a list of appropriate preventive measures

d) a list of institutions, where a natural person may be employed only after immunisation.

5. The Ministry shall inform persons engaged in activities determined by paragraph (4)(c) of this article on the recommended vaccination. 

6. The procedure for immunisation within the Defence Forces, within other military formations and at the penitentiary institution (penitentiary institution) of penitentiary sub-agency under the Ministry of Justice – Special Penitentiary Service (Penitentiary Service) shall be determined by the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, unless otherwise determined by the legislation of Georgia.

7. The Ministry shall disseminate information on preventive measures to be taken, including immunisation procedures.

8. The Ministry shall determine the sanitary norms applicable to penitentiary institutions

Law of Georgia No 2729 of 9 March 2010 – LHG I, No 12, 24.3.2010, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 3548 of 1 May 2015 – website, 18.5.2015

Law of Georgia No 3115 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.7.2018

Law of Georgia No 3599 of 31 October 2018 – website, 21.11.2018

Article 8 − Obligations of health care providers in prevention of communicable diseases

1. Appropriate health care providers shall be obliged to provide persons residing in Georgia with comprehensive information on the essence and necessity of a preventive shot, expected clinical outcomes, the risks associated with the preventive shot and possible consequences of refusing to receive the preventive shot. In the case of minors or persons with limited competence, the health care providers shall communicate this information to their legal representatives.

2. If a person refuses to receive a preventive shot, a health care provider shall prepare an appropriate document according to a form determined by the Ministry.

3. A health care provider shall be obliged to submit information on performed immunisations to a Public Health Office according to the procedure established by the Ministry.

4. A health care provider shall be obliged to submit a report on statistical data to an appropriate competent authority, according to the procedure established by the Ministry.

5. A health care provider shall be obliged to ensure prevention and control of nosocomial infections.

Law of Georgia No 3365 of 20 March 2015 – website, 31.3.2015

Article 9 − Prevention of communicable diseases while travelling outside the borders of Georgia

1. Tour service providers shall be obliged to inform tourists about:

a) the risks of contracting an infection associated with visiting a particular country;

b) the need for immunisation and other preventive measures.

2. Immunisation and other preventive measures during travelling shall be financed by the tourist.

3. Immunisation and other preventive measures during business trips shall be financed by the employer.

Chapter IV – Detection of Communicable Diseases, Isolation and Quarantine of a Person

Article 10 − Requirements for possible cases and detection of communicable diseases

1. A Public Health Office may require a natural person to undergo medical examination in the case of a reasonable doubt that he/she is a communicable disease carrier,and thus puts the public health at risk. The above must be carried out with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

2. A health care provider shall be obliged to notify an appropriate Public Health Office of each detected case of a communicable disease, according to the procedure established by the Ministry.

3. If a natural person is confirmed to be a communicable disease carrier, a Public Health Office and a health care provider shall have the right to require that he/she:

a) undergo an appropriate medical examination and/or treatment and/or seek an appropriate consultation;

b) indicate the persons who had been or are in close contact with him/her during the period of the disease communicability.

Article 11 − Isolation and quarantine of a person

1. In emergency situations, a decision to isolate and/or quarantine a natural person shall be executed by the state sub-agency − the Emergency Management Service (the Emergency Management Service) acting under the governance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and/or an authorised person of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

1¹. In the case of violation of the rules of isolation and/or quarantine, an authorised person of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall be authorised to transfer an offender to the appropriate area within a reasonable period of time as a preventive measure to protect the life and/or health of others. In addition, the transfer of the offender to the appropriate area shall be carried out in the presence of the authorised person of the Ministry, where possible.

2. A natural person shall have the right to appeal the decision taken concerning him/her, as provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

3. A Public Health Office shall make a decision to isolate and/or quarantine a person, in compliance with the principles of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

4. The state shall provide medical services to a person in isolation and/or in quarantine.

5. If a minor or a person with limited competence is isolated and/or placed in quarantine,his/her legal representative must be notified in writing. A written notice shall contain legal grounds for, and expected duration of the isolation and/or the quarantine.

6. The rules of isolation and/or quarantine shall be established by the Government of Georgia or the Ministry determined by the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 3365 of 20 March 2015 – website, 31.3.2015

Law of Georgia No 1691 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Law of Georgia No 4091 of 22 December 2018 – website, 28.12.2018

Law of Georgia No 5890 of 23 April 2020 – website, 24.4.2020

Article 12 – Emergency Management during epidemic and pandemic extremely dangerous for public health

1. An epidemic and pandemic extremely dangerous for public health shall fall into the category of emergency situations, and shall be managed in accordance with the Law of Georgia on Public Security.

2. Deleted.

3. Emergency Management Service and the Ministry shall have the following rights and obligations during an epidemic or pandemic, extremely dangerous to public health:

a) coordinating management of situations caused by an epidemic and pandemic extremely dangerous to public health;

b) making decisions in coordination with appropriate state authorities regarding the change of borders of an epidemic focus;

c) requiring any natural person within an epidemic focus to undergo medical examination;

d) ensuring quarantine measures of a natural person in an epidemic focus, through appropriate services;

e) ensuring, if necessary, the evacuation of a person staying in an epidemic focus;

f) controlling entry into and exit from this epidemic focus of natural persons during epidemics;

g) controlling entry of a vehicle into and exit from an epidemic focus;

h) inspecting baggage, goods and postal parcels of any type;

i) mobilisation of material resources and vehicles to carry out appropriate anti-epidemic measures;

j) informing the public of an epidemic through the mass media;

k) organising hospitalisation and isolation of the diseased;

l) ensuring quarantine measures of persons having been in contact with the diseased;

m) controlling food production, supply and transportation;

n) ensuring supply of high quality drinking water to the population and organising works for decontamination of polluted water;

o) informing the population of measures to be taken;

p) ensuring, in cooperation with municipality bodies, functioning of check points at every traffic route exiting from emergency areas.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 29 May 2014- website, 12.6.2014

Law of Georgia No 1691 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Law of Georgia No 2619 of 27 June 2018 – website, 6.7.2018

Law of Georgia No 4091 of 22 December 2018 – website, 28.12.2018

Law of Georgia No 4409 of 2 April 2019 – website, 8.4.2019

Article 13 − Control of zoonotic diseases

1. To protect the population from zoonotic diseases, the procedure for reporting disease cases shall be determined on the basis of the NationalIntegrated Epidemiological Surveillance System (the ‘Surveillance System’) for infectious diseases, including diseases caused by the EDPs.

2. If a case if a zoonotic disease is detected, the Ministry and the Ministry ofEnvironmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shall jointly take epidemic outbreak response measures.

3. The Ministry shall develop the national rabies prevention programme and determine the anti-rabies preventive treatment policy.

4. The Ministry ofEnvironmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shall be responsible for the supply, storage and transportation of animal rabies vaccines and for maintaining a unified animal vaccination data bank.

Law of Georgia No 1920 of 3 November 2009 − LHG I, No 35, 19.11.2009, Art. 230

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Law of Georgia No 1691 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Article 14 − Control of food-borne diseases

1. To monitor food-borne diseases, the procedures for coordination of reporting disease cases and implementing the measurements for the elimination of disease outbreaks shall be   determined on the basis of the Surveillance System for infectious diseases, including diseases caused by the EDPs.

2. To ensure planning and implementation of comprehensive food borne disease prevention measures, the Ministry ofEnvironmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shall, in accordance with the established procedure, regularly submit to the Ministry information on results and data of the state supervision of food safety and quality.

Law of Georgia No 1920 of 3 November 2009 − LHG I, No 35, 19.11.2009, Art. 230

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Law of Georgia No 1691 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Article 15 − Prevention and control of specific infections

1¹. Issues related to the prevention and control of tuberculosis shall be regulated under this Law and the Law of Georgia on Tuberculosis Control.

2. The Ministry shall, by special legislation, determine the norms regarding blood donation and transfusion control, safety and quality of blood and its components, their production, storage and use, and protection of the health and rights of donors.

Law of Georgia No 4631 of 11 December 2015 – website, 23.12.2015

Chapter V – Insurance of Biosafety

Article 16 – Insurance of biosafety

1. The Ministry shall implement a unified state policy in order to ensure biosafety of the population. The Ministry shall carry out comprehensive organisational, medical, biological, engineering and technological measures in order to ensure public health and to protect the environment and the personnel who are exposed to pathogenic biological agents.

2. The Ministry shall compile the list of extremely dangerous pathogens (EDPs), and shall ensure its revision as necessary.

3. Possessingthe types of pathogenic biological agents and in amounts that cannot be justified by their use for diagnostic, research or other peaceful purposes shall be prohibited.

4. Upon recommendation of the Ministry, the Government of Georgia shall approve the procedures and standards for the possession, use, transfer, transportation and destruction of the EDPs, and theirinvestigation and monitoring methods.

5. The Ministry shall develop the sanitary and hygieneprocedures and standards for laboratories working with extremely dangerous pathogenic biological agents, and the qualification requirements for personnel, and the principles for the health supervision of the personnel, and shall submit them to the Government of Georgia for approval.

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Article 17 − Restrictions on possession, use, transfer, transportation and destruction of extremely dangerous pathogens

1. Only the legal entities that hold a licence according to the Law of Georgia on Licences and Permits for conducting operations involving extremely dangerous pathogens shall have the right to work with extremely dangerous pathogens.

2. The Government of Georgia shall compile the list of natural persons who are prohibited from possessing, using, transferring, transporting and destroying extremely dangerous pathogens, due to their criminal records or having been accused of terrorism.

3. Upon recommendation of the Ministry, the Government of Georgia shall determine additional technical and safety requirements that constitute additional conditions for issuing a licence for conducting operations involving extremely dangerous pathogens.

4. The national repository for extremely dangerous pathogens shall be established by an order of the Minister ofInternally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia. 

5. Upon recommendation of the Ministry, the Government of Georgia shall approve the procedures for transfer and transportation of extremely dangerous pathogens.The procedures shall be binding for any personinvolved in the transfer and/or transportation of extremely dangerous pathogens.

6. Extremely dangerous pathogens may be transferred only to appropriately authorisedfacilities. Theappropriately authorised facilitiesshall be notified of every expected transport of extremely dangerous pathogens in advance. The extremely dangerous pathogensmust be transported according to the established procedure.

Law of Georgia No 3619 of 24 September 2010 − LHG I, No 51, 29.9.2010, Art. 332

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Law of Georgia No 3115 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.7.2018

Article 18 − Destruction of extremely dangerous pathogens

1. Extremely dangerous pathogens shall be destroyed according to procedureapproved by the Government of Georgia.

2. The appropriate qualified personnel shall keep records of the species and number of the destroyed extremely dangerous pathogens.

3. In case of identifying extremely dangerous pathogens, an appropriate laboratory shall immediately notify the legal entity, where the national repository of extremely dangerous pathogens is located, and shall transport these pathogens to the national repository, or destroy them according to the statutory procedure.

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Article 19 − Import and export of extremely dangerous pathogens

1. The Government of Georgia shall adopt the regulations for import and export of extremely dangerous pathogens. These regulations shall ensure the use of extremely dangerous pathogens only for peaceful purposes.

2. Extremely dangerous pathogens shall only be imported and exportedby appropriately authorisedpersons according to the statutory procedure.

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Article 20 − Functions of an appropriate office of the Ministry in the field of biosafety

If required, an appropriate office of the Ministry shall carry out extremely dangerous pathogens emergency situations preparedness and response measures.

Article 21 − The National Integrated Epidemiological Surveillance System for infectious diseases

1. The Government of Georgia shall ensure the creation of the National Integrated Epidemiological Surveillance System (the ‘Surveillance System’) for infectious diseases, including diseases caused by the EDPs.

2. The operation procedure for the Surveillance System for infectious diseases, including diseases caused by the EDPs shall be approved by the Government of Georgia. 

3. The National Integrated Epidemiological Surveillance System for infectious diseases shall be based on the unified laboratory system for the detection, epidemiological surveillance and response of extremely dangerous pathogens. The unified laboratory system shall include a network of laboratories with various biosafety levels.

4. The biosafety laboratories shall meet appropriate international standards.

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Chapter VI – Insurance of Healthy Environment

Article 22 – Insurance of healthy environment

1. To ensure a healthy environment, the Ministry shall determine Environmental Quality Standards (atmospheric air, water, soil, noise, vibration, electromagnetic radiation) that include norms for maximum permissible concentration and exposure limits.

2. The appropriate competent body shall monitor observanceof the Environmental Quality Standards by natural and legal persons.

3. Liability of persons violating the Environmental Quality Standards shall be determined by the legislation of Georgia.

4. Extraction, receipt, manufacturing, production, circulation and use of radioactive substances and other sources of ionising radiation, as well as arrangement of a radioactive waste burial placeand a radioactive waste repository without special authority shall be prohibited.

5. Natural and legal persons shall be obliged to terminate the use of radioactive substances and other sources of ionising radiation that violate radiation safety standards and pose a risk to human health.

6. The Ministry shall develop and approve safety standards for working with radioactive substances and other sources of ionising radiation, including norms for treatment and diagnostic procedures with medical radiology methods.

7. The Environmental Quality Standards at the places of residence or permanent stay of people shall not be detrimental to their health and shall not exceed maximum permissible limits determined by the Ministry.

8. A person whose activity caused the violation of the Environmental Quality Standards determined by the Ministry at the places of residence or permanent stay of people shall be punishableas provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

9. Nuclear and radiation safety shall be regulated by special legislation.

10. The competence of the Ministry in the process of strategic environmental assessment provided for by the Environmental Assessment Code shall be established in accordance with the same Code.

Law of Georgia No 4494 of 11 November 2015 − website, 24.11.2015

Law of Georgia No 907 of 1 June 2017 – website, 21.6.2017

Article 23 – Insurance of safe water for public health

1. According to recommendations of the World Health Organisation, the Ministry shall determine quality standards and technical regulations for water safe for human health.

2. (Deleted).

3. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shall:

a) develop and implement a unified state policy in the field of water resources state management by means of sustainable development and basin based principles of water resources management;

b) protect water facilities from the negative impact that may be detrimental to public health, worsen water supply conditions and result in changes in water quality;

c) plan and carry outmeasures for restricting, suspending or prohibiting water consumption in emergency cases.

d) the control of the compliance of the safety of the drinking water parameters and quality with the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia and the external, selective laboratory control of the drinking water.

4. Internal quality control and external laboratory audit of water shall be performed by independent accredited laboratories.

Law of Georgia No 492 of 25 March 2013 − website, 5.4.2013

Law of Georgia No 1691 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Chapter VII – Chemical Safety, Safety of Technological Processes and Products

Article 24 − Chemical safety

1. The Ministry shall determine a classification of chemical substances, determine the rules for their attribution to toxicity and hazard classes, requirements for their packaging, marking and labelling, as well as a form of information leaflet on safe treatment of chemical substances and the size of data on the leaflet.

2. Chemical substances shall be produced, circulated, supplied, sold, stored, used and disposed of in compliance with established safety regulations and shall be subject to state supervision.

3. The list of dangerous chemicals permitted in the territory of Georgia, and the issues related with the circulation of these chemicals and their handling shall be determined by the legislation of Georgia.

4. The issue of chemical safety shall be regulated by special legislation.

Law of Georgia No 4961 of 13 April 2016 – website, 26.4.2016

Article 25 − Safety of technological processes at a workplace

State monitoring of safety of technological processes at a workplace,in the cases and within the framework determined by the legislation of Georgia, shall be performed by a Legal Entity under Public Law (LEPL) –the Technical and Construction Supervision Agency.

Law of Georgia No 2793 of 23 March 2010 − LHG I, No 20, 19.4.2010, Art. 108

Law of Georgia No 4469 of 22 March 2011 − website, 1.4.2011

Law of Georgia No 6165 of 8 May 2012 − website, 25.5.2012

Article 26 − Safety of products

1. Products produced on or imported into the territory of Georgia shall comply with safety regulations, to ensure human health safety.

2. If sanitary norms are violated, a person shall be obliged to suspend production, import, export, supply, transportation, sale and use of products, until the violation is eliminated.

Chapter VIII – Healthy Lifestyles, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Policy

Article 27 – Food safety policy

1. The Ministry shall determine food safety regulations and healthy food principles.

2. Based on an appropriate normative act, the Ministry shall determine a list of institutions that must observe diet nutritional valuesand nutrition standards.

3. The Ministry shall develop and approve sanitary and hygiene norms and norms of human basic needs, which must be observed by special institutions.

4. The Ministry shall determine safety standards for child nutrition (including infant nutrition), fortified food and special food products (dietary, diabetic).

5. The Ministry shall define the policy to combat disorders caused by nutritional deficiency or abundance.

Article 28 − Maternal, child and adolescent health

The Ministry shall:

a) determine a maternal, child and adolescent health policy;

b) determine a reproductive health policy;

c) ensure the development of a child friendly environment, in cooperation with other competent ministries of Georgia and international organisations.

Article 29 − Control of tobacco use

1. The Ministry shall implement a tobacco use reduction and cessation policy.

2. Issues of tobacco use control shall be regulated by special legislation.

Article 30 – Anti-drug, toxic substance and alcohol abuse policy

The Ministry shall definean anti-drug, toxic substance and alcohol abuse policy.

Chapter IX – Powers Delegated to State Authorities and Municipalities in the Field of Public Health

Law of Georgia No 6890 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.7.2020

Article 31 – Competencies of the Ministry in the field of public health

1. The Ministry shall have the following powers in the field of public health:

a) defining public health policy;

b) monitoring in the field of public health;

c) developing state programmes within the framework of this Law;

d) defining the policy in the field of non-communicable diseases and ensuring its monitoring;

e) defining biosafety policy;

f) defining child and adolescent health policy;

g) defining healthy lifestyle practices policy;

h) approving the National Public Health Care Recommendations (Guidelines);

i) performing functions defined for the Ministry under the Law of Georgia on Tuberculosis Control.

2. The Ministry shall determine:

a) a list of communicable diseases, the possible carriers of which must undergo an appropriate medical examination in the case of epidemiological indications; 

b) appropriate medical examination norms;

c) measures and methods ofprevention, management and elimination ofspread of communicable diseases, including extremely dangerous infections.

3. The Ministry shall have the following powers in the field of public health:

a) defining, by a normative act, the procedure of carrying out medical preventive activities;

b) establishing Environmental Quality Standards;

c) determining a list of chemical substances, which shall not be used in the production of household, perfumery and cosmetic products, synthetic materials and raw materials;

d) determining,in coordination with the Ministry ofEnvironmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, safety standards and procedures for labelling special food products (dietary, diabetic, fortified), as well as child nutrition products (including infant nutrition products);

e) developing procedures and standards for the possession, use, transfer, transportation and destruction of extremely dangerous pathogens,and theirinvestigation and monitoring methods, and submitting the procedures and standards to the Government of Georgia for approval;

f) determining safety at work standards;

g) determining a list occupational diseases and their prevention standards.

4. The Ministry shall supervise and monitor sanitary and anti-epidemic measures undertaken by health care providers.

5. The Ministry shall implement monitoring in the field of biosafety.

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Law of Georgia No 4631 of 11 December 2015 – website, 23.12.2015

Law of Georgia No 1691 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Article 32 – Competencies of the Government of Georgia in the field of public health

The Government of Georgia shall:

a) ensure the operation of the National Integrated Epidemiological Surveillance System for infectious diseases, including the unified laboratory system for the detection, epidemiological surveillance and response of extremely dangerous pathogens;

b) approve the procedures and standards for the possession, use, transfer, transportation and destruction of extremely dangerous pathogens, and their investigation and monitoring methods;

c) compile the list of natural persons who are prohibited from possessing, using, transferring, transporting and destroying extremely dangerous pathogens due to their criminal records, or having been accused of terrorism;

c¹) approvethe operation procedure for the National Integrated Surveillance System for infectious diseases, including diseases caused by the EDPs;

d) approve a technologyscheme for sanitary and quarantine control at the State Border and customs control zones of Georgia;

e) be authorised, based on the epidemiological situation, for the purpose of entry and/or stay of aliens and stateless persons in Georgia, to determine the health insurance and accident insurance conditions and procedures in relation to the circle of these persons.

Law of Georgia No 3619 of 24 September 2010 − LHG I, No 51, 29.9.2010, Art. 332

Law of Georgia No 3806 of 12 November 2010 − LHG I, No 66, 3.12.2010, Art. 414

Law of Georgia No 5966 of 27 March 2012 − website, 12.4.2012

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Law of Georgia No 489 of 25 May 2021 – website, 31.5.2021

Article 33 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 492 of 25 March 2013 − website, 5.4.2013   

Law of Georgia No 1691 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Article 34 − Competencies of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia in the field of public health

The Ministry ofEnvironmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shall have the following powers in the field of public health:

a) organisingsoil pollution monitoring;

b) developing and implementing a unified state policy in the field of water resources state management by means of sustainable development and basin based principles of water resource management;

c) protecting water facilities from negative impact that may be detrimental to public health, worsen water supply conditions and result in changes in water quality;

d) planning and carrying out measures for restricting, suspending or prohibiting water consumption in emergency cases;

e) organisingmonitoring of the quality of atmospheric air at populated areas;

f) organisingmonitoring of noise, vibration, and non-ionising radiation;

g) organisingmonitoring background radiation;

h) ensuring dosimetry monitoring at facilities using ionising radiation;

i) licensing activities related to nuclear power and radiation;

j)developing and implementing food safety policy;

k)controlling the observance of food safety requirements;

l)establishing norms for burial places of the animals and birds who died of especially dangerous infections and keeping record of them;

m)registering pesticides and agrochemicals;

n)state supervision of transportation, realisation, and storage conditions of the pesticides;

o) vaccination of the animals in the case of the danger of epizooty;

p)controlling the compliance of the safety of the drinking water parameters and quality with the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia and the external, selective laboratory control of the drinking water;

q) coordinating with the Ministry, and theEmergency Management Service during emergency response activities (including the chemical emergency response activities).

Law of Georgia No 492 of 25 March 2013 − website, 5.4.2013

Law of Georgia No 1691 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Law of Georgia No 2619 of 27 June 2018 – website, 6.7.2018

Law of Georgia No 4091 of 22 December 2018 – website, 28.12.2018

Article 35 – Competencies of other Ministries in the field of public health

1. The Ministry and the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall jointly determine sanitary and hygiene standards for educational, childcare and combined educational and childcare institutions.

2. The Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Security Service of Georgia shall have the following authority:

a) supervision of compliance with sanitary and hygiene norms within the Defence Forces of Georgia, the military services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia;

b) undertaking preventive measures within the Defence Forces of Georgia, the military services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia.

3. The Ministry shall, jointly with the Ministries of Defence and Internal Affairs of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia, determine sanitary and hygiene norms for the Defence Forces of Georgia, the military services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia.

4. The Penitentiary Service shall have the following authority over penitentiary institutions:

a) monitoring compliance with sanitary and hygiene norms at penitentiary institutions;

b) undertaking preventive health measures at penitentiary institutions.

5. The Ministry and the Ministry of Justice of Georgia shall jointly determine sanitary and hygiene norms applicable to penitentiary institutions.

6. The Ministry of Defence of Georgia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Penitentiary Service, and the State Security Service of Georgia shall be obliged to immediately notify the Public Health Office on any case that may pose a threat to the public health and safety.

7. The Ministry of Defence of Georgia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Penitentiary Service, and the State Security Service of Georgia shall duly submit medical statistics data to the Ministry.

8. The Ministry of Defence of Georgia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Penitentiary Service, and the State Security Service of Georgia shall cooperate with the Ministry, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia during chemical emergency response activities.

Law of Georgia No 2729 of 9 March 2010 − LHG I, No 12, 24.3.2010, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 492 of 25 March 2013 − website, 5.4.2013

Law of Georgia No 1794 of 13 December 2013 − website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 3548 of 1 May 2015 – website, 18.5.2015

Law of Georgia No 3943 of 8 July 2015 – website, 15.7.2015

Law of Georgia No 1691 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Law of Georgia No 3115 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.7.2018

Law of Georgia No 3599 of 31 October 2018 – website, 21.11.2018

Law of Georgia No 359 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.3.2021

Article 36 − Powers delegated to municipalities in the field of public health

1. Under procedures provided for by this Law, the relevant bodies of municipalities shall ensure:

a) the undertaking of preventive measures against the spread of communicable diseases in animals that pose a threat to public health, including animal anti-rabies immunisation;

b) the supervising of compliance with sanitary and hygiene norms at educational, childcare and combined educational and childcare institutions;

c) the organising of deratisation, disinsection and disinfection measures aimed at prevention of the spread of diseases in the territory of the municipality;

d) the facilitating of implementation of preventive measures at educational, childcare and combined educational and childcare institutions in the territory of the municipality;

e) the supervising of compliance with sanitary norms at public institutions located in the territory of the municipality, including the control over the fulfilment of obligations provided for by Article 5(3¹) and (3²) of this Law by persons carrying out aesthetic and cosmetic procedures in public places;

f) the delivery, storage and distribution among health care providers of the materials supplied by the Ministry of immunisation under the National Immunisation Schedule;

g) the taking of preventive and epidemiological control measures in the case of epidemic threat;

h) the facilitating of primary epidemiological research in the territory of the municipality;

i) the exercising of powers defined for them under the Law of Georgia on Tuberculosis Control.

2. The powers determined in paragraph 1 of this article shall be the power delegated by the State to municipalities.

3. The amount of financial resources necessary for the municipality to exercise the delegated powers specified in paragraph 1 of this article shall be determined by the Law of Georgia on the State Budget of Georgia for the respective year.

4. The Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shall exercise sectoral supervision over the implementation of the delegated powers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 1 of this article in accordance with the Organic Law of Georgia Local Self-Government Code.

5. The Ministry shall exercise sectoral supervision over the implementation of the delegated powers specified in sub-paragraphs (b)-(i) of paragraph 1 of this article in accordance with the Organic Law of Georgia Local Self-Government Code.

Law of Georgia No 4631 of 11 December 2015 – website, 23.12.2015

Law of Georgia No 5571 of 24 June 2016 – website, 13.7.2016

Law of Georgia No 6890 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.7.2020

Article 37 − Competencies of the autonomous republics in the field of public health

Competencies of the autonomous republics in the field of public health shall be determined by this Law and the laws of the autonomous republics.

Article 38 − Organisation of public health

The Ministry shall define a public health policy that shall be implemented by an appropriate Public Health Office of the Ministry.

Article 39 − Labour/human resources in the field of public health

1. The Ministry shall determine a list of professions and their respective authority in the field of public health.

2. Public health and epidemiology specialists shall be trained at the highest educational level according to appropriate programmes, and shall hold a Bachelor's or a higher academic degree in Public Health.

3. Persons who have taken professional training courses in the field of public health and epidemiology shall be public health workers.

Chapter X − Financing Public Health Activities

Article 40 − Sources of financing of public health activities

The following may be the sources of financing of public health activities:

a) the funds allocated from the State Budget of Georgia or the budgets of the autonomous republics of Georgia

b) other sources permitted by the legislation of Georgia.

Article 41 − Budgetary financing

1. The Law of Georgia on State Budget annually determines activities financed by the state in the field of public health, based on this Law.

2. The Law on Budget of anautonomous republic determines activities financed by the autonomous republic in the field of public health based on this Law.

Chapter XI – Compensation for Damages and Responsibilities in the Field of Public Health

Article 42 − Compensation for damages in the field of public health

1. Natural and legal persons shall be obliged to compensate for damages incurred because of violation of this Law.

2. In the case of development of post/side effects or complications of vaccination, conducted under the National Immunisation Schedule, the state shall provide free medical services and rehabilitation to the population, as provided for by the law, except when post/side effects are caused by the fault of medical personnel or medical establishments.

3. If a person becomes incapable as a result of vaccination conducted under the National Immunisation Schedule, he/she shall have the right to receive compensation, as provided in law.

Article 43 − Responsibilities in the field of public health

1. Within the authorities determined by the legislation of Georgia in the field of public health, all state authorities, and natural and legal persons shall be obliged to comply with the requirements of this Law and to ensure public health safety by their activities.

2. Every person on the territory of Georgia shall be obliged to comply with the requirements of the applicable legislation of Georgia in the field of public health and respect the decisions of the Public Health Office during the exercise of their powers granted by law.

3. The state shall be responsible for managing and financing measures for prevention and control of communicable diseases and epidemics, and immunisation under the National Immunisation Schedule.

Chapter XII – Transitional and Final Provisions

Article 44 − Normative acts annulled in connection with entry into force of this Law

The following shall be null and void:

a) the Sanitary Code of Georgia of 8 May 2003 (the Legislative Herald of Georgia, No 14, 3.6.2003, Art. 91) – from 1 October 2007;

b) Order No 234/N of 6 October 2003 of the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia on Approval of Sanitation Areas and Sanitary Classification of Enterprises, Buildings and Other Facilities – upon entry into force of this Law.

Article 45 − Normative acts to be adopted in connection with entry into force of this Law

1. The Government of Georgia shall, within one month after entry into force of this Law, adopt the following normative acts:

a) the Statute of the State Emergency Response Commission;

b) (Deleted – 1.4.2015, No3417);

c) (Deleted – 1.4.2015, No 3417);

d) (Deleted – 1.4.2015, No 3417);

e) (Deleted – 1.4.2015, No 3417);

1¹. The Government of Georgia shall adopt the procedures for the import and export of extremely dangerous pathogens.

2. (Deleted – 25.3.2013, No 492).

3. The Government of Georgia shall, before 1 July 2015, ensure the approval of the operation procedure for the National Integrated Surveillance System for infectious diseases, including diseases caused by the EDPs.

Law of Georgia No 492 of 25 March 2013 − website, 5.4.2013

Law of Georgia No 3417 of 1 April 2015 – website, 14.4.2015

Article 45¹ – Legal regulation during transition period in relation to persons declared legally incompetent by court before 1 April 2015

1. If a person was declared legally incompetent by court before 1 April 2015 and his/her individual examination has not been conducted, the health care provider must communicate the information provided for in Article 8(1) of this Law to his/her custodian.

2. If a person, who was declared legally incompetent by court before 1 April 2015 and whose individual examination has not been conducted, was isolated and/or placed in quarantine, his/her custodian must be notified in writing. A written notice must contain legal grounds for, and expected duration of the isolation and/or the quarantine.

Law of Georgia No 3365 of 20 March 2015 – website, 31.3.2015

Article 45² – Registration during the transition period as a person carrying out aesthetic and cosmetic procedures in public places

1. All persons, whose activity is associated with carrying out aesthetic and cosmetic procedures in public places, shall register the relevant activity in the registry of economic activities before 1 October 2016, in accordance with the procedure provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

2. The Government of Georgia, based on suggestions of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, before 1 October 2016 shall introduce amendments in Ordinance No 473 of the Government of Georgia of 14 September 2015 − Technical regulations on approval of sanitary norms of infection prevention and control in carrying out aesthetic and cosmetic procedures in public places.

Law of Georgia No 5571 of 24 June 2016 – website, 13.7.2016

Article 45³ – Temporary measures to be carried out before 1 January 2022

1. The rule for isolation and/or quarantine shall be established by the Government of Georgia or the Ministry defined by the Government of Georgia. The relevant quarantine measures that, in this case, are part of the rule, may be determined in accordance with the rule. The bodies and officials executing the rule may be determined in accordance with the rules differently from those established by this Law.

(The normative content of the first and second sentences of Article 45³(1), which allows the Government of Georgia or the Ministry defined by the Government of Georgia to restrict the labour rights guaranteed by Article 26(1) of the Constitution of Georgia, has been invalidated – Decision No 1/1/1505, 1515, 1516, 1529 of 11 February 2021 of the Constitutional Court of Georgia – website, 22.2.2021

2. For the purposes of this article, the quarantine measures shall be:

a) a set of measures applied to a person who is not ill but has had or may have had contact with the case of contagious disease during the period of transmission;

b) measures defined by this Law and/or the normative act adopte/issued in accordance with this Law, which are temporarily used for the protection of the health of the population during a pandemic and/or epidemic especially dangerous for the public health and which may imply a different regulation than those established by other normative acts of Georgia, including the temporary imposition of appropriate restrictions in connection with the activities/administration of public institutions, other institutions under the executive government, legal entities under public law, other legal entities, the provision of public services, the movement of persons, property, labour, professional or economic activities, and illegal migration/international protection, and/or in connection with the gathering of persons for the purpose of holding social events.

3. In accordance with this article, the restriction of the right shall be:

a) directed towards the achievement of benefits guaranteed by the relevant article of the Constitution of Georgia;

b) provided for by law and/or other normative act;

c) necessary for the democratic society;

d) non-discriminatory;

e) proportionally restricting;

f) such that the benefit protected by restriction exceeds the damage incurred as a result of the restriction.

4. The decision to isolate a person and/or place him/her in quarantine shall be taken in accordance with the principles of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

5. In the case of isolation of a person and/or the transfer of a person to quarantine, he/she shall be clearly explained:

a) the grounds of isolation and/or transfer to quarantine;

b) his/her right to have a lawyer;

c) that he/she has the right, if he/she so wishes, to inform the relative named by him/her of his isolation and/or transfer to quarantine and of the place of location, as well as to the administration of his work or study place.

6. The juvenile's isolation and/or transfer to quarantine shall be immediately notified to his/her parent or other legal representative.

Law of Georgia No 5972 of 22 May 2020 – website, 22.5.2020

Law of Georgia No 6778 of 14 July 2020 – website, 14.7.2020

Law of Georgia No 37 of 29 December 2020 – website, 29.12.2020

Decision No 1/1/1505, 1515, 1516, 1529 of 11 February 2021 of the Constitutional Court of Georgia – website, 22.2.2021

Law of Georgia No 674 of 22 June 2021 – website, 24.6.2021

Article 45⁴ – Validity period of Article 45³ of this Law

Article 45³ of this Law shall be valid until 1 January 2022.

Law of Georgia No 5972 of 22 May 2020 – website, 22.5.2020

Law of Georgia No 6778 of 14 July 2020 – website, 14.7.2020

Law of Georgia No 37 of 29 December 2020 – website, 29.12.2020

Law of Georgia No 674 of 22 June 2021 – website, 24.6.2021

Article 45⁵ – The temporary liability rule related to the pharmaceutical product against the infection (COVID-19) caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

In connection with the pandemic/epidemic, when importing the pharmaceutical product against the infection (COVID-19) caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which is intended for preventive vaccination or treatment and which has been granted a use (including an emergency use) authorisation or prequalification by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or a stringent regulatory authority (SRA) recognised thereby, the state shall be liable for a potential harm inflicted by the use of this pharmaceutical product, except when the harm is caused by:

a) a mistake made by the importer;

b) a mistake made by the medical staff or a medical institution;

c) a pharmaceutical product manufacturer, when an agreement concluded with the manufacturer provides for the liability thereof.

Law of Georgia No 98 of 28 January 2021 – website, 28.1.2021

Article 46 – Entry into force of the Law

This Law shall enter into force upon promulgation.

President of Georgia                                                       M. Saakashvili

Tbilisi

27 June 2007

No 5069–რს