Sanitary Import Permit (SIP) for Livestock Products
A Sanitary Import Permit from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) must be in your hands before dairy, meat, fish, pet food or other livestock products leave the exporting country. We prepare and file the SIP application on the National Single Window System.
What it is
A Sanitary Import Permit is an import clearance for livestock products. The DAHD describes it as a certificate of India’s sanitary requirements, not a licence. It states the conditions a product must meet so animal diseases stay out of the country.
The legal base is the Livestock Importation Act, 1898, widened in 2001 to cover livestock products. Notifications under the Act, such as S.O. 1139(E) of 11 March 2025, set the detailed conditions. The SIP must be obtained before shipping from the country of origin. A permit sought after the cargo has sailed does not fix the problem.
Who it applies to
Importers of dairy and food of animal origin
Think of a Mumbai trader bringing in cheese for hotel kitchens. Milk products, meat, eggs and fish products usually need an SIP before you book the shipment.
Pet food and animal-derived inputs
A Gurugram pet-food brand sourcing from overseas is the classic case. If you trade in pet food, or bring in animal-derived inputs for manufacturing, check whether your product line needs a permit. Genetic material such as semen and embryos also sits in this regime.
Traders and personal-use importers
The application has two forms. Form A is for personal consumption. Form B is for trading and marketing, which is where most business importers file.
Why it matters
Get the permit before the shipment
A consignment that reaches an Indian port without the required SIP can be refused clearance. You carry the freight, the demurrage and the supplier’s patience.
It shapes what your supplier must certify
The permit conditions drive the veterinary health certificate and certificate of origin that must accompany each shipment. Send those conditions to your supplier early and the paperwork is less likely to bounce.
It supports your food licensing
Where the product is also food, FSSAI rules apply in parallel. The SIP and the FSSAI licence work together. We line them up before you commit to a purchase order.
Documents required
From your business
- Import Export Code (IEC) and PAN
- FSSAI licence, where the product is food
- Product description and catalogue
- Authorisation letter for the filer
About the product
- Species and type of product
- Country and plant of origin
- Intended use and quantity
- Packaging and storage details
From your supplier
- Draft veterinary health certificate wording
- Certificate of origin from the exporting government
- Plant or establishment approval details
- Supplier contact and invoice terms
How it works
Check which products need an SIP
We read your product list against the DAHD requirements and tell you which items need a permit, which route (Form A or B) applies and which port you can use.
Register on NSWS and prepare the file
We set up your NSWS login, fill the form and assemble the supporting papers. You review the product description before anything is submitted.
Pay the fee and submit the application
The application fee is paid online at the time of filing. We keep the acknowledgement and watch the application for questions from the Department.
Share the permit conditions with your supplier
Once the permit is issued, we send you a short note on conditions, validity and quantity limits, so the health certificate and shipment match the permit.
Timelines
Before shipping
Obtain the SIP before cargo leaves the origin country. Plan it into the purchase order, not after it.
Permit validity
An SIP is valid for between three months and one year, depending on the product, and can cover multiple consignments within the permitted quantity.
Processing time
The Department does not publish one fixed processing time that we can verify, so we do not promise a date. We follow up and report status as it changes.
What happens if you import without a Sanitary Import Permit
Clearance can be refused
Livestock products that need an SIP and arrive without one can be held or refused at the port. We cannot name an exact penalty because outcomes depend on the order passed.
Wrong port, wrong shipment
Imports of livestock products are allowed only through designated ports: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai, with extra points for fish. Cargo landed at any other port is in trouble.
Paperwork mismatch
A health certificate or certificate of origin that does not match the permit conditions can stall clearance even when the permit itself is valid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Sanitary Import Permit?
It is a certificate from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying stating India’s sanitary conditions for importing a livestock product. It is not a licence. You must get it before the goods are shipped from the exporting country. It is valid for three months to one year and can cover several consignments. We prepare and file the application for you, and you review it before submission.
Which products need an SIP?
Livestock products such as milk products, meat and meat products, eggs, fish products, pet food and genetic material like semen and embryos generally fall under the permit regime. The final call depends on the exact product and its tariff description, so we check your list line by line before you place an order.
What is the SIP application fee?
The fee is ₹1,000 per application from 1 May 2025, up from ₹300. It applies to both Form A and Form B and is paid online on the National Single Window System. Government fees can change. We confirm the amount on the day we file and tell you upfront.
What is the difference between Form A and Form B?
Form A is for imports meant for personal consumption. Form B is for trading and marketing, which is the form business importers use. Choosing the wrong form delays the file. We confirm your intended use, then fill the correct form and match the supporting papers to it.
How long is an SIP valid?
Validity ranges from three months to one year depending on the nature of the product, and one permit can be used for multiple consignments within its quantity limits. We note the expiry date and the quantity cap for you, so you can plan renewals before the next shipment is due.
Which ports can I use for livestock product imports?
DAHD lists Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai for sea and air, plus Visakhapatnam and Kochi for fish products. Petrapole land customs station is listed for imports from Bangladesh only. Ports can be revised by notification, so we confirm the list before booking your cargo.
Do I also need an FSSAI licence?
If the product is food, yes. FSSAI requirements apply in parallel with the SIP, and the Department has moved towards a veterinary health certificate that carries both sets of requirements. We help you check your FSSAI licence and the SIP conditions together so the supplier certifies once.
Can I get an SIP after the goods have shipped?
No. The permit must be obtained before shipping from the country of origin. If your cargo is already on the way, stop and speak to us before it lands. We will look at the options for your specific consignment, without promising an outcome. Any decision rests with the Department.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government fee: ₹1,000 per SIP application from 1 May 2025 (earlier ₹300), paid online on the National Single Window System.
Ready to begin?
Send us your product list and supplier country. We will tell you whether you need an SIP, which form applies and what your supplier must provide.