The purpose of the study is to identify the features of the formation and development of sanitary and hygienic control at the largest and local fairs of such vast region of the Russian Empire as the Volga region during the XIX century. Particular attention is paid to legislative acts in the field of fair trade and compliance with sanitary measures in the implementation of both retail and wholesale (including foreign) trade. The author analyzes normative legal acts, decisions of regional (provincial and city) authorities on the definition of sanitary rules of trade, as well as control over trade operations during fairs. A significant layer of pre-revolutionary research has been studied, including monographs, narrative sources, statistical collections, journalistic materials, etc. The paper notes the basic principles of the management of fair trade in the Volga region, the preventive and prohibitive measures of the fair guidelines for the prevention and spread of infectious and other diseases, epizootics and epiphytotics. The analysis of preventive measures in crowded places, providing visitors with drinking water, food, etc. is presented. Sanitary and hygienic rules are noted in the implementation of foreign trade operations at the Volga Region fairs, taking into account the specifics of goods, their origin, etc.