The Central Government on September 22, 2021 has notified the veterinary health certificate requirements for dog and cat food products (containing animal origin material) imported into India as follows, namely-
• General Conditions- The import of consignments of dog and cat food products shall comply with the following conditions, namely: -
(i) the import of consignments of dog and cat food products for retail sale containing raw-materials sourced from meat of ovine, caprine, swine, poultry fish, egg and egg products as one of the ingredients as such covered under the ITC-HS Code 23091000 relating to dog and cat food products put up for retail sale.
(ii) the imported consignment of the dog and cat food products shall be accompanied with the declarations and documents.
(iii) a declaration from the manufacturer shall be pasted on each container.
• Post –import border clearance requirements. - The post-import border clearance requirements shall be as under: -
(i) on arrival into India, the Custom officer shall refer the consignment to the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services and the Regional or Quarantine Officer at the port of entry shall verify the following before his recommendation for release of the consignment of dog and cat food products.
(ii) after verification, if necessary, random samples shall be drawn by the Custom officer as per the instruction of the Regional Officer or Quarantine Officer for testing of the materials for microbiological criteria as specified in clause (iv) of paragraph II in Form-I.
(iii) after satisfactory verification of the documents, the Regional Officer or Quarantine Officer shall release the consignment after taking the declaration from the importer.
• Power of Central Government to relax conditions – The Central Government may, in public interest, relax any of the conditions specified under this notification relating to the permit in relation to the import of dog and cat food products of animal origin into India.
• The notification shall come into force on the date of publication of this notification in the Gazette of India.
[Notification No. S.O. 3926(E)]
