Sanitary Import Permit (SIP) in India: DAHD Application, Documents, Fees and Port Clearance

What Is a Sanitary Import Permit?

A sanitary import permit (SIP) is the permit India requires before livestock products, meaning products of animal origin, can be imported. It is issued by the Trade Division of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, under the Livestock Importation Act, 1898. The SIP sets out the sanitary conditions the consignment must meet, and the exporting country's veterinary authority must certify those conditions in the veterinary health certificate that travels with the goods.

DAHD describes the SIP as "not a licence, but a certificate certifying India's sanitary requirements". It is issued after an import risk analysis of the product and its country of origin, to keep animal diseases out of India. Livestock products are freely importable under India's import policy, but only subject to a valid SIP. The SIP must be obtained before the goods are shipped from the country of origin; applying after shipment risks the consignment being held, sent back or destroyed at the port.

For importers in India, the sanitary import permit India requires is applied for online on ONDLS or your state drug licensing portal. At the port of entry, the consignment is checked by the Animal Quarantine and Certification Service, and food products are then cleared by FSSAI. the State Drug Licensing Authority handles the permit and quarantine side.

Livestock Importation Act SIP: The Legal Basis

The livestock importation act SIP framework rests on the Livestock Importation Act, 1898, which allows the Central Government to regulate, restrict or prohibit the import of livestock and livestock products that may carry infectious or contagious disease. Under it, DAHD's notification S.O. 2666(E) lists the livestock products that need a sanitary import permit and the procedure for importing them. Separate notifications cover live animals.

DAHD issues import health conditions for each product and, where needed, country-specific veterinary health certificate formats. These conditions decide what your exporter's veterinary authority must certify. In September 2024, DAHD issued an office memorandum clarifying the documents needed for an SIP application, and in early 2025 it clarified the certificate of origin and integrated veterinary health certificate requirements.

Import of Animal Origin Products India Permit: Which Products Need a SIP?

An import of animal origin products India permit is needed for the livestock products listed by DAHD. These broadly include:

• Milk and milk products: milk powder, cheese, butter, whey, lactose, ghee, casein, yoghurt, cream, infant milk bases
• Meat and meat products: fresh, chilled, frozen and processed meat, including pork and poultry meat
• Eggs and egg products, including egg powder
• Pet food and animal feed containing animal-origin ingredients
• Fish and fishery products, subject to the specific rules for these products
• Gelatin, collagen and animal fats, and products derived from bones, hides and horns
• Animal casings, serum and other animal-derived biological products
• Germplasm: semen, embryos and ova
• Feathers, wool, hair, raw hides and skins, where listed

Products that are not in DAHD's list, or are excluded by its notifications, do not need a SIP but may still need other approvals. If you are unsure whether your product is a livestock product under the notification, Regovex checks it against the current list before you place an order.

Beef and other prohibited items

Import of beef and beef products is not permitted, and applications must confirm that the goods contain no beef or its by-products. Some products from countries with specific animal disease outbreaks may also be restricted for a period. Regovex checks current restrictions for your product and country of origin.

Sanitary Import Permit Dairy Products and Milk Imports

The sanitary import permit dairy products need is the most common SIP. Every import of milk and milk products, from milk powder and cheese to whey protein and butter, needs a SIP before shipment.

Import of dairy products India license

The import of dairy products India license requirement has three layers:

1. Importer Exporter Code (IEC) from DGFT, the basic registration for any importer.
2. FSSAI central licence as a food importer, with the dairy product categories included.
3. Sanitary import permit from DAHD for each product and source, before shipment.

At the port, the consignment then needs quarantine clearance from AQCS and import clearance from FSSAI.

Import of milk products India FSSAI SIP: how they fit together

For the import of milk products India FSSAI SIP requirements work together. DAHD's SIP covers animal health, keeping diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease out. FSSAI covers food safety, labelling and standards. FSSAI's order of 3 August 2022 requires a health certificate from the exporting country's competent authority for milk and milk products, pork and fish products, and for dairy this was implemented from 31 December 2023. DAHD has clarified that dairy consignments need an integrated veterinary health certificate that combines its sanitary conditions with FSSAI's food safety requirements, certified by the exporting country's authority. For dairy products, DAHD also asks for a copy of the manufacturer's original registration certificate.

Practical points for dairy importers

• Get the SIP before your supplier ships; the bill of lading date matters.
• Share India's veterinary health certificate format with your supplier before production, so the certificate matches exactly.
• Make sure the product, quantity, consignor, consignee and port match across the SIP, invoice, health certificate and certificate of origin.
• Plan for sampling and testing at the port by both AQCS and FSSAI.

Sanitary Import Permit for Pet Food

The sanitary import permit for pet food is needed when dog food, cat food, treats, chews and other pet foods contain animal-origin ingredients such as meat, fish, poultry, egg, milk or animal fat. Pet food is a livestock product for SIP purposes, and it must meet DAHD's import health conditions for that product.

Import of pet food India permit: what you need

The import of pet food India permit process usually involves:

• IEC for the importing company
• Sanitary import permit from DAHD for each pet food product or range, with full ingredient and process details
• Veterinary health certificate from the exporting country's authority, certifying India's conditions, such as heat treatment and source of raw materials
• Quarantine clearance at the port from AQCS
• Labelling and packaging compliance, including Legal Metrology requirements for pre-packed goods

Pet food is not human food, so it does not need an FSSAI food import clearance in the way human food does, but importers should check for any other product-specific rules at the time of import. Because pet food recipes often combine several animal-origin ingredients, the product literature and process chart are the most important parts of the application. Regovex prepares these with your supplier.

How to Get Sanitary Import Permit: SIP Application DAHD Step by Step

If you are wondering how to get sanitary import permit approval, the SIP application DAHD requires follows these steps:

1. Check the product: confirm it is a livestock product needing a SIP, and that import from the source country is allowed.
2. Get the basics in place: IEC and, for food, an FSSAI central import licence covering the product.
3. Collect product details from the supplier: ingredients, process flow, certificate of analysis, end use and the manufacturer's registration.
4. Register on the SIP portal with the IEC and OTP verification.
5. File the application on the prescribed form, with product, quantity, consignor, importer, production locality and expected port of entry.
6. Upload documents and pay the application fee online.
7. DAHD review and risk analysis: the Trade Division may ask questions or more documents.
8. SIP issued, stating the sanitary conditions, quantity and validity.
9. Supplier ships with the veterinary health certificate certifying those conditions.
10. Port clearance by AQCS, then FSSAI for food products, and customs.

SIP portal DAHD

The SIP portal DAHD runs is the online system for registering as an importer, filing SIP applications, paying fees and tracking status. You register once per IEC, using OTP verification on the registered mobile number, and use the same login for later applications. The portal also lets you see the status of each application and download the issued permit. Regovex files the SIP import permit DAHD application on your login with you, so you keep full access to your records.

Processing time

DAHD reviews each application, including a risk analysis for the product and origin. Simple, complete applications for regularly imported products move faster; new products, new origins or incomplete files take longer. Apply well before your supplier's shipping date, and never ship before the SIP is issued.

Sanitary Import Permit Documents

The sanitary import permit documents DAHD expects were set out in its office memorandum of September 2024. A complete file usually has:

• Application form with the declaration that the information is correct and an undertaking to produce the specified certificates
• IEC of the importer
• FSSAI licence of the importer, for food products
• Product details in the prescribed format, with quantities
• Product literature or catalogue listing every ingredient
• Process flow chart showing how the product is made, including heat or other treatment
• Certificate of analysis with chemical and microbiological data
• Detailed end use of the product
• Manufacturer's registration certificate from the country of origin, especially for dairy
• Declaration that no beef or beef by-products are present

Documents that travel with each consignment

• Veterinary health certificate from the exporting country's competent authority, certifying India's conditions
• Certificate of origin for each consignment, giving the order number, container number, port of discharge, buyer and product description
• Copy of the SIP
• Invoice, packing list and bill of lading or airway bill
• Laboratory reports, where required

Names and addresses of the consignor and consignee must match the SIP exactly, and the product description on the health certificate must match the permit.

Veterinary Health Certificate Import India

The veterinary health certificate import India requires is the official certificate issued by the veterinary authority of the exporting country, certifying that the consignment meets India's sanitary conditions for that product. It is the document that "carries" the SIP's conditions to the port.

Key points about the veterinary health certificate:

• India's format: DAHD publishes veterinary health certificate formats and import conditions for many products, and some are agreed country by country.
• Before shipment: the certificate must be issued by the exporting country's authority, not by the supplier.
• Integrated certificate for dairy: for milk and milk products, the certificate combines DAHD's sanitary conditions with FSSAI's food safety requirements.
• Originals on arrival: AQCS needs the original health documents for provisional or final clearance.
• No mismatch: product description, quantity, batch and parties must match the SIP and shipping documents.

Most port problems come from a health certificate that leaves out a condition stated in the SIP, or words it differently. Regovex sends your supplier the exact conditions and checks the draft certificate before shipment.

Animal Quarantine Certification Service Import Clearance

The animal quarantine certification service import clearance is the port-level check of livestock products. AQCS stations operate at the designated ports of entry for animals and animal products: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, with their connected inland container depots. Fish products may also enter through Visakhapatnam, Kochi and the Petrapole land route.

At the port, AQCS:

1. Examines the official health documents against the SIP
2. Inspects the consignment and draws samples where needed
3. Tests samples or holds the goods pending results, based on risk
4. Grants clearance: immediate, provisional or on hold, consignment by consignment
5. Orders deportation or destruction of consignments that do not comply

For food products, FSSAI's import clearance follows, with its own document check, inspection and sampling, before customs releases the goods. Planning the AQCS and FSSAI steps together avoids demurrage and cold-chain losses.

Sanitary Import Permit by Product Type

Meat and poultry products

Fresh, chilled, frozen and processed meat and poultry products need a SIP with conditions on the animal's health, slaughter at approved establishments, and freedom of the source country or zone from specific diseases. Pork products also need the FSSAI health certificate from the exporting country's authority. Beef is not permitted.

Eggs and egg products

Table eggs, egg powder and other egg products need a SIP with conditions on the flock's disease status, such as avian influenza, and on processing for egg products.

Gelatin, collagen and animal fats

Gelatin, collagen peptides, tallow, lard and other animal fats are used in food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Each needs a SIP setting out the source species and the processing that makes it safe. Pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturers importing these as raw materials often overlook the SIP, so we check it alongside their CDSCO approvals.

Germplasm and biological products

Bovine semen, embryos and ova, and products such as animal serum, have their own detailed health conditions and certificate formats. DAHD has issued specific veterinary health certificates for products such as bovine serum, and these must be followed exactly.

Fish and fishery products

Fish and fishery products follow their own rules and entry points, including Visakhapatnam, Kochi and Petrapole. Raw fishery products imported for re-export under an advance licence have a separate route without a SIP, subject to an NOC.

One Consignment, Three Checks: SIP, AQCS and FSSAI

For a food product of animal origin, such as cheese, three government checks come together on one consignment:

Customs releases the goods only when the required clearances are in place. The bill of entry is filed electronically, and the FSSAI and quarantine steps follow through the integrated import clearance systems at the port. A delay at any one stage holds the whole consignment, which for chilled or frozen products quickly turns into cold-chain and demurrage costs. Regovex plans all three together, so documents for each are ready before the ship or flight arrives.

Working With Your Overseas Supplier

Most SIP problems start at the supplier's end, because the supplier and its veterinary authority must certify India's conditions exactly. A smooth import needs:

• Early sharing of India's conditions: send the SIP and India's veterinary health certificate format to the supplier before production, not after shipment.
• Accurate product information: the supplier provides the ingredient list, process chart and certificate of analysis for your application.
• Manufacturer registration: for dairy, a copy of the plant's registration certificate from its home authority.
• Correct certificate of origin for each consignment, with order and container numbers.
• Matching paperwork: consignor name, product description and quantities identical across all documents.
• Shipment timing: shipping only after the SIP is issued, within its validity and quantity.

Regovex prepares a supplier briefing pack with these points, and reviews draft certificates before your supplier ships.

Typical Timeline for a SIP Import

The safest plan is to start the SIP process before you confirm the shipping date with your supplier, and to treat the SIP issue date as the trigger for shipment.

How Regovex Handles Your Sanitary Import Permit

1. Free product and origin check: we confirm whether a SIP is needed and whether import from that country is allowed.
2. Licence check: we confirm your IEC and FSSAI central licence categories, and fix gaps first.
3. Supplier pack: we send your supplier the list of documents and India's conditions.
4. Application: we prepare product details, ingredient lists and process charts, and file on the SIP portal with you.
5. Follow-up: we answer DAHD queries and track the application.
6. Pre-shipment check: we review the draft veterinary health certificate and certificate of origin.
7. Port support: we coordinate AQCS quarantine and FSSAI import clearance.
8. Utilization and renewal: we keep the utilization record and file the next SIP in time.

Sanitary Import Permit Fees

The sanitary import permit fees for the SIP application itself are low: guides published by importers and consultants give the application fee as ₹300 per application, paid online on the SIP portal. Check the current amount on the portal before paying. Other costs of importing livestock products include:

The bigger costs come from mistakes: a consignment held at the port, re-testing, demurrage, or goods deported or destroyed because the health certificate did not match the SIP.

Sanitary Import Permit Validity

The sanitary import permit validity depends on the product. DAHD states that permits are "valid for one year or six month depending upon the nature of product and may be used for multiple consignments". Within the validity, you can import in several shipments up to the total quantity stated in the SIP.

Using a SIP for multiple consignments

• Each shipment is counted against the permitted quantity.
• Shipments must leave the country of origin within the validity; the bill of lading date is used for sea shipments.
• When the quantity is used up or the validity ends, a new SIP is needed.
• Changes to the product, origin, consignor or port usually need a new or amended SIP.

SIP utilization certificate

A SIP utilization certificate, or utilization report, records how much of each SIP has been imported: the bill of entry, quantity and date of each consignment against the permit. Keeping it up to date shows DAHD how earlier permits were used when you apply for the next one, and helps you plan the remaining quantity. Regovex maintains a utilization record for every SIP we file, so your next application is supported by a clean import history.

SIP Exemption Livestock Products

The SIP exemption livestock products rules mean that not every animal-related import needs a permit. Key points:

• Products outside DAHD's list of livestock products do not need a SIP, though they may need other approvals.
• Raw fishery products for re-export: in 2025, DAHD clarified that importers of raw fishery products do not need a SIP if they hold an advance licence for re-export and obtain a no objection certificate, with the exporting country's certificates meeting the Ministry's standards.
• Specific notifications may exempt or change the conditions for particular products over time.

Because exemptions are narrow and change by notification, Regovex confirms the position for your product before you skip a SIP.

SIP for Non-Food Uses: Pharma, Cosmetics, Leather and Research

The sanitary import permit is about animal health, not about how the product will be used. That means many non-food importers also need a SIP:

• Pharmaceutical manufacturers importing gelatin for capsules, animal-derived excipients or bovine serum need a SIP alongside their CDSCO approvals for the finished medicine.
• Cosmetic companies importing animal-derived raw materials such as collagen, lanolin-based or tallow-based ingredients should check whether each is a listed livestock product.
• Leather and footwear units importing raw hides, skins and furskins must use the designated ports and meet DAHD's conditions for these products.
• Laboratories and research institutions importing animal serum and other biological materials need the specific veterinary health certificate DAHD prescribes.

For these importers, the SIP application asks for end use, so state it accurately. Because Regovex also works as a drug and cosmetics regulatory consultant, we can align the SIP with the CDSCO side of the same import.

Sanitary Import Permit India for First-Time Importers

If this is your first import of a livestock product, the order of steps matters more than any single document:

1. Register your business and get an IEC from DGFT.
2. Get an FSSAI central licence as an importer, if the product is food, with the right categories. This can take up to 60 days, so start early.
3. Choose a supplier whose country and plant can certify India's conditions; ask whether they have exported to India before.
4. Apply for the SIP with full product details before agreeing the shipping date.
5. Arrange a customs broker familiar with AQCS and FSSAI clearance at your chosen port.
6. Plan storage: chilled and frozen products need cold storage near the port while samples are tested.

First-time importers often place the order first and look at permits later. Reversing that order, with the permit before the purchase order is final, avoids most losses.

After Clearance: Records and Compliance

Clearance at the port is not the end of compliance. Keep a file for every consignment with the SIP, the veterinary health certificate, the certificate of origin, the AQCS clearance, the FSSAI import clearance and the bill of entry. These records support your utilization report, your next SIP application, your FSSAI annual return as an importer, and any inspection or buyer audit. Importers who sell to large retailers and food manufacturers are often asked to show these documents for each batch, so a well-kept file is also a commercial advantage.

Common Mistakes in SIP Applications and Imports

• Shipping before the SIP is issued, the most expensive mistake.
• Incomplete ingredient or process details, especially for pet food and composite products.
• Health certificate not matching the SIP, with conditions missing or worded differently.
• Mismatched names, addresses or quantities across the SIP, invoice and certificates.
• Using a SIP after it expires or beyond its quantity.
• No FSSAI central licence covering the imported food category.
• Ignoring the FSSAI side for dairy, where an integrated health certificate is needed.
• No certificate of origin with the consignment.

Why Choose Regovex as Your Sanitary Import Permit Consultant in India

As a sanitary import permit consultant and FSSAI registration consultant working across India from our office in Aligarh, Regovex brings DAHD, AQCS and FSSAI requirements together for importers:

• Product check: whether a SIP is needed, and whether import from your source country is allowed.
• Licences first: IEC guidance and the FSSAI central import licence with the right categories.
• SIP application: product details, ingredient lists, process charts and documents prepared and filed on the SIP portal.
• Supplier coordination: India's veterinary health certificate conditions sent to your supplier, and drafts checked before shipment.
• Port support: AQCS quarantine clearance and FSSAI import clearance planned together.
• Utilization records and timely renewals for regular importers.
• A track record of a 99.8% approval rate across 100+ clients, rated 4.9/5, including food importers such as Astro Foods and Sonia Fisheries.

Call or WhatsApp +91 90847 06423 for a free consultation on your sanitary import permit.

Related services

• Central FSSAI license
• FSSAI registration and licence hub
• FSSAI annual returns
• Fortified foods approval
• Drug import registration

Areas we serve near India

We help importers in India and nearby areas, including .

What Our Clients Say

"Got my approval in committed time with complete transparency and zero hassle." — Baburam, Samarpaan Cloud Kitchen (FSSAI food license)

"I had great experience working with Regovex Consulting on the regulatory side of my product. Since the product category was relatively new and the guidelines were not very clearly defined, it required additional research and careful interpretation of the regulations." — Parichit Dhawan, Director, Feorah Wellness & Cosmetics

Food and import clients include Astro Foods, Astro Naturelles, Sonia Fisheries, Hunger Stop and Project Life, across FSSAI licences and sanitary import permits.