Wüstenschiff

INFORMATION ON IMPORTING ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS
INTO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

- Complete the specific application form to import animals or animal products into the Republic of South Africa. The form can be obtained from the Permit Office
- Room G52, Delpen Building, c/o Annie Botha and Union Street, Riviera, Pretoria

OR Contact +27 (0) 12 319 7514 +27 (0) 12 319 7503/7406
+27 (0) 12 319 7414 +27 (0) 12 319 7632/3

Send the forms to:

The Director: Animal Health OR fax to: +27 (0) 12 329 8292
Import Export Policy Unit
Private Bag X138
PRETORIA
0001 SOUTH AFRICA

- To obtain a Veterinary Import Permit you need to deposit the permit fee into the Department’s bank account:

- A payment of R105-00 for import permit must accompany the application.

- The payment’s details is as follows:

Name of bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
Name of account holder: National Department of Agriculture
Account nr.: 011219556 International Band
Branch: 010845
IB BRAND 0001982 CENTRE CODE
Swift Code SBZA-ZAJJ
Name of the branch: Arcadia
IMPORTANT NOTICE : Reference must be Importers Name & Surname

- PLEASE NOTE:
You are responsible for your bank charges as well as the Foreign Bank charges; the Department will not issue a permit if the full fee of ZAR 105.00 for permit is not received.

- In cases where you are applying on behalf of someone please make sure that you pay under that person’s name or company’s name.

- Please take note that no application will be processed without proof of payment.

- Proof of the deposit must be faxed to: +27 12 329 8292 for attention: Ina Labuschagne.

- A cheque for R105-00 made payable to the Director-General National Department of Agriculture, may be attached to the application form and posted to the above-mentioned address.

- Please also note that it takes two (2) to three (3) working days to process the permit if the state vet approves it and In cases where the permit is going to be collected please confirm with permit office telephonically whether the permit is ready before you come to collect.
Payments can also be made at the following office by the National Department of Agriculture:

• Head Office
C/o Annie Botha and Union Street
Delpen Building
Riviera
Pretoria
Tel. No. (012) 319-7461

• Kempton Park Quarantine Station
Mudfish drive no. 3
Bonaero Park
Extension 3
Tel. No. (011) 973-2827

• Durban quarantine Station
18 Stanger Street
Durban
Tel. No. (031) 337-4346

• Milnerton quarantine station
Bosmandam Road
Sanddrift
Milnerton
Tel. No. (021) 551-2050

- In cases where quarantine of animals is required, the importer must contact the Quarantine Officer at the port of entry:

• Johannesburg Tel +27 (0) 11 973 2827 or Fax +27 (0) 11 973 2828
• Durban Tel +27 (0) 31 368 6011 or Fax +27 (0) 31 337 7469
• Cape Town Tel +27 (0) 21 551 2050 or Fax +27 (0) 21 551 1378

- The Quarantine Officer will arrange the reservation for accommodation at the Quarantine Station and must complete the applicable part of the application form.

- An Indemnity Declaration (in respect of imported animals or birds undergoing quarantine) must also be completed and attached to the application form. This Indemnity Declaration form can also be obtained from the Permit Office.

- Following receipt of the completed application form, a Veterinary Import Permit and a Veterinary Health Certificate will be issued & sent directly to you.

- This needs to be completed, in English, by a veterinarian authorised thereto by the Veterinary Administration of the exporting country, within 10 days of departure.

- If any information is needed on the exact requirements for a specific animal or animal product, specimen copies of the Veterinary Import Permit and the Veterinary Health Certificate can be obtained from the Permit Office.

- The following must be presented to the South African Veterinary Import Control Officer at the Port of Entry:

- Original Veterinary Import Permit
- Original Veterinary Health Certificate
- Any other documentation specified, e.g.: Indemnity Declaration, Rabies Vaccination Certificate, etc.

- The Directorate Animal Health, Sub-Directorate Import Export Policy Unit in Pretoria will be able to assist you should any further information be required.

- Please state on the application form whether the permit will be collected or mailed to you.

- In cases of importing wet/dry hides & skins the application form must be Confirmed by the state vet in the area that the facility is approved by this office.

- People importing live animals e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, horses ect (not cats & dogs) must get a livestock improvement permit before we can issue the veterinary import permit so please contact:
EPHESIA / ANNASTATIA 27 (0) 12 319 7438/7429

SENIOR MANAGER: ANIMAL HEALTH

Rules for importation

• Each consignment of animal and/or animal products for importation into South Africa must be accompanied by:

- An original veterinary import permit, issued by the National Directorate Veterinary Services

- An original health certificate, duly completed in English and in accordance with the requirements of the import permit, and signed (in blue ink) by the competent veterinary authority of the exporting country.

Please note: faxes, photostat, carbon or other copies will not be acceptable.

• All conditions of the veterinary import permit must be complied with and it is the responsibility of the importer.

How to apply for a veterinary import permit

• You must fill in an application form.

• Get the correct application form at your local state veterinary office, an approved port of entry into South Africa (see page 3) or the National Directorate Veterinary Services in Pretoria, telephone number (012) 319 7514 (oder wie schon oben erwaehnt bei der Suedafrika-Botschaft in Berlin)

• A tariff is payable per permit for each consignment.

• The completed application form can be faxed to (012) 329 8292 or 319 7492 or posted to the Subdirectorate Import and Export Control, Private Bag X138, Pretoria, 0001.

• The application must be submitted to the Pretoria office at least 4 to 6 weeks before the proposed import.

(...)

Illegal importation

Any consignment of animals and/or animal products imported into South Africa without an original veterinary import permit can be regarded as an illegal importation.

NB: The veterinary import permit must be issued before the consignment leaves the exporting country.

Consequences of illegal importation

Various measures can be taken against illegal imports, depending on the type of import, including:

• refusal of entry and detaining of the illegal consignment

• an order will be served on the importer to remove the consignment from South Africa or the consignment will be destroyed

• prosecution of the importer can be instituted.

The Act makes provision for the following:

- first conviction: a fine of up to R4 000 or imprisonment for a period of up to 2 years, or both

- second conviction: a fine of up to R8 000 or imprisonment for a period of up to 4 years, or both

- third or subsequent conviction: imprisonment without the option of a fine

- if it can be proven that the importation constituted an animal disease risk, the Act makes provision for (first offence) imprisonment for a period of up to 7 years.

Approved ports of entry

Animals or animal products may be imported at the following approved ports of entry:

• Airports:

- Johannesburg International

- Cape Town International

- Durban International

• Harbours:

- Cape Town

- Durban

- Port Elizabeth (only selected products)

• Border posts with neighbouring countries:

- Namibia (Nakop and Vioolsdrif)

- Botswana (Ramatlabama)

- Zimbabwe (Beit Bridge)

- Swaziland (Golela and Oshoek)

- Mozambique (Komatipoort—Lebombo)