Importation of Animal Products

THE RELEVANT ORDINANCE

Section 11 of the Rabies Regulation, Cap. 421, stipulates that no person shall import into Hong Kong any animal, carcass or animal product except a permit issued by this Department is obtained well in advance.

Under this Ordinance, "animals" means all members of the class mammalia (mammals) except human beings; "Animal Products" means parts or derivatives of a dog, a cat (e.g. dog skin, canine semen, canine plasma, etc.) or any animal that has been infected with rabies and "carcasses" includes the carcass of a dog or cat, the carcass of any animal that has died on the journey to Hong Kong or the undressed carcass of any animal.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The applicant should submit the application in a prescribed form ( Form No. af303 ) (PDF format).

Downloading of the forms for viewing and printing can be done through the use of the Adobe(R) Acrobat(R) Reader software which is available free at the Adobe Systems Incorporated website.

Facsimile copies are also obtainable from the interactive telephone No. 2708 8885.

PERMIT FEE

The permit for the importation of animal products is issued free of charge.

WHERE TO APPLY

Either in person or by post to:

Permit Issuing Desk (Counter No. 10), 5th Floor, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Office hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 noon, 1:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
(Close on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.)

PROCESS TIME

5 working days from the date of receipt of permit fee to the date of issue, subject to provision of all required information.

Please apply in advance and make allowances for mailing time.

DISPATCH OF PERMIT

By ordinary mail (local) or air mail (overseas) to the address as indicated in the application form. Please enclose a self-addressed envelope together with the application. To avoid postal delay, the applicant may choose to pick up the permit at the licensing office by himself or by his appointed agent. The permit will not be dispatched by fax.

OVERSEAS APPLICATION

To minimise inconvenience and to expedite urgent application, overseas applicants may nominate a person or agent in Hong Kong to apply for the permit on their behalf.

VALIDITY OF THE PERMIT

Valid for 6 months and is good for one consignment only.

IMPORT REQUIREMENTS

All permit terms and conditions must be fully complied with.

ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN TRANSIT

Import permits are required for transshipment (involving change of aircraft or mode of transport in Hong Kong).

However if the products remain in the same aircraft or vessel, an import permit is not required. However, importers are advised to comply with the requirements which are imposed by the country/place of destination.

Enquiry

1823 Citizen's Easy Link (CEL) Tel:(852) - 1823
icsenquiry@afcd.gov.hk