Horse Import Procedure

Key Provisions

1. Scope and Purpose

· Applies to all horses and equidae imported into India.

· Thoroughbred horses may be imported only for breeding, polo, or sports — not for racing.

2. Documentation

· Each animal must be accompanied by:

Valid passport or history sheet with identification certificate,
Veterinary Health Certificate (Form A) authenticated by an official veterinarian of exporting country.

3. Import Entry Points

· Allowed only through international airports: Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, or others notified by the Government.

4. Pre-Export Conditions

· Horses must undergo pre-export quarantine and be tested for specific infectious diseases.

· No Objection Certificate (NOC) must be obtained 7 days prior to shipment from Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS).

5. Health Certification (Form A Highlights)

The exporting country’s veterinarian must certify that:

· The horse/equidae is free from African Horse Sickness for the last two years.

· The animal shows no symptoms of infectious diseases (like Glanders, Dourine, Equine Viral Arteritis, etc.).

· Diagnostic tests (listed below) have been performed with negative results.

6. Mandatory Tests Before Export (Select List)

*Disease*	*Diagnostic Test*	*Timeframe*
Glanders	Complement Fixation Test (CFT)	Within 15 days before export
Dourine	CFT	Within 15 days
Equine Infectious Anaemia	Coggins Test	Within 30 days
Equine Viral Arteritis	PCR (two tests 14 days apart)	Within 28 days
Contagious Equine Metritis	Culture/PCR (3 samples)	Within 30 days
West Nile Virus	RT-PCR or Virus Isolation	Within 7–10 days
Japanese Encephalitis	RT-PCR	Within 7 days

(*No test required if the exporting country is OIE-certified disease-free.)

7. Transport Conditions

· Stalls, vehicles, and aircrafts must be disinfected in advance.

· Animals must not contact livestock of lower health status during transit.

· Protected from insect vectors (Culicoides) at all times.

8. Post-Import Quarantine (India)

· Minimum 21 days quarantine at Government Quarantine Station.

· Re-testing for major diseases (AHS, EVA, Glanders, CEM, EIA, Dourine, WNV).

· Adverse cases: consultation with ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar.

· Positive or doubtful cases: animal to be re-exported or destroyed at importer’s cost.

· All testing costs to be borne by importer.