Basic information
Outline of the system
The licensing system for live animals and animal products covers all animals and animal products, and is part of a broad and comprehensive effort to protect animal and human health.
Product coverage
The products live animals and animal products:
In Sub-Decree No. 16 on Sanitary Inspection of Animal and Animal Product, animals means:
- Domestic and wild quadruped animals, including their breeding families;
- Domestic and wild birds; including their breeding families;
Animal products means:
- Dead or slaughtered animals, carcass or part of carcass that have not been cooked or processed into other products;
- Tusks, horns, fur and feathers from living or dead animals, which have not been processed;
- Meat or any animal products for supply for human food, animal feed, using in public health, agriculture or industrial purpose. Royal Decree No. NS/RK/ O 1 1 6/003 promulgated Law on Animal Health and Production.
Nature of licensing
Automatic
If Automatic, administrative purpose
Non-Automatic
If Non-Automatic, description of the notified Non-Automatic Licensing regime
Non-automatic licensing to Protect human, animal or plant life and health; protect environment.
Products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
The licensing is not intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports. Rather, it is designed to assist in the regulation and monitoring of the movement of animals and animal products into Cambodia, in order to prevent the spread of animal infectious diseases and protect animal and human health, and to enforce veterinary rules on import, export, transit and transportation of animals and animal products from one place to another within the Kingdom of Cambodia. The importation of animals and animal products that contain infectious disease agents specified in the lists of animal infectious diseases is prohibited.
Questions for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
Not applicable.
The system applies to products originating from which country?
Both systems apply to products originating in all countries and do not discriminate by country of origin.
Expected duration of licensing procedure
Ongoing
Legal requirements
Is the licensing statutorily required?
Import licensing is regulated by Sub-Decree No.16 of 13 March 2003 on the Sanitary Inspection of Animal and Animal Products, and Regulation No. 178 of 18 May 2009 on the Sanitary Inspection of Animals and Animal Products.
Royal Decree No.NS/RK/ O 1 16/003 promulgated Law on Animal Health and Production.
Notification No. 178 on Procedure of Animal Sanitation Control and Animal Origin Products;
Sub-Decree No.16 on the Sanitary Inspection of Animal and Animal Products;
Notification No. 3525 on the requirements for importing live animals, meat and animal products.
Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subject to licensing to administrative discretion?
The list of products subject to licensing is specified in the Sub-Decree.
Is it possible for the government to abolish the system without legislative approval?
The Royal Government can nullify the Sub-Decree without reference to the legislature.
Eligibility of applicants
Is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation?
What persons or firms are eligible to apply for a licence?
Any person or legal entity registered with the Ministry of Commerce to do business in Cambodia may apply for sanitary inspection and an import license.
Is there a registration fee?
Is there a published list of authorized importers?
Contact point for information on eligibility
Ministry/Authority
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP)
Address
255, 200 Preah Norodom Blvd (41), Phnom Penh 370
Trea Village, street 371, Sangkat Steung Mean Chey,Khan Mean Chey, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Telephone
Tel: (855) 23 726128/23 726 129/97 76 66 989
Tel:(855) 12 901 106
Fax
Contact officer
H.E. Dr. Tan Phannara, Director General
Submission of an application
Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP)
Documentation requirements
What information is required in applications?
An importer wishing a license addresses a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries through the General Directorate of Animal Health and Production requesting a license. The letter must be accompanied by the applicant’s business license issued by the Ministry of Commerce; sanitary certificates issued by the exporting country; and animal or animal products identification.
Application form - Live animals.pdfWhat documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
Window of submission of an application
How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made?
Importers must submit an application form and identifies specific products to receive an importing license.
Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence can be made? If so, explain
License period is limited as importers' request basically.
Issuing the license
Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
The License is issued for importers while receiving the approval on request application from General Directorate of Animal Health and Production/ Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence
Which administrative body is responsible for approving application of licences?
The issuance of an import license is administrated by the General Directorate of Animal Health and Production of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Must the applications be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval?
Are there any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence?
None, other than thos specified under point 25, above.
Fees and other administrative charges
Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge?
There is no fee or charge for the import license. However, a service charge is levied to cover the cost of the sanitary inspection and a fee will be charged for laboratory tests, if these are required.
What is the amount of the fee or charge?
Is there any deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of licences?
Importers never pay deposit or advance payments in association with license issuance.
Amount or rate?
Is it refundable?
What is the period of retention?
What is the purpose of this requirement?
Refusal of an application
Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?
An application will be refused only if the necessary documentation is absent or incomplete. It may also be refused if there has been a recent outbreak of disease in the area from which the animals originate.
Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?
Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?
Applicants may appeal a refusal.
If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
Applicants may appeal a refusal to issue a license to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Importation
Are there any limitations as to the period of year during which importation may be made?
License period is limited as importers' request basically.
What documents are required upon actual importation?
- Business license issued by the Ministry of Commerce;
- Import license issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;
- Sanitary certificate issued by the exporting country;
- Animal or animal products identification;
- Contract between the owners of the goods and the Department of Animal Health and Production.
Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
There is no other administrative procedure.
Conditions of licensing
What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity be extended? How?
The license is valid for one year, and, upon request, can be extended.
Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
No, but non-utilization will be taken into account in considering a subsequent license application.
Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
No, import licences are not transferable to others.
Foreign Exchange
Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported?
Foreign exchange is freely available.