Circular No.25 /2013 - Customs F. No. 495/16/2012-Cus.

VI Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue Central Board of Excise & Customs ***** Room No.253-A, North Block, st New Delhi the 1 July, 2013. To, All Chief Commissioners of Customs, All Chief Commissioners of Customs (Preventive), All Chief Commissioners of C.Ex. , Customs & S.Tax. All Director Generals. Sir/Madam, Subject: Import of Pets under Baggage reg. Attention is invited to Boards Circular No. 15/2013 - Customs dated 08.04.2013 on the above cited subject. 2. Board has received several representations regarding problems being faced in re-import of pets at airports. In this regard the undersigned is directed to inform that re-import of pets is not covered by Circular No. 15/2013 Customs dated 08.04.2013. Therefore, it is clarified that re-import of pets as baggage is allowed subject to establishment of identity of pets by Customs authorities, production of the required health certificate from the country of export and examination of said pets by the concerned Quarantine Officer at this end. 3. These instructions may be brought to the notice of the trade / airlines / carriers by issuing suitable Trade / Public Notices. Suitable Standing orders/instructions may be issued for the guidance of the field officers. 4. Difficulties faced, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board immediately. Yours faithfully, (A.K. Goel) STO (TU)

Circular No. 15 / 2013-Customs

F. No. 495/16/2012-Cus.VI Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue Central Board of Excise & Customs ***** Room No.253-A, North Block, th New Delhi, 8 April, 2013. To, All Chief Commissioners of Customs, All Chief Commissioners of Customs (Preventive), All Chief Commissioners of C.Ex. , Customs & S.Tax. All Director Generals. Sir/Madam, Subject: Import of Pets under Baggage reg. Attention is invited to Boards Circular No. 94/2002 - Customs dated 23.12.2002 on the above cited subject wherein it was provided that import of pets upto two numbers per passenger may be allowed at one time subject to the production of the required health certificate from the country of origin and examination of the same by the concerned Quarantine officer. 2. Board has re-examined the present policy of import of two pets by passengers in view of representations received in this regard. Accordingly, it has been decided to allow import of two pet animals as baggage only to persons transferring their residence to India after two years of continuous stay abroad in terms of Baggage Rules 1998 subject to production of the required health certificate from the country of origin and examination of said pets by the concerned Quarantine Officer at this end. This new th dispensation shall come into force with effect from 15 April 2013. Import of animals (pets) in general would continue to be governed by DGFT policy. 3. Boards Circular No. 94/2002 - Customs dated 23.12.2002 stands modified accordingly to that extent. 4. These instructions may be brought to the notice of the trade/airlines/carriers by issuing suitable Trade / Public Notices. Suitable Standing orders/instructions may be issued for the guidance of the field officers. 5. Difficulties faced, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board immediately.

Yours faithfully, (S.C.Ganger) Under Secretary (Customs) th 8 April, 2013

Circular No. 94/2002 23rd December, 2002 F.No.495/27/2001-Cus.VI Government of India Department of Revenue Ministry of Finance & Company affairs (Central Board of Excise & Customs) Subject: Import of pets under Baggage Regarding. I am directed to refer to Boards instructions issued vide Circular No.9/2002 dated 30th January, 2002 on the above mentioned subject, wherein it was reiterated that bonafide pet animals brought by passengers may be allowed to be brought into the country only against an import sanitary permit issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying or against an import licence issued by the DGFT. 2. In this connection, several references have been received from the passengers, as also the field formations, pointing out the difficulties being faced in implementing the above instructions. The matter has since been re-examined in consultation with the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and it has been decided that the import of pets (dog and cat only) upto two numbers per passenger may be allowed at one time subject to the production of the required health certificate from the country of origin and examination of the said pets by the concerned Quarantine Officer. In such cases, the passengers may not be asked to produce the import licences or import sanitary permits. A copy ofstandard health protocol to be followed by the passengers while bringing pet animals (dogs and cats) with them is enclosed at Annexure I and II. 3. Necessary instructions may please be issued to all concerned for compliance.Difficulties faced, if any, in implementation of the above instructions may be brought to the notice of the Board. Kindly acknowledge the receipt.

Annexure-I ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE FOR IMPORT OF DOG INTO INDIA I. OWNER

Name and address . II. DESCRIPTION

Species of animal: .. Age or date of birth: Sex: .. Breed: .. Colour: . Coat type & marking/Distinguish mark: .. Identification number : III. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country of origin :. Countries visited over the past years as declared by the owner (give dates) : IV. DESTINATION OF ANIMALS

Country of destination: .. Name and address of consignee ......................................................................................................................................................... ............................ Nature and identification of means of transport ...... ...................................................... V. SANITARY INFORMATION

The undersigned Official Veterinarian certifies that the animal/s described above and examined on this day: a) shows no clinical sign of diseases including rabies, canine distemper, parvo virus infection, leptospirosis etc.. b) has been vaccinated for rabies (in case it is more than three months of age) within the time limit recommended by the manufacturer of vaccine licensed and approved by the exporting country (name of the vaccine, batch number and the date of vaccination must be shown on the veterinary certificate) Official stamp: Issued at ..on .. Name and address of Veterinarian. . Signature: ..

Annexure-II ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE FOR IMPORT OF CAT INTO INDIA I. OWNER

Name and address: ........ .. II. DESCRIPTION

Species of animal:............................ ........................... Age or date of birth: ............................................. ........... Sex: ................... ................................... Breed: ....................... ................................ Colour: ....................... ............................... Coat type & marking/Distinguish mark: ..................................................... Identification number :............................................... ......... III. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country of origin :........................................ ............... Countries visited over the past years as declared by the owner (give dates) :. IV. DESTINATION OF ANIMALS

Country of destination: . Name and address of consignee :.. .....

Nature and identification of means of transport :..... .. V. SANITARY INFORMATION

The undersigned Official Veterinarian certifies that the animal/s described above and examined on this day: a. shows no clinical sign of diseases including rabies, feline enteritis, feline pan leukopenia, leptospirosis etc.. b. has been vaccinated for rabies (in case it is more than three months of age) within the time limit recommended by the manufacturer of vaccine licensed and approved by the exporting country (name of the vaccine, batch number and the date of vaccination must be shown on the veterinary certificate) Official stamp: Issued at ..on .. Name and address of Veterinarian. . Signature: ..

Circular No. 9/2002-Cus 30-1-2002 F. No. 495/27/2001-Cus.VI Government of India Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) Central Board of Excise & Customs Subject : Import of Pets by Passengers - Regarding. I am directed to refer to Boards instruction issued vide letter F. No. 450/44/2001-Cus. lV (Pt. II) dated 24th Sept. 2001 on the above mentioned subject, wherein it was provided that clearance of live animals, whether as pets or otherwise, may be permitted only against a valid import licence from DGFT and after obtaining clearance from the Animal Quarantine authorities. It has been brought to the notice of the Board by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying that the said instructions are not being followed by the field formations and that one or two live animals are allowed clearance as pets by the Customs without insisting on the requirement of import licence. 2. It is hereby reiterated that bona fide pet animals brought by passengers may be allowed to be brought into the country only against a import sanitary permit issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying or against an import licence to be issued by the DGFT as is done in the case of other live animals. 3. Necessary instructions may please be issued to all concerned for compliance of the above requirements. Kindly acknowledge receipt.
Circular No. 72/98- Customs dated 24/9/1998 F.No.520/136/92- CUS- VI Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue, New Delhi Subject : Eighth Report of Estimates Committee (11th Lok Sabha) on disposal of passenger baggage detained at International Air ports; action taken by the Govt. on the recommendations contained in the forty-ninth report of Estimates Committee (10th Lok sabha on the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) Customs clearance at International Airport - Reg. In the Estimates Committee (1994-95) of the 10th Lok Sabha, the Government had undertaken to review the Baggage Rules permitting the travellers to bring in Note Book Computers and other essential items so that harassment to the general passengers could be eliminated. The Committee has desired an expeditious review of the matter. The matter has been examined, under Tourist Baggage Rules, 1987, Notification No. 45/ 92-Cus (NT) dated 19/6/92 was issued listing the personal effects which could be imported temporarily free of duty. This list included 14 items of day to day use of the tourist. 2. The Tourist Baggage Rules was replaced by the Baggage Rules, 1994 which contained a chapter on concession for tourists. In Rule 11, the personal effects imported by the tourists temporarily have been allowed duty free entry and the explanation of Rule 11 defined the wording 'personal effect' such as

clothings and other articles, new or used, which a tourist may personally and reasonably required taking into account of circumstances for his visit but excluding all merchandise imported for commercial purposes. The list contained in Notf. 92, though the Notn. has expired, continue to the guiding the customs formations at the Airport to give this benefit. 3. The Baggage Rules, 1998 issued vide Notn. No. 30/ 98- Cus(NT) dated 2/6/98 has provided for import of duty free goods by tourists in Regulation 7 as contained in Appendix 'E' of the said rules. There is no definition for personal effects in the present Baggage Rules. However, for the sake of uniformity it is considered necessary to reiterate that the personal effects would include the following goods: (i) (ii) Personal jewellery One camera with filmrolls not exceeding twenty

(iii) One video camera/ camcorder with accessories and with video cassettes not exceeding twelve (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) One pair of binoculars One portable colour television (not exceeding 15 cms in size) One music system including compact disc player One portable typewriter One permabulator

(ix) One tent and other camping equipment (x) One computer (laptop/ note book) (xi) (xii) One electronic diary One portable wireless receiving set (transister radio)

(xiii) Professional equipments, instruments and Apparatus of appliances including professional audio/ video equipments (xiv) Sports equipments such as one fishing outfit, one sporting fire arm with fifty cartridges, one non-powdered bicycles, one canoe or ranges less than 51 metres long, one pair of skids, two tennis rackets, one golf set (14 pcs. With a dozen of golf balls). (xv) One cell phone.

4. It may kindly be noted that while Notn. No. 45/92 defined personal effects as articles both new or used and Rule 11 of Baggage Rules 1994 allowed personal effects of tourists for duty free import, the Baggage Rules 1998 allows only used personal effects of the tourists. It is not the intention of the Board to verify the newness of every product which a traveller brings so long as it is not prima facie new goods in their original packagings which can be disposed of off hand. Sd/(Vijay Kumar) Under Secretary to the Govt. of India