History of the Institute Print
Written by Administrator   

Historical circumstances – the establishment of the Institute

In the 1930s, several infectious and parasitic diseases (such as swine fever, foot and mouth disease, rabies, anthrax, sheep pox, flukes, etc.) spread through the country like an epizooty, incurring virtually immeasurable damage. At that time, the veterinary service was not yet sufficiently organised to be able to control their increasing prevalence with any chance of certain success. There was a lack of organised laboratory diagnostics and inexpensive production of biological preparations and medicines. Therefore, the idea arose to establish an institute that would take on the task of producing certain vaccines, serums and medicines, while also implementing the necessary measures to control certain infections and parasitic diseases. On 30 January 1933, the Veterinary Experimental Station of the Ministry of Agriculture was established by virtue of a decision of the Ministry of Agriculture. The Veterinary Experimental Station was then at Savska 16, where it remained until 1941 when it moved to new premises in Savska 143.

During its existence, the name of the establishment has changed several times:

  • Veterinary Experimental Station of the Ministry of Agriculture, from 30 January 1933 – 11 January 1941
  • Veterinary Experimental Station in Zagreb, from 12 January 1941 – 9 January 1942
  • Livestock Health Institute, from 10 January 1942 – 28 February 1946
  • Veterinary Experimental Institute, from 1 March 1946 – 17 February 1947
  • Federal Institute for Veterinary Service, from 18 February 1947 – 4 April 1951
  • Institute for Medical Research of the Yugoslav Academy of Science and Arts, from 5 April 1951 – 11 March 1952
  • Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, from 12 March 1952 – 31 December 1960
  • Veterinary Institute, from 1 January 1961 – 30 June 1979
  • Republic Veterinary Institute of Croatia, OOUR Veterinary Institute, from 1 July 1979 – 27 July 1995.

Since 29 July 1995, it has operated under the name Croatian Veterinary Institute, a public institute in which the Republic of Croatia has founding rights.