Veterinary Health Certificate from DAHD Must for Dogs and Cats as Pets in Baggage

· Advance NoC from Animal Quarantine Required

· No Import Licence for Passengers, Others need DGFT Licence in Addition

[Circular No.35/2020-Customs dated 10 August 2020]

Subject: Revised procedure for Import of Pets / Live Animals.

Attention is invited to Board’s Circular 9/2002-Cus dated 30.01.2002, 94/2002-Cus dated 23.12.2002, 15/2013-Cus dated 8.4.2013 and 25/2013- Cus dated 1.7.2013. The above Circulars have laid out a process relating to import of Pet / Live Animals including cat and dog in various scenarios such as import by passengers in general, import by passengers under Transfer of Residence in terms of Baggage Rules 1998, Re-import etc.

2. Now the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) has issued Office Memorandum dated 15.07.2020 vide F. No. L-110110/26/2019- Trade (E-14194) prescribing procedure for import of Live Animals in general and also for import of pets (only Dogs and Cats) as baggage/Personal imports by Passengers. The Relevant portion is reproduced for ease of reference:

“for "Ease of Understanding and Doing Business" as well as streamlining the complete process of import of live animals into India by the importers, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); Process for import; Application Form for obtaining advance No Objection Certificate from AQCS; Veterinary Health Certificate format to fulfill Indian requirements; format for advance No Objection Certificate; format for Physical Examination of Pet at port of arrival; format for Physical Examination of the pet/animals during Quarantine period at AQCS; format for final No Objection Certificate, etc. have been standardized for import of live animals including pets into India and are annexed herewith. The details of post-import tests and name of laboratories where required tests will be done, has also been mentioned”.

3. The DAHD has also clarified that:

“the concerned AQCS will inspect only those documents which pertain to veterinary health requirements. The other documents/ licenses, which are required under various rules & regulations of other Departments including Customs, shall be inspected by the Customs authorities”.

The above said O.M dated 15.07.2020 can be accessed in the following URL (http://dadf.gov.in/sites/default/filess/OM%20dated%2015%20July%202020%20on%20import%20o f%20live%20animals_0.pdf).

4. In view of above revised SOP & modified forms, with the approval of competent authority, it has been decided to withdraw circulars mentioned in para 1 with immediate effect.

5. It has further been decided that the following procedure shall be followed for clearance of pets/live animals including cats and dogs:

5.1 Following steps may be kept in mind by the importers/Airlines before arrival for import of Pet/Live Animals to ensure quicker clearance:

Sl. No.	Scenario	Procedure to be adopted before arrival
1	Maximum of 2 Pets (only dog and cat) brought with passengers eligible and availing Transfer of Residence after 2 years stay abroad.	1. Passenger to ensure eligibility about transfer of residence under Baggage Rules, 2016
		2. Passenger to obtain Veterinary Health Certificate from Country of Export as per the above said O.M. (For Ease of Reference, Format from the said O.M is given as Annex 1 & 2 for Dogs and Cats respectively.)
		3. Passenger to apply for advance NOC to AQCS and obtain the same.
		4. Airline will not lift the live animals until advance NOC from AQCS is obtained by the passenger.
2	Re-Import of pets by passengers	1. Passenger to ensure that he possesses copy of earlier Veterinary Health Certificate for export issued by AQCS India.
		2. Passenger to obtain veterinary Health Certificate from Country of Export as per the above said O.M. (For Ease of Reference Format from the said O.M is given as Annex 1 & 2 for Dogs and Cats respectively.)
		3. Passenger to apply for advance NOC to AQCS and obtain the same.
		4. Airline will not lift the live animal until advance NOC from AQCS is obtained by the passenger.
3	All cases other than those mentioned at Sl. 1 & 2 above including:	1. Importer to obtain Veterinary Health Certificate from Country of Export as per format in the above said O.M 2. Importer to obtain Import License from DGFT. 3. Importer to apply for advance NOC to AQCS and obtain the same. 4. Airline will not lift the live animal until advance NOC from AQCS is obtained by the Importer.
	i. Pets brought by the passengers for short stay.
	ii. Import of Commercial Dogs for Commercial purpose (For R&D purpose with recommendation of CPCSEA/Security purpose).

5.2 On arrival, the Customs Officers shall allow clearance only based on final NOC provided by AQCS after the examination of said pets/live animals and production of DGFT license and/or clearance of WCCB, wherever applicable. For the procedures related to clearance by AQCS, the above said O.M referred in para 2 may be referred to.

6. These instructions may be brought the notice of the trade / airlines / carriers by issuing suitable Trade / Public Notices. Suitable Standing order / instructions may be issued for the guidance of the filed officers.

7. Difficulties faced, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board immediately.

F.No.401/21/2020-Cus.III

Annexure-1

Veterinary Health Certificate for Import of Pet Dogs into India

(As per Annex 1.1.1 of above said O.M dated 15.07.2020 by DAHD)

1. OWNER

Name and Address of the owner(s) of the dog(s):

Contact No:

Email:

2. Description

Breed of Dog:.

Age or date of birth:

Sex:

Colour:

Coat type and marking/ Distinguish mark:

Identification/ Microchip number:

3.Additional Information

Country of origin:

Countries visited over the past two years as declared by owner (give dates):

.............................................................................................................

4. Sanitary Information

I, the undersigned, Official Veterinarian hereby certify that the dog(s) described above and examined on this day:

a) Show/shows no clinical sign of any disease including rabies, canine distemper, parvo virus infection, leptospirosis, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Scabies and Leishmaniasis.

b) Has/have been vaccinated for rabies (in case it is more than three months of age) Canine distemper, parvo virus infection, leptospirosis within the time limit recommended by the vaccine manufacturer licensed and approved by the exporting country (name of the vaccine, batch number, and the date of vaccination must be shown on the passport/pet book/health card of dog(s) as the case may be).

c) Has/have been under treatment (if any) with following details

(i) Type of treatment

(ii) Type of medication

Issued at ........................ on............

Official Stamp:

Signature:

Name and address of Official Veterinarian

Registration No. :.

Email:

Contact No:

Annexure 2

Veterinary Health Certificate for Import of Pet Cats into India

(As per Annex 2.1.1 of above said O.M dated 15^th July 2020 by DAHD)

Owner

Name and Address of the owner(s) of the cat(s):

Contact no.:

E-Mail:

Description

Breed of Cat(s):

Age or date of birth:

Sex:

Colour:

Coat type and marking/ Distinguish mark:

Identification number:

Additional Information

Country of origin:

Countries visited over the past two years as declared by owner (give dates):

.......................................................................................................................

Sanitary Information

I, the undersigned, Official Veterinarian hereby certify that the cat(s) described above and examined on this day:

a. Show/shows no clinical sign of any disease including rabies, feline enteritis, feline panleukopenia, leptospirosis, distemper, scabies, aujeszky’s disease, toxoplasmosis etc.

b. Has been vaccinated for rabies (in case it is more than three months of age) within the time limit recommended by the manufacturer of vaccine licensed and approved by the exporting country (name of the vaccine, batch number and the date of vaccination must be shown on the veterinary certificate).

c. Has/have been under treatment (if any) with following details

i Type of treatment

ii Type of medication

Issued at .....................on............

Official Stamp:

Signature:

Name and address of Official Veterinarian Registration No:

Email:

Contact No: