What you should do
Complete the application form Application to import pathology specimens into the Republic of South Africa. Contact the Directorate Animal Health if you are not sure which form to complete.
Attach the research protocol, or a letter explaining the purpose of the importation and giving information about the handling of the imported product, to confirm the following:
- All infective material must be sent to a laboratory.
- The laboratory must be approved and the appropriate biosecurity (depending on the risk involved) must be in place.
- All imported material must be incinerated after completion of the tests or research.
- It must be stated whether live animals will be exposed to the imported material or not
- If live animals are exposed, they must be destroyed and the carcasses incinerated after completion of the tests or research
- All material potentially infected with foot-and-mouth disease, as well as any exotic disease agents, may only go to the Transboundary Animal Diseases at Onderstepoort.
- The state veterinarian at the Directorate Animal Health will contact you if further information is required and will do a risk assessment to consider your application.
- You must pay R120 for the permit.
- Deposit the permit fee into the Department’s bank account:
Name of bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
Name of account holder: National Department of Agriculture
Account No: 011219556 International Band
Branch: 010845
IB brand 0001982 Centre Code
Swift Code: SBZA-ZAJJ
Name of the branch: Arcadia - You may also pay by cheque, made payable to the Director-General: Department of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries.
- Payments can also be made at the offices of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
- You
are responsible for bank charges as well as the Foreign Bank charges;
the Department will not issue a permit if the full fee of R120 is not
received.
Important notice: Reference must be the importer’s name and surname
- Send the completed form and proof of payment to:
The Director: Animal Health
Import Export Policy Unit
Private Bag X138
Pretoria
0001
South Africa
or Fax to 012 329 8292 - Please state on the application form whether the permit will be collected or mailed to you.
- Following receipt of the completed application form and proof of payment, the Directorate Animal Health will issue a Veterinary Import Permit and a Veterinary Health Certificate template.
- A veterinarian authorised by the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country must complete the Veterinary Health Certificate in English by prior to departure of the consignment.
- A Veterinary Health Certificate is sometimes not required for importation of pathology specimens, but an official veterinarian of the exporting country must identify and seal the consignment.
- You must present the original Veterinary Import Permit (and original Veterinary Health Certificate if required) to the South African Veterinary Import Control Officer at the Port of Entry.
- If you need any information on the exact requirements for a specific pathology specimen or biological product, you can obtain specimen copies of the Veterinary Import Permit and the Veterinary Health Certificate from the Permit Office of the Directorate Animal Health.
- In
cases where you are applying on behalf of someone else, please make
sure that you pay in the name of that person or company’s name.
Note: No
application will be processed without proof of payment. Proof of the
deposit must be faxed to: 012 329 8292 for attention: Ina Labuschagne.