Animal quarantine
The word ‘Quarantine’ has been derived from the Greek word “Quaranth” which by definition means “period of 40 days”. In its application, it literally translates to a state, period, or place of isolation in case people or animals have arrived from somewhere else. Quarantine also takes place in case someone has been exposed to infectious or contagious disease.
What is Animal Quarantine?
Animal quarantine is a compulsory practice in every country. Requiring quarantine observation after arrival is a necessary practice to keep the country free from diseases through imported livestock and livestock products.
Note: [Livestock includes species of Equine, bovine, canine, ovine, porcine, caprine, rodents, laboratory animals, poultry and other wild, domestic animals and birds.
Livestock products include meat and meat products of all kinds, egg and egg powder, milk and milk products, pet food products, products of aquatic animals, animal feed and feed supplements, etc.]
Why is Animal Quarantine Required?
The government of India refuses entry to epizootic livestock altogether. The health and well-being of the citizens is paramount to the socio-economic development of any country, which cannot be taken a chance with.
The number of infectious diseases of animals which is extensive in other countries, does not exist in India. Hence, it is important to prevent such diseases to gain entry into our country through movement of animals from across the borders.
Travel was a potent barrier when the mode of transportation was via sea, which has assuredly reduced when the travel shifted by air. However, sea travel has also become swift in this day and age.
Hence, gone are the days when the travel time usually goes beyond the incubation period exposing the existence of infection in the livestock during such travel.
Moreover, animals often carry bacteria’s without showing any visible signs of clinical disease. As a consequence, it becomes more important for conducting checks at the entry point at airports/seaports, as well as land routes and quarantine them for observation before allowing them to leave.
Animal Quarantine in India
In India, “Animal Quarantine and Certification Services” was initiated during the fourth Five Year Plan, 1969-70.
The plan was introduced to avert the ingress of any exotic disease through international trade and travel into India and to sew up the health and safety of the animal and human life.
Which are the Quarantine Stations in India?
- New Delhi (NR)
- Mumbai (WR)
- Kolkata (ER)
- Chennai (SR)
- Hyderabad
- Bengaluru
Some of the laboratories which is facilitating “Animal Quarantine and Certification Services” (AQCS) are:
- High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), Bhopal which conducts imported consignments of Livestock and Livestock products.
- National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE), Hisaar, for Horses
- Central Disease Diagnosis Laboratory (CDDL) at Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly
- Veterinary Colleges.
Factors Required for Pet Passport for Both Import and Export in India
Foreign nationals of Indian origin require Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card to be able to import your pet to India.
For Indian citizens, staying abroad, visiting India on a short visa would require Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) license to bring their pet in the country.
In case of a foreign national not of Indian origin, can bring their pet in the country if they’re relocating to work in the country or must have a stay of minimum one year.
Note: [Without an escort, dogs or cats cannot be imported. Further, dogs are not given permission to enter the country for breeding or commercial purposes.]
- Import Grant –
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required from the Animal Quarantine Station in order for the pet to enter into India, regardless of the fact that they are accompanied or unaccompanied. - Export Grant –
For export, dogs and cats require a health certificate from their respective veterinarian as well as from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Service, within seven days of export. - Pet Microchip –
Pet microchipping (a radio-frequency identification transponder that carries a unique identification number) is of utmost importance with an ISO11784/11785 mark of 15 digits and non-encrypted. - Vaccinations –
Your pet needs to be vaccinated for rabies 31 days at the minimum before entering the country. Other vaccinations include Distemper, Leishmaniasis, Parvovirus and Leptospirosis, especially if entering India from a high-rabies country.In case of feline companions, they are required to be vaccinated against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Panleukopenia (FVRCP) between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering India.
- Rabies Titer Test –
Rabies titer test basically helps to evaluate the presence of rabies antibodies in the blood and helps in the diagnosis of muscle spasm.
Rabies titer test is not mandatory to enter India from any other country. - Health Certificate –
If you are traveling from countries like the United States or Canada, your pet would require a Veterinary Certificate for India. If not, the governing body of your country is at the helm of endorsing the import and export form.
Note: [All documents should be in english.]The rule for certificates being valid also differs from the United States to every other country; for the United States, the health certificate is valid for 30 days and for other countries, forms must be issued within 10 days of travel. - Commercial Shipments –
Importing dogs for breeding or other commercial purposes is restricted. Pets imported for show should have a license from the Director General of Foreign Trade. - Quarantine
Pets entering India from outside the country have to be quarantined for 14 days under the supervision of the Indian government. Or 30 days of home quarantine depending on the health condition of your pet as per import regulations. - Puppies and Kittens –
Puppies and kittens who are to be imported have to be vaccinated, microchipped. Vaccination for rabies should be no sooner than 3 months and then wait for 30 days before entering the country. - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) –
Invertebrates (spineless animals), reptiles, amphibians, mammals such as rodents and rabbits can be imported to India as air cargo. However, that would require a green signal from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and are not classified under endangered (risk of extinction) under CITES.
In case your pet falls under CITES, he/she is subjected to 30 days of quarantine in the originating country, as well as 30 days of quarantine in India.
Moreover, if the species falls under CITES, additional permits will be required.
Animal Quarantine Facility by Carry My Pet
As pet parents ourselves, we deeply care about your four-legged baby. Hence, we make sure that all the mandatory documents are well pre-organized before the trip. Travel can be easy only if the legal formalities are well taken care of.
To summarize the entire process, ‘Animal Quarantine and Certification Services’ (AQCS) is responsible to examine internationally accepted certification for livestock and animals. It basically investigates if the animal who is being exported to another country is in accordance with health requirements, as well as those specified in the International Zoo-Sanitary Code.
Further, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is obligatory for the process of pet relocation. To get possession of this document, a quarantine period has to be met which lasts anywhere between 21 days to 6 months to set the seal on the pet’s health. The NOC is provided by the country of origin, stating that the animal is free of rabies or any other infection.
Besides, an import license is also required for pets who are being imported for a short span of time (tourist visa) or for a change of ownership, which is provided by the DGFT. 30 days of quarantine period is marked in case of change of ownership.
All the due diligence is exercised by Carry My Pet to make sure your pet gets to travel without any hassle.
In case of any further query about the process of pet relocation or animal quarantine, kindly get in touch with us at +91-8908-909-020 or write to enquiry@carrymypet.com for a consultation
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Frequently Asked Questions
No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required when a pet is transferred. In order to obtain this document, a quarantine period is involved to ensure your pet is healthy and is not carrying any infectious diseases. It is provided by the country of origin
No Objection Certificate (NOC) is provided by the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services in India. Ensure to schedule your appointment at the AQCS a week in advance before visiting their office, and submit all the following documents to the quarantine office along with your pet 7 days before departure to obtain a NOC: The pet for examination by the officer, Veterinary health certificate (Fit to fly by road/Air/Train) from any local registered veterinarian, Microchip certificate, Vaccination details of the last year of the pet, Passport copies of the owner, air ticket copy of the owner, airway bill, if the pet is going through cargo, any specific requirements of the importing country, postcard size photographs (4 x 6 inch)
Quarantine of animals is done by Animal Quarantine and Certification services (AQCS) in India. AQCS prescribes animal quarantine of at least 14 days. Animal quarantine is 30 days if served at home.
An export certificate issues by the AQCS is valid for ten days from the specific date it was issued.
Veterinary quarantine is prescribed to curb the import and entry of zoonotic diseases in a particular country. This prescribes quarantine and its duration varies from country to country; some countries do not prescribe veterinary quarantine, whereas others will not permit entry until the quarantine period is served.
Animals suspected of carrying rabies are prescribes an observational period of 10 days. This is only valid for dogs and cats suspected of carrying the disease, and not other species of pet
