The Central Veterinary Laboratory is led by a director and in its broader form the laboratory perform activities that enable it to collect own financial resources and acquire sustainability.

The laboratory perform the following activities:­

• To provide technical backstopping to the divisions of the Ministry of Livestock Development
• To provide Central and Reference Veterinary laboratory services for Tanzania and SADC region for specified diseases.
• Carry out diagnosis of livestock diseases and collaborate with TAWIRI in wildlife disease research
• To collaborate with national and international laboratories to validate tests and standards for animal disease research and diagnosis.
• Develop and produce vaccines and biologicals
• Test and evaluate biological, ethno veterinary, chemical, toxicological products and analyses of feedstuffs.
• Conduct Research on Animal Diseases and their vectors particularly ticks and tsetse.
• Develop appropriate technologies for sustainable control and eradication of ticks and tsetse.
• Develop and upscale technological packages as desired by stakeholders.
• Train laboratory technicians (certificate and Diploma) and support staff.
• Provide data /information on animal diseases
• Compile and disseminate research findings to stakeholders
• Supervise and train MSc and PhD students in collaboration with other higher national and international institutions.