About applying to import processed meat products into or moving in transit through South Africa

If you want to import processed meat products (e.g. cooked, fermented, dried) into the Republic of South Africa, or move such products in transit through South Africa, you must apply for and be granted a veterinary import permit or in transit permit by the Director Animal Health. You must obtain this permit before the consignment leaves the exporting country.

The Director of Animal Health of South Africa will only issue veterinary import or in transit permits for processed meat products for countries where the veterinary services and animal health status has been evaluated and be approved.

There are different import protocols in place according to the products and the animal health situation in the individual countries. As the health requirements change often, please contact the Directorate Animal Health.

To apply for import permits for meat products imported for commercial purposes, you must be from companies within South Africa or an agent in South Africa appointed by an international company.
Veterinary import permits are valid for a limited period and one consignment only. Imports via third countries are generally not accepted.
 
For meat products in hermetically sealed containers, you must also get approval from the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).

What you should do

• Complete Application to Import Animals or Animal Products Into South Africa form.
• If the products are in transit through the Republic of South Africa, you must submit a copy of the veterinary import permit from the country of final destination with the application for a South African veterinary in-transit 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 can also make payments at the offices of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
• 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
  
• No application will be processed without proof of payment. Proof of the deposit must be faxed to: 012 329 8292 for attention: Ina Labuschagne.
• 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, a Veterinary Import Permit and a Veterinary Health Certificate template will be issued and sent directly to you.
• You must obtain a veterinary health certificate from the veterinary authorities in the exporting country before the product is shipped. This health certificate must comply with the conditions stipulated in the South African veterinary import permit or must have been negotiated between the veterinary authorities of South Africa and the exporting country. If you need any information on the exact requirements for a specific animal product, you can obtain specimen copies of the Veterinary Import Permit and the Veterinary Health Certificate from the Permit Office.
• You must present the following to the South African Veterinary Import Control Officer at the Port of Entry:
  
• Original Veterinary Import Permit.
• Original Veterinary Health Certificate.
  

All consignments of meat products must be inspected at one of following inspection sites stipulated on the import permit:

• Durban - Tel. 031 337 4346/7
• Cape Town - Tel. 021 551 2050
• City Deep (only from neighbouring countries) Tel. 011 613 1636
  
• 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 ZAR120 is not received.
  (Revised annually and published in Government Gazette).
  

How long does it take

Once the state veterinarian at the National office has approved the importation, it takes three to five working days to process the application and issue the permit.

How much does it cost

R120 for veterinary import permit.

Forms to complete

(Forms are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)

Application to Import Animals or Animal Products Into South Africa

Who to contact