By Samarth EXIM Experts
DAHD Revises Livestock and Animal Product Import Protocol — New Sanitary Permit Requirements
Key Takeaways
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has updated the sanitary import permit (SIP) requirements for live animals, bovine semen, embryos, poultry and meat products — with stricter disease-free zone certifications now mandatory.
Updated Livestock Import Protocol: What Importers of Animals and Animal Products Must Know
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has issued revised guidelines for the import of livestock, live animals, genetic material (semen, embryos), and animal products into India. The revised protocol strengthens India's Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures under the WTO SPS Agreement and aligns India's import standards with OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health — WOAH) norms.
Key Changes to Import Requirements
- Disease-free zone certification: Exporting countries must now provide WOAH-recognised disease-free zone certificates for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Classical Swine Fever, Avian Influenza, and Lumpy Skin Disease — country-level freedom certificates are no longer accepted for these diseases.
- Bovine semen and embryos: Additional testing for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) is now mandatory before the Sanitary Import Permit (SIP) is granted.
- Poultry and poultry products: H5 and H7 subtype Avian Influenza freedom at the zone of origin is mandatory. All poultry meat imports require triple layered packaging with tamper-evident seals.
- Live aquatic animals: Ornamental fish and aquaculture broodstock must be accompanied by a disease surveillance report from an OIE-accredited laboratory in the country of origin.
Sanitary Import Permit Process
A Sanitary Import Permit (SIP) from DAHD is a pre-requisite for importing live animals, genetic material, and most animal products. The SIP application is submitted online and must be supported by the exporting country's veterinary health certificate, disease-free declarations, and laboratory test reports. Port health inspection by a designated Veterinary Officer is mandatory upon arrival. Quarantine periods of 21–30 days apply for most live animal imports.
Samarth EXIM provides complete assistance with SIP applications, FSSAI import clearance for animal products, and coordination with port quarantine authorities.