A. INTRODUCTION

B. EXTRACTS AND NOTIFICATIONS FROM LIVESTOCK IMPORTATION ACT, 1898

B1. DISEASES OR DISORDERS SPECIFIED IN LIVESTOCK IMPORTATION ACT, 1898

B2. SCOPE OF THE TERM LIVESTOCK

B3. MUMBAI, KOLKATA, CHENNAI AND COCHIN SPECIFIED AS PORTS

B4. BAN ON IMPORT OF HORSES, ASSES AND MULES FROM AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

B5. INDIA EXTENDS BAN ON MILK PRODUCTS FROM CHINA BY ANOTHER SIX MONTHS

B6. FOWL PLAGUE – PROHIBITION ON IMPORT OF BIRDS AND BIRD PRODUCTS

A. INTRODUCTION
Live stock importation is controlled by the Livestock Importation Act, 1898. Under this, import of livestock with specified diseases or disorders must go through the Animal Quarantine Certification process. Import is allowed only through the specified ports

In this section, extracts from the concerned law and the notifications issued under it are given.

Please note that the Livestock Importation Act, 1898 is now being used for control of livestock products. This is given in a separate note under <SAN_PERMIT_ANIMAL PRODUCTS>.

B. EXTRACTS AND NOTIFICATIONS FROM LIVESTOCK IMPORTATION ACT, 1898

SECTION 1. Short title and local extent. -(1) This Act may be called the live-stock Importation Act, 1898.

1.      It extends to the whole of India.

SECTION 2. Definitions. -In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, -

a.       the expression 'infectious or contagious disorders' includes tickpest, anthrax, glanders, farcy, scabies and any other disease or disorder which may be specified by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette;

b.      'live-stock' includes horses, kine, camels, sheep and any other animal which may be specified by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette; and

c.       'import' means the bringing or taking, by sea, land or air, into India.

B1. DISEASES OR DISORDERS SPECIFIED IN LIVESTOCK IMPORTATION ACT, 1898

In pursuance of clause (a) of section 2 of the Live-stock Importation Act, 1898 (9 of 1898), and in supersession of the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Department of Agriculture) No. S.O.1898, dated the 20th July, 1960, published on pages 2254-2255 of part II, section 3(ii) of the Gazette of India, dated the 13th August, 1960, the Central Government hereby specifies the following diseases or disorders to be infectious or contagious disorders for the purpose of the said Act, namely:

1. African horse sickness

2. Anaplasmosis

3. Aujeszkys disease

4. Ayian leucosis complex

5. Babesiosis

6. Bacillary white diarrhoea

7. Black head in turkeys (Histomoniasis)

8. Bluetongue in sheep

9. Brucella infections

10. Canine distemper

11. Chronic respiratory disease of poultry

12. Contagious coryza of poultry

13. Contagious agalaclia

14. Contagious carpine pleuropneumonia

15. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia

16. Contagious equine pleuropneumonia

17. East coast fever

18. Epidemic tremor

19. Epizootic lymphangitis

20. Equine encephalomyelitis

21. Equine infectious anaemia

22. Fowl cholera

23. Fowl plague

24. Fowl pox

25. Fowl typhoid

26. Glanders

27. Heartwater

28. Infectious bronchitis

29. Infectious laryngo-tracheitis

30. Jigger disease

31. Johnes disease

32. Leishmaniasis

33. Leptospira infections

34. Lougping ill

35. Malignant catarrhal fever

36. Newcastle disease

37. Orf.

38. Piroplasmosis (Babesiosis)

39. Psittacosis

40. Rabies

41. Rainderpest

42. Scrapie

43. Spirochaetosis

44. Sporotrichosis

45. Swine erysipelas

46. Swine influenza

47. Swine fever

48. Swine plague

49. Teschen disease

50. Trypanosomiasis

(i). Dourine

(ii). Mal-de-Caderas

(iii). Surra

51. Tuberculosis

52. Ulcerative lymphangitis

53. Vesicular stomatitis

54. Virus hepatitis of ducks

55. Virus pneumonia of pigs.

B2. SCOPE OF THE TERM LIVESTOCK

In pursuance of clause (a) of section 2 of the Live-stock Importation Act, 1898 (9 of 1898), and in supersession of the notifications of the Government of India in the late Department of Education, Health and Lands No.F.32-12- (14)/44-A, dated the 12th August, 1944 and the Ministry of Agriculture No. F.12-75(II)/49-L, dated the 26th June, 1950, the Central Government hereby specifies the following animals to be Live-stock for the purposes of the said Act, namely: -

Mules, asses, bulls, calves, bullocks, buffaloes, goats, swine, dogs, cats, poultry, parrots, pigeons, canaries and finches.

[Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Department of Agriculture) Notification No. 21-34/55-LS, dated 29th July, 1960.]

SECTION 3. Power to regulate importation of live-stock. -

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, regulate, restrict or prohibit, in such manner and to such extent as it may think fit, the import, into India or any specified place therein, of any live-stock which may be liable to be affected by infectious or contagious disorders, and or any fodder, dung, stable-litter, clothing, harness or fittings appertaining to live-stock or that may have been in contact therewith.

(2) A notification under sub-section (1) shall operate as if it had been issued under section 19 of the Sea Customs Act, 1878(8 of 1878), and the officers of customs at every port shall have the same powers in respect of any live-stock or thing, with regard to the importation of which such a notification has been issued, and the vessel containing the same, as they have for the time being in respect of any article the importation of which is regulated, restricted or prohibited by the law relating to sea customs and the vessel containing the same; and the enactments for the time being in force relating to Sea Customs or any such article or vessel shall apply accordingly.

B3. MUMBAI, KOLKATA, CHENNAI AND COCHIN SPECIFIED AS PORTS

Ports of Import and Export

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the live-stock Importation Act, 1898 (9 of 1898), and in supersession of the notification of the Government of India in the late Department of Education, Health and Lands No. 32-12 (15)/44A, dated the 12th August, 1944, the Central Government hereby prohibits with immediate effect the bringing by sea of any livestock from any place outside India to any place to which the said Act extends other than the ports of Bombay, Calcutta, Madras and Cochin

[G. I. Ministry of Agriculture Notification No.F.10-26/51-L, dated the 19th December, 1951.]

B4. BAN ON IMPORT OF HORSES, ASSES AND MULES FROM AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

In exercise of the powers conferred by Subsection (1) of the live-stock Importation Act, 1898 (9 of 1898) the Central Government hereby prohibits the import into India of equine species of animals including horses, asses and mules of any breed, age or sex from Afghanistan or Pakistan by land, air or sea.

[Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Department of Agriculture) Notification No. 13-181/59-LD (A), dated 10th December, 1959 as amended by Ministry of Food and Agriculture Notification F. No. 13-181/59-LD, dated 31st July, 1961, No. 13/181/59-LD (T), dated 12th Feb. 1962 and N0. 17-17/62-LD (I), dated the 5th September, 1962.]

B5. INDIA EXTENDS BAN ON MILK PRODUCTS FROM CHINA BY ANOTHER SIX MONTHS

Ban was imposed in 2008 after traces of melamine - a chemical which can cause problems such as kidney stones — were found in their milk products

India has extended the ban on Chinese milk and milk products for another six months, a government statement said.

"The central government further extends the prohibition on import of milk and milk products, including chocolates and chocolate products and candies, confectionery, food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient, from China," a notification issued on 24 June 2010 by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The text of the notification is giving below.

The ban came into existence on December 1, 2008 for one year and was extended for a period of six months on December 23, 2009.

The DGFT's order, however, did not give any reason for the extension of the ban.

Subject: Prohibition on import of milk and milk products from China.

49-Ntfn(RE)   In exercise of powers conferred by Section 5, read along with Section 3(2) of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, also
24.06.2010   read along with paragraph 2.1 of Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-14, the Central Government hereby further extends the prohibition on import of
(DGFT)         milk and milk products including chocolates and chocolate products and candies/ confectionary/ food preparations with milk or milk solids as an
                    ingredient, from China, imposed vide Notification No. 67(RE-2008)/2004-2009 dated 1st December, 2008 and extended vide Notification No. 22/2009-2014 dated 23rd Dec, 2009, for a period of six months from 24th June,2010 and until further orders.

2. This issues in public interest.

• Livestock Importation also attracts Livestock Importation Act, 1898

B6. FOWL PLAGUE – PROHIBITION ON IMPORT OF BIRDS AND BIRD PRODUCTS

45-Ntfn(RE)   In exercise of powers conferred by Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act,

23.09.2008   1992 read with paragraph 2.1 of the Foreign Trade Policy – 2004-09, the Central Government hereby

(DGFT)         amends the ITC (HS) Classification of Export and Import Items 2004-09 as under:

1.      Condition 16 of Chapter 1 A (General Notes to Import Policy) of the ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import items, 2004-09 shall be amended to read as under:

“16.   Import into India of the following live-stock and live-stock products shall be prohibited from all countries, in view of notifiable Avian Influenza (both Highly Pathogenic notifiable Avian Influenza and Low Pathogenic notifiable Avian Influenza) :

(a)     domestic and wild birds (excluding poultry and captive birds);

(b)     unprocessed meat and meat products from Avian species including wild birds (except poultry);

(c)     semen of domestic and wild birds (except semen of poultry).

Further, the Central Government also prohibits the import into India from the countries reporting notifiable Avian Influenza (both Highly Pathogenic notifiable Avian Influenza and Low Pathogenic notifiable Avian Influenza), the following live-stock and live-stock products, namely:

(a)     Live poultry and captive birds;

(b)     day old chicks, ducks, turkey and other newly hatched Avian species;

(c)     unprocessed meat and meat products from Avian species including wild birds;

(d)     hatching eggs;

(e)     egg and egg products (except Specific Pathogen Free eggs);

(f)     unprocessed feathers;

(g)     live pig;

(h)     pathological material and biological products from birds;

(i)      product of animal origin (from birds) intended for use in animal feeding or for agricultural or industrial use;

(j)     semen of poultry.

Provided that the prohibition shall not be applicable on the import of processed pet food containing ingredients of meat and meat products from avian species, pig and product of animal origin (from birds) intended for use in animal feeding.

Provided further that the prohibition shall also not be applicable to the import of pathological materials and biological products for diagnostic and research purpose on specific request.

Provided also further that the import of processed poultry meat shall be allowed after satisfactory conformity assessment of the exporting country.”

2.      The prohibition shall be in force till further orders.

3.      This issues in public interest.