General Procedure

• Live animals
  • Any person/ organization intending to import live animals should obtain prior approved from the Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health (DG/DAPH)
  • For this purpose duly filled application forms  should be submitted to the DG/DAPH.
  • Prior to sending the application importers must send a request to DG/DAPH specifying the type of import and the country of origin to obtain the updated Health requirements and based on that a specimen Health certificate should be obtained from the responsible state authority of the exporting country.
  • Applications should accompany the specimen Health certificate thus obtained above and copies of prescribed documents
    mentioned in the application form. (Health Certificate according to the specimen and  originals of prescribed documents should be submitted  to the  Animal Quarantine officers, on arrival of the consignment/at the time of clearance.
  • Upon receiving application a risk assessment will be carried out to on intended imports and this procedure may take 3-7 days in general

• Animal Products /animal by-products
  • Any person/ organization intending to Animal products/animal by-products should obtain prior approved from the Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health (DG/ DAPH)
  • For this purpose duly filled application forms should be submitted to the DG/DAPH.
  • Prior to sending the application importers must send a request to DG/DAPH specifying the type of import and the country of origin to obtain the updated Health requirements and based on that a specimen Health certificate should be obtained from the responsible state authority of the exporting  country.
  • Applications should accompany the specimen Health certificate thus obtained above   and  copies  of  prescribed  documents  mentioned in the application form. Health Certificate according to the specimen and  originals of prescribed documents should be submitted to the Animal Quarantine officers, on arrival of the consignment/at the time of clearance.
  • Upon receiving application a risk assessment will be carried out on intended imports and this procedure may generally take 3-7 days.

• Importation of Ruminants and Products/By products of Ruminant Origin

(Regulations gazzetted under the Import and Export control Act to prevent  entry of  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE: Mad cow disease) into Sri Lanka)

• • Importers should follow the General procedure given in Sections a, b, c. d ; and.
  • Should obtain BSE clearance on intended imports from the DG/DAPH

Health Protocol to Importation of Cattle/Buffalo into Sri Lanka Pdf (497 Kb)

This is applicable to :

• Importation of mechanically deboned meat, other type of poultry meat, chicken powder, egg powder other type of chicken and egg products ; and
• Importation of feathers and other poultry by products
• Importation of parents/ Grandparents of poultry, cage and Aviary birds.

(Please note that Importation of  parents/grandparents, Cage and Aviary Birds will only be allowed to  registered breeder farms in Sri Lanka).

General Procedure

• Any person/ organization intending to import poultry and poultry products should obtain prior approved from the Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health (DG/ DAPH)
• For this purpose duly filled application forms should be submitted to the DG/DAPH.
• Prior to sending the application importers must send a request to DG/DAPH specifying the type of import and the country of origin to obtain the updated Health requirements and based on that a specimen Health certificate should be obtained from the responsible state authority of the exporting country.
• Applications should accompany the specimen Health certificate thus obtained above and copies of prescribed documents mentioned in the application form. Health Certificate according to the specimen and originals of prescribed documents should be submitted to the  Animal Quarantine officers, on arrival of the consignment/at the time of clearance.
• Upon receiving application a risk assessment will be carried out on intended imports and this procedure may generally take 3-7 days.

           Application and Requirement :

                     Import of Poultry Meat Pdf (424 Kb)

                     Import of Poultry by - Products Pdf (268 Kb)

                     Import of Pet Bird/s Pdf (188 Kb)

For further clarifications please contact: Director/ Veterinary Regulatory Affairs Division

                                                                       E- mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

1. Application

The applicant should submit an online application form using Form ‘FO/VRA/01’, to the Director General, Department of Animal Production and Health (Contact, 0094 81 2388120 Ext 231), 7days prior to intended date of import.

2. Health Certificates

Health requirement for the importation of dogs and Cats into Sri Lanka are as follows.

2.1. Dogs
2.1.1. International Veterinary Health Certificate

Issued by the Government Veterinary Authority in  the exporting country, attesting that;

1. Dog Identity with a Microchip Number.
2. Dog has been kept in the exporting country since birth or for the six (o6) months period immediately prior to export to Sri Lanka;
3. The animal was found to be free of any infectious or any contagious diseases at the time of dispatch;
4. The animal was not in contact with animals showing clinical sign of any infectious or contagious disease including Aujeszky's disease, Filariasis, Leptospirosis, Rabies, Canine distemper, Infectious hepatitis, Canine parvo virus infection, and Dermatomycosis for a period of minimum three (03) months immediately prior to embarkation;
5. The exporting country of the animal is either free from rabies. If not, the origin of the animal is an area free from quarantine restrictions for rabies and not within a radius of 25 km from the nearest known case of rabies during the period of minimum six (06) months immediately prior to embarkation;

2.1.2. Blood Test Reports

1. Negative test results for heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) with (ELISA/PCR//Knott’s) test done 7 days prior embarkation. If not the country free status declared a government veterinarian.
2. Negative test results for blood parasites including Babesiosis and Leishmaniasis.

2.1.3. Vaccination Records

1. Against Rabies using an anti-rabies vaccine conforming to the potency standard given by the World Health Organization (WHO), not less than thirty (30) days and not more than six (06) months immediately prior to embarkation; In case of puppies under the age of three (03) months, the dam of the animal had vaccinated not less than (30) days but not more than six (06) months prior to the birth of this animal;
2. The animal was  vaccinated against Canine Distemper, Infectious Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Canine parvo virus infection using recognized vaccines,not less than twenty one (21) days and not more than four (04) months immediately prior to embarkation;

2.1.4. Parasitic Treatment Records

1. The animal was  treated with a broad- spectrum anthelminthic recognized for its ability to eliminate internal helminths of dog, within seven (07) days prior to shipment
2. The animal was treated for external parasites within seven (07) days immediately prior  to shipment using a reliable parasiticide.

2.2. Cats
2.2.1. nternational Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the Government Veterinary Authority in the exporting country attesting that;

1. Cat Identity with a Microchip Number.
2. The cat is clinically healthy, free from signs of any infectious and contagious diseases and without any deformity at the time of dispatch;
3. The cat was not in contact with animal showing clinical signs of any infectious or contagious disease including Rabies, Aujeszky’s disease, Filariasis, Leptospirosis for a period of minimum three (3) months immediately prior to embarkation;

2.2.2. Blood Test Reports

1. Negative test results for heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)with (ELISA/PCR//Knott’s) test done 7 days prior embarkation. If not the country free status declared a government veterinarian.

2.2.3. Vaccination Records

1. The cat has been vaccinated using recognized vaccines against Feline panleucopaenia and Rabies,not less than 30 days and not more than 06 months prior to embarkation.

2.2.4. Parasitic Treatment Records

1. The cat has been treated for intestinal parasites using a reliable broad- spectrum anthelmintic and, for external parasites within seven (07) days immediately prior to shipment.

3. Issuing Permits

Import permit is issued for the duly filled Application submit along with above indicated authenticated health certificates as attachments. The permit is valid for 90 days from the date of issue and it is issued free of charge.

4. Quarantine Inspection

• Upon arrival of animals the importer should forward the originals of the International Veterinary Certificates fulfilling requirements stated in the section(2) of this document, to the Animal Quarantine Officer, Katunayake Airport;
• Imported dogs/cats are subjected to quarantine inspection at the Airport. Samples will be taken for investigation; upon testing if the animal become positive for heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)the animal is subjected to destroy or reexport, decided by the Animal Quarantine Officer.
• Imported dogs/cats will be subjected to an post-export quarantine or detain at the period of thirty days (30) in the "owners premises". For this purpose, the importer should sign the Quarantine Surveillance Agreement with the Animal Quarantine Officer, Katunayake, at the time of importation.
• The exact location; address and the contact no. of the premises where imported dogs /cats intended to be kept,should be stated by the importer in the quarantine surveillance agreement.