Procedure for Import of Live Stock Products into India.

• Sanitary Import Permit for Animal Products Imports
• Procedure for Import of Live Stock Products into India
• Import of Livestock Products
• Perishable Fish Items Import Allowed through Petapole Land Route
• DGFT Licence Required for Livestock and Livestock Products
• Prohibition on Import of Birds and Birds Products (Fowl Plague)
• Clearance of Livestock and Livestock Products - Special Procedue

1. Sanitary Import Permit for Animal Products Imports

The Ministry of Agriculture issued a notification on 7 July 2001, which requires animal products importers to produce a sanitary permit at the customs gate before entry into the country. Meat and meat products, eggs, milk products, pet food, embryos, ova or semen and other live stock products from livestock are hit by the notification issued under the 100 years old Live Stock Importation Act, 1998.

The livestock definition covers mules, asses, bulls, calves, bullocks, buffaloes, goats, swine, dogs, cats, poultry, parrots, pigeons, canaries and finches. Only products of livestock animals are in the dispensation. It would seem that fish and other seafood are excluded ad their import does not require the sanitary permit. Similarly, only specific parts and products are covered. For example, bones of bovine animals can e imported freely without the permit.

Separate application forms for personal consumption and trading are prescribed in the notification. Te trade division in department of animal husbandry and dairying will analyse the information contained in the application with reference to the risk posed by the import on the health of the animal and human population of the country. They will se internationally recognized scientific principles with reference to the specific product and the disease situation in the exporting country and India. If the finding in the risk analysis is positive, the trade division is duty bound to reject the permit application. The actual fact of the threat to the animal and human life in India as evidenced by the state of the actual product at the customs port will not be taken into consideration while deciding on the application. Special conditions like pre-shipment certification and quarantine checks at any stage may also be imposed on the consignment. The permit is valid for six months with a provision for a six-month extension.

The trader has to give a large amount of detail in the application form, most of which may not be true when the event of actual import takes place. He or she must give the detail of the producer, country and locality where the livestock product was produced and the country from which shipment took place.

The immediate implication of the permit condition for entry is that normal inflows of animal foods will be stopped by the customs. The consignments under the sanitary permit system are allowed for import only through the ports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
Bird Flu: There is a ban on import of all type of birds and products from birds imported from Hong Kong China, Honduras, Italy, Laos and Pakistan on account of the outbreak of avian influenza, also known as fowl plague in these countries. The order issued on 16 July under the Livestock Importation Act, 1898 is valid for six months

2 Procedure for Import of Live Stock Products into India

[Ref: Notification issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, New Delhi on 07 July, 2001. F. No. 109-6/2001- Trade]

1. In exercise of the powers conferred y Section 3A f the Live-Stock Importation Act 1898 (9 of 1898), the Central Government hereby restricts, with effect from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, the import into India of all live-stock products. Including-
   1. Meat and products of all kinds of including fresh, chilled and frozen meat, tissue or poultry, pig, sheep, goat;
   2. Egg ad egg power;
   3. Milk and milk products;
   4. Bovine, ovine and caprine embryos, ova or semen; and
   5. Pet food products of animal origin;
2. The import of these products shall be allowed only against a sanitary import permit to be issued by this Department as per the procedure laid down in the Schedule annexed to this notification.

3 Import of Livestock Products

1. Circular No. 43/2001-CUS The undersigned is directed to say Livestock Importation Act, 1898 (9 of 1898) has been amended vide the Livestock Importation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 which was promulgated on 5th July 2001. Prior to amendment, the said Act was applicable only livestock whereas livestock products were not regulated under the Act. The amendment to the said Act has been made to regulate the import of livestock products in such manner that these imports do not adversely affect the human and animal health population f the country. In exercise of the powers of the Central Government under the amended Livestock Importation Act, 1898, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has issued a notification dated 7th July, 2001 to regulate the import f livestock products as per the procedure aid down in the Schedule annexed to the said notification ad the Schedule thereto is enclosed for reference.
   
   
2. The notification inter-alia provides that import of livestock products will e allowed against valid sanitary import permits issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and the same will be allowed trough the airport and seaports at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai only which have Animal Quarantine and certification Services Station.
   
   
3. You are requested to kindly bring the contents of the notification and the Schedule thereto to the notice of all concerned immediately by way of issue of a suitable Pubic Notice and Standing Order and ensure strict compliance f the provision of the aforesaid regulation is over and above the fulfillment complied with as per notification issued by DGFT, vide which if any mandatory standards are prescribed under the Prevention of Food Products Order, etc. before imports are allowed. The consignment can also e checked for microbiological and other contaminants under the relevant laws, if such standards have been laid down for Indian products.
   
4. Boards also desire that meeting between Quarantine/ Veterinary Officers and your officers be organized where officers from Department of Animal husbandry and Dairying and Commerce Ministry could also be invited for effective implementation of the aforesaid notification. Difficulties may be brought to the notice of the Board. Kindly acknowledge receipt of the Circular.

4 Perishable Fish Items Import Allowed through Petapole Land Route

Subject: Import of livestock Products

1. 48-CBEC 28.11.2005 The undersigned is directed refer to Board’s Circular No.43/2001-Cus, dated .8.201 issued in pursuance to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying’s notification dated 7th July 2001 to regulate the import of livestock products as provided therein. The notification inter-alia provides that import of livestock products at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai only, which have Animal Quarantine and Certification Services Station.
   
2. Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture has issued a notification S.O.No.770 (E), dated 7.7. 2001. Accordingly, it as been provided that import of perishable fish items, excluding seed material for breeding or rearing proposes, the import shall be allowed to land at Petrapole, District North 24 Parganas, west Bengal, through land route.
   
3. Board has considered the manner. In view of the amending notification issued by Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, import of perishable fish items, exclusively meant for human consumption but excluding seed material for breeding or rearing purposes, shall be allowed at Petrapole, District North 24 Parganas, west Bengal, through lad route.
   
4. Accordingly Board’s Circular No.43-2001-Cus. Dated 6.8.2001 and instruction issued vide F. No.450/132/2004-Cus.IV, dated 4.01.200 should be read as amended to above extent.

5 DGFT Licence Required for Livestock and Livestock Products

1. DGFT PN No. 06 Dated 10.03.2005 (CoC Mumbai) Attention of the importers, CHAs and members of the trade is invited on the provisions regarding importation of live animals/livestock products through the Ports/ Airports.
   
2. The Board has issued a circular No. 43/2001-Cus. Dated 06.08.201 which, ineralia, provided for restriction on the imports of livestock products through the seaports or airports located at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, where the animal Quarantine and certification Services Station are located.
   
3. The Exim policy, restricts the importation of any lie animal (livestock) i.e. importation is allowed only issued of Licence, the DGFT requires the recommendation of the State; Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services of the state or the department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of agriculture; Department of Agriculture and co-operation, import of wide Animal (including their arts and products) as defined n the Wide Life (Protection) Act 1972 is prohibited.
   
4. All CHAs, member of trade are required to strictly comply with the provisions of the extant laws regarding importation of livestock and livestock products & wide animals. It is informed that importation of livestock/livestock products and wild animals without quarantine clearance and without fulfillment of Exim Policy as applicable will not be allowed.

6 Prohibition on Import of Birds and Birds Products (Fowl Plague)

1. The department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has banned the import of birds and bird products from select European and South Asian countries following the outbreak of bird flu in these countries.
   
   [Ref: Notification Dated 19th June, 2003 Published in the Gazette of India on 23 rd June, 2003]
   In exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-Section (1) of Section 3 and section 3A of the Livestock Importation Act, 1898 (9 of 1898), and in super session of the notification of the government f India in the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying) number S.O. 801(E) dated 17th August, 2001, except as resects things done or omitted to be done before such super session, the Central Government hereby prohibits, with effect from date of publication of this notification, import into India from Belgium, Chile, Hong Kong(P.R China), Germany Italy, Netherlands, Senegal, Pakistan and such the country reporting the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Fowl Plague), the following livestock and livestock products, namely:
   1. Domestic and wild birds including the captive birds (excluding poultry);
   2. Unprocessed meat ad meat products from Avian species including wild birds (except paltry);
   3. Semen of domestic and wield birds.
      
      Further, the Central Government hereby prohibits also the import into India from the countries reporting the outbreak of highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (Fowl Plague), the following livestock and livestock products, namely:
      1. Live poultry;
      2. Day old chicks, ducks, turkey and other newly hatched avian species;
      3. Meat and meat product from Avian species including wild birds;
      4. Hatching eggs;
      5. Eggs and egg products;
      6. Feathers;
      7. Live pig and pig meat products;
      8. Pathological material and biological products from birds;
      9. Product of animal origin (from birds) intended for use in animal feeding or for agricultural or industrial use.”
2. The prohibition shall be in force till further orders