SPECIAL PERMIT

Birds (including poultry) should not be brought into Hong Kong (either import or transshipment/transit) unless a Special Permit to do so is obtained in advance from this Department.

THE RELEVANT ORDINANCE

The Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance Cap. 139 is enforced by this Department through regulating the import of animals and birds for the prevention and introduction of animal diseases into Hong Kong.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The applicant should submit the application in a prescribed form (Form AF240) (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.

PAYMENT OF PERMIT FEE

Fee must be paid at the time of the application. The fee for the first 50 birds is HK$344 and HK$78 for every additional 50 birds. Crossed local cheque or e-payment is acceptable for local application. For details regarding the e-payment, please contact our officer at Tel: 2150 7062. For overseas application, the fee should be paid by a bank draft in Hong Kong currency payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". The bankdraft must be drawn upon a licenced bank in Hong Kong.

WHERE TO APPLY

Either in person or by post to:

Permit & Certification Unit (Counter No. 10), Import & Export Division, 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 application form and fee to the date of issue, subject to provision of all required information.

Please apply in advance and make allowances for mailing time and diagnostic tests for H5 avian influenza.

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 (No stamp is required). To avoid postal delay, the applicant may choose to pick up the permit at the licensing office in person or by an appointed agent. The permit will not be dispatched by fax.

OVERSEAS APPLICATION

To minimise inconvenience and to expedite urgent applications, 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 for one consignment only. Animals must be imported on or before the expiry date of the permit.

IMPORT REQUIREMENTS

All permit terms and conditions must be fully complied with. Please download:

Permit terms for pet birds (PDF format), poultry (PDF format) and ostriches in transit via Hong Kong (PDF format), additional terms for import parrots (PDF format).

ANIMALS IN TRANSIT

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

If the birds remain in the same aircraft or vessel, an import Permit/Special Permit is not required. However, importers must comply with the requirements imposed by the country/place of destination. If in doubt, please contact your transportation company or airline.

REMINDER

• Due to the recent avian influenza outbreaks in a number of countries/places, temporary suspension was imposed on the import of live poultry and birds from the following countries/places with immediate effect until further notice.

• Temporary suspension was imposed on the import of live poultry and birds from the following countries/places,

• As for importing live poultry and birds from countries/places other than the above, this Department will assess the risk and consider on a case-by-case basis. For details, please call the Import and Export Division of this Department at (852) 2150 7062.

• Two sets of carbonised permits will be sent to the applicant. Please retain the top (white) copy for the retrieval of birds on arrival. The carrying airline and shipping company may require the shipper to produce the second copy before accepting the carriage of birds in the exporting country/place.

• To import a species controlled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the importer must also apply for the appropriate CITES permit from this Department. To ascertain whether the species is a protected species, full scientific names (genus and species) of the animals to be imported must be provided in the application form.

• Do not arrange for the transportation of your birds unless a Special Permit has been obtained from this Department.

• Birds which have left Hong Kong are subject to the same importation and quarantine restrictions as outlined above on their return to Hong Kong. Special Permits to bring back birds which have left Hong Kong need to be obtained from this Department in advance.

Enquiry

1823 Call Centre Tel:(852) - 1823
icsenquiry@afcd.gov.hk