South Africa proposes temporary changes to certification requirements for imported live animals and animal products or by-products Chief Veterinary Officer provide for alternative arrangements to the use of original veterinary health certificates due to the impacts of COVID-19 on airfreight and courier mail services. Who does this notice affect? - Importers of Live animals and animal products/by-products.
- Importers of live animals and animal products/by-products.
- The exporting Veterinary Authorities that has asked to use alternatives to original paper VHCs.
- This temporary change is relevant to the use of original and Veterinary Health Certificate (VHCs) and it does not apply to countries that already provide original VHCs with the consignments.
Interim arrangements - Where an importer is unable to present the original VHC from the exporting country's Veterinary Authorities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our inspection officers will instead accept the electronic copy of the VHC as lodged by the exporting Veterinary Authorities through our contacts provided hereunder.
- Our inspection officers may in some cases request verification of documentation directly from the exporting Veterinary Authorities.
- Where a paper original is issued by the competent authority prior export, we recommend that it is attached to the goods and/or consignments to minimise potential delays at inspection.
- The CVO must submit a list of authorised Email addresses that will submit such certificates to the address mentioned below.
Products covered: Live animals and animals products/by- products Hs Code: 01 Proposed date of adoption: 10 April 2020 Proposed date of entry into force: 9 April 2020 Last date for comments: 60 days after the date of publication | 
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