At the beginning of 1934 within the Hygienic Institute in Banja Luka, was formed Department of Veterinary Epidemiology, as a precursor to today's Institute. The main contribution for the establishment belongs to Dr. Vaso Butozan, whose name Institut proudly carries today. The newly formed department had responsibility to carry out specialized activities in the field of veterinary medicine in the area that included the whole Vrbaska Banovina. Development of business diagnostics of infectious and parasitic diseases in animals has led to the reduction and prevention of the same. At the beginning of World War II, in 1941 the Department of Veterinary Epidemiology in Banja Luka went off. During World War II, under the occupying authorities, established Department of Veterinary Epidemiology continued its work under the changed circumstances, and later became the Department of Veterinary.
In 1944, based on proposal of dr. Vaso Butozan decision was taken to Veterinary Institute Banja Luka saved as a veterinary institution. In the period after World War II, the Institute has remained consistent in commitment to develop only as a scientific and specialized institutions in the field of veterinary medicine. At the end of 1998 Veterinary Institute received the status of the Institute, and was followed by the implementation of the above in 2001 by Decision of the Government of the Republic of Srpska.
The application of exact methods to confirm suspicions of certain animal diseases and zoonoses, regularity and safety of foods of animal origin and animal feed is a constant task and obligation of the Institute. The current and future requirements based on new attitudes and standards regarding the definition of health obliged Veterinary Institute of the Republic of Srpska to even stronger and more responsibly accept challenges and become a safe and respectable institution in the European and global supply chain of reference laboratories, affirming their own and their country's interests.
Authors: MA Bozidar Dosenovic and Nebojsa Djumic
Publisher: Poste Srpske Banjaluka
Cooperation: Drago N. Nedić, PhD
