IMPORT REQUIREMENTS

The horse racing industry is of great importance to Hong Kong. In order to prevent the introduction of equine diseases, import of horses and other equine animals to Hong Kong is subject to stringent control.

Upon arrival the horses are required to undergo post-arrival quarantine under approved veterinary supervision. Currently such quarantine facilities are only available at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Besides, the applicant needs to confirm that suitable stabling facilities and veterinary care are available, which is considered one of the pre-requisites for the issuing of Special Permit by this Department.

All permit terms (Acrobat PDF file) and veterinary health protocol established between Hong Kong and the Veterinary Authority of the country/place of export for horse imported must be fully complied with.

SPECIAL PERMIT

Horses and equine animals shall not be brought into Hong Kong (either import or transshipment) 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 and the Rabies Ordinance Cap. 421 are enforced by this Department through regulating the import of animals and birds for the prevention and introduction of animal disease including rabies into Hong Kong  .

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The applicant should submit the application in a prescribed form ( Form No. AF240-EQ ) (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. Fee for the first animal are HK$743 and HK$106 for every additional animal. Crossed local cheque or e-payment is acceptable for local application. For details regarding the e-payment, please contact our officer at Tel: 2150 7065. 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), 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.
(Closed 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 PERMITS

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 by himself or by his 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.

ANIMALS IN TRANSIT

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

If the horses remain in the same aircraft or vessel, a 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

• All registered horses on temporary importation, transshipment or Re-entry into Hong Kong must be accompanied by duly completed "Export Certificate for Horses Temporarily Imported into Hong Kong (version Sept.2011)", "Export Certificate for Horses Transshipping via Hong Kong (version Sept.2011)", "Export Certificate for the Re-entry of Hong Kong Resident Horses into Hong Kong (version Sept.2011)" (PDF format) respectively signed by the official veterinarian of the country/place of dispatch; all registered horses on permanent importation into Hong Kong must be accompanied by a duly completed "Export Certificate for Horses Permanently Imported into Hong Kong (version Sept.2011)" (PDF format) signed by the official veterinarian of the country/place of dispatch.

• For application of Equine Import Waiver, please duly complete the Equine Import Waiver Application Form (PDF format) and email it to fopc2@afcd.gov.hk. This Department will issue an Equine Import Waiver to individual horse according to the horse information provided (such as test reult, vaccination history). Please call (852) 2150 7058 for detailed information.

• Two sets of carbonised permits will be sent to the applicant. Please retain the top (white) copy for the retrieval of animals on arrival. The carrying airline and shipping company may require the shipper to produce the second copy before accepting the carriage of animals 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 the animals unless a Special Permit has been obtained from this Department.

• Animals 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 animals which have left Hong Kong need to be obtained from this Department in advance.

• With effect from 17 December 2010, Argentina has been removed from the list of Scheduled countries/places. As such, importation/transhipment of horses from Argentina to/via Hong Kong is not allowed.

ATTENTION

Following the consultation on the amended import condition for horses, AFCD's replies to submitters' comments and their submissions are contained in the documents below.

Review of Comments

The date of implementation for the following requirements is on 1 September 2011. Until this date the current conditions will apply. There will be no overlap period of both old and new conditions. Please contact us for advice for shipments that will be scheduled immediately after the 1 September 2011.

If you are to amend our model export certificates to suit your local systems, AFCD would appreciate a draft version being sent to us for approval. Please send this well in advance of a consignment being prepared to ensure that there are no issues.

1. Export Certificate for Horses Permanently Imported into Hong Kong (ver. Sept.11)
2. Export Certificate for Horses Temporarily Imported into Hong Kong (ver. Sept.11)
3. Export Certificate for the Re-entry of Hong Kong Resident Horses into Hong Kong (ver. Sept.11)
4. Export Certificate for Horses Transshipping via Hong Kong (ver. Sept.11) 

Enquiry:

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