Customs Clearance Procedure for Food Items, Livestock Products, Plant and Plant Materials.

Sanitary and Phytosanitary import controls require permits, testing and quarantine clearance before customs release of agricultural consignments.

Imports of foodstuffs, livestock products and plant materials are permitted only upon compliance with health, safety, packaging and labelling requirements and, where applicable, issuance of import permits or phytosanitary/sanitary certificates after scientific import risk analysis. Customs must verify authorisations, inspect storage and physical condition, ensure shelf life and labelling compliance, refer consignments for laboratory testing or quarantine inspection, and permit clearance only after receipt of required test reports and quarantine permissions; non compliant consignments are subject to re export or destruction.