CBIC notifies revised Procedure for Import of Pets and Live Animals

CBIC notifies revised Procedure for Import of Pets and 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 lndia 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 lndian requirements; format for advance No Objection Certificate; 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 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”.

[caption id="attachment_90645" align="aligncenter" width="336"] CBIC notifies revised Procedure for Import of Pets and Live Animals[/caption] 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: 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: