In India, animal quarantine is unde rthe purview of Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying and Fisheries. Government of India initiated a central sector scheme namely “Animal Quarantine & Certification Services” (AQCS). Under this scheme Animal Quarantine stations are set across the country in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore to provide facility of Animal Quarantine and Certification services.
To prevent the entry of any Exotic Livestock Diseases into India through importation of livestock & livestock products, the provisions of Livestock Importation Act (ActNo. IX.1898) as amended by the Livestock Importation (Amendment) Act, 2001 (5.7.2001) and the regulations orders and SPS standards of the country issued there under are in operation.
The consignments containing livestock and their products are referred by the customs for Animal Quarantine Clearance in compliance to import Quarantine health rules of the Government of India. The consignments are examined along with the accompanied health certificates and other relevant papers before allowing entry into India.
The applicable notifications are Notification No.S.O.1495 and 1496(E) dated 10.06.2014 (Import procedure for livestock) and Notification No.S.O.2666(E) dated 16.10.2014 (Import procedure for livestock product)
Livestock products are categorized under Open General License (OGL) as per EXIM Policy.
In India the import of livestock products are allowed subject to Sanitary Import Permits(SIPs) as per the provisions of Live-stock Importation Act.,1898.A Sanitary Import Permit is not a licence, but a certificate certifying India's sanitary requirements of all live-stock products includes:-
• Meat and products of all kinds of including fresh, chilled and frozen meat, tissue or poultry, pig, sheep, goat;
• Egg and egg power;
• Milk and milk products;
• Bovine, ovine and caprine embryos, ova or semen; and
• Pet food products of animal origin;
Imports of animal and animal products are only allowed through designated seaports/airports of Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai where animal quarantine and certification services are available. Imports of fish products are allowed through the seaport of Vishakhapatnam (in the State of Andhra Pradesh), Sea and airport of Kochi and the Land Custom Station at Petra pole(for imports from Bangladesh only)
Email: sujit.dutta@nic.in, sujitdutta1@gmail.com