According to document WT/TPR/S/249, page 73, §121, the import of animal products into India require sanitary import permits issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries. The Department approves or rejects the application after an import risk analysis on a case by case basis. Permits are valid for six months. The permit is not a licence, but a certificate verifying that India's sanitary requirements are fulfilled. What is the reason for introducing an expiration date (six months) for the permit, i.e., the sanitary certificate?
Reply: Six months is considered to be a reasonable time for the importer to make necessary arrangements for import of the commodity after obtaining the sanitary permit.
Is it necessary to apply for a new permit after six months if the sanitary status of the exporter remains the same?
