What is veterinary export certification?

It is the assurance by the relevant role-players in the exporting country to the relevant role-players in the importing country that the animal or product complies with the requirements of the importing country.

 The following principles apply:

  • The importing country makes the rule
  • The exporting country must comply
  • Certification must be accurate

 

The legal parameters for veterinary export certification are set by national legislation in the form of:

  • The Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984) and the related published Regulations

  • The Meat Safety Act (Act 40 of 2000) with the Red Meat Regulation published on 17 September 2004

  • The Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act (Act 19 of 1982)

  • The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996).

  • Veterinary Procedural Notices (VPNs) are created based on relevant legislation and cover the practical execution of state veterinary functions. The main VPN applicable in this context is Veterinary Procedural Notice (VPN-2002-17) Principles of Certification. Other VPNs may apply to different commodities i.e. VPN04 for registration of ostrich holdings for export purposes.

 

It is the exporters’ responsibility to get hold of and to present the requirements for the commodity that has to be certified for export to the certifying veterinarian. This is usually in the form of an import permit. Some countries do not issue veterinary import permits for each import but instead have standing regulations. Templates incorporating these requirements have been drawn up and are used as combination export certificates / veterinary health certificates.

Exporting pet dogs and cats from the Western Cape

Pets travelling out of South Africa generally require a Veterinary Health Certificate certified by a state veterinarian. We have compiled some info sheets to assist you with your travels but these are to serve as a guide only and you are ultimately responsible for obtaining the import requirements from the country you are travelling to. If the information we provide differs in any way from the information received from the importing country please let us know so that we can update our information.

Want to know where the closest export certification office is?

Please see the bottom of the page.

Pets entering South Africa Dogs and cats entering South Africa need to have an import permit. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in Pretoria is responsible for issuing import permits. You can contact them on: 012 319 7559 or 012 319 7514 vetpermits@dalrrd.gov.za You can also find information here.

Registration of holdings from which pets must come from for commercial exports to the EU

The owner of the holding should make contact with the local state veterinary office in the area the holding is.

The procedure for registration is dependent on the following:

    1. the disease status of the area in which the holding is located
    2. the number of animals that are to be sent and the
    3. frequency that animals are to be sent from that holding
    4. risk analysis conducted by the state veterinarian

Where the procedure determined by the state veterinarian of the area has dictated that ZA registration of the holding is necessary, the client should follow the procedure for obtaining a ZA registration number.

Requirements for export certification of products

  • An import permit from the country you wish to export to. These are usually issued by the Department of Agriculture in the relevant country.

  • All production facilities in the chain (including cold stores) must be registered to export –they must have a ‘ZA’ approval number.

  • Product must be traceable through all production facilities in the production chain.

  • Where required by the importing country the animals from which the product is derived must be traceable to and originate from approved farms (compartments).

  • The product must be handled in a suitable manner and this should be proven in some way.

  • The products should be identified accurately enough to prevent the export of product with an unknown origin using the same documentation.

  • Certain commodities need to be inspected by state veterinary officials before an export certificate can be signed. This is usually determined by the commodity but, can be a requirement of the certificate

Procedure

All relevant documentation must be supplied to the State Veterinary office by the exporter when initially applying for export certification. These can be e-mailed to vetexport@westerncape.gov.za
In the case of consignments requiring inspection, please refer to the document Western Cape Export certification Manual: Guidelines for Clients’.

Document use

Download

Export and movement application forms

Application for inspection

Application for inspection

HS code search

Codes

Tariffs and Fees

Register 2020

Registration of an export facility

Export certification can only be done for products originating from facilities specifically registered for this purpose with the Department of Agriculture.

You may only export animals or animal products if they come from premises that comply with international standards or the legislation of the importing country. These premises could be an approved abattoir, quarantine station, artificial insemination centre, embryo collection centre, farm, feedlot, food processing factory, food storage premises, etc.

How to obtain a ZA number

ZA application form

Document and procedures

This is a collection of documents and procedure that will help you to get your facility ready for export, export a product and interact with our offices.

Comments on the documents below can be sent to vetexport@westerncape.gov.za

Documents where comments are requested
Document titleDocument number and versionDate by which comments are requested
Info Sheet for exporting pet food to the EU 05 July 2017
Info sheet for exporting dairy to the EU 05 July 2017
HS code searchVer 1.1When needed
ECOS Terms and Conditions for commentVer 122 December 2022

 

The content on this page does not originate from the Western Cape. This page is an attempt to make the information available to our clients but all information should be confirmed with DALLRD  or from DALLRD-VPN’s

VPN Number and yearTitleDate added
VPN 00 2008Definitions29 Oct 2015
VPN 01 2007Procedures to register establishments as approved to export meat products29 Apr 2019
VPN 04 2 2012Standards for the registration of ostrich farm for export (Note: This VPN has got biosecurity manuals that need to be read with it)29 Oct 2015
VPN 05 2017Standard for the registration of a game farm for export31 Jan 2017
VPN 07 2007Standard for the registration or re-registration of crocodile farm for export status29 Oct 2015
VPN 08 2017Standard for Game harvesters31 Jan 2017
VPN 09 2017Meat inspection for game31 Jan 2017
VPN 10 2007Standard for post-mortem meat inspection and hygiene control at game meat establishment29 Apr 2019
VPN 13 2007Standard for antemortem  post-mortem meat inspection  hygiene control at ostrich meat establishment29 Apr 2019
VPN 14 2007Standard for antemortem and post-mortem meat inspection and hygiene control at crocodile meat establishment29 Oct 2015
VPN 15 2012standard for microbiological monitoring of meat, process control, cleaning and Trichinella controls29 Oct 2015
VPN 16 2017Microbiological requirements for water29 Oct 2015
VPN 17 2 2007Principles of Certification29 Oct 2015
VPN 18 2007Law enforcement at export establishments29 Apr 2019
VPN 19 2011National Residue Monitoring Program29 Oct 2015
VPN 20 2010Approval of dairy export establishments29 Oct 2015
VPN 21 2002Registration of private quarantine station for birds for import 
VPN 22 2002Registration of private import quarantine station for reptiles 
VPN 23 2002Registration of Veterinary approved Tannery29 Oct 2015
VPN 24 2009Registration of A Veterinary Approved Taxidermy29 Oct 2015
VPN 25 2007Export of raw hides and skins from South Africa29 Oct 2015
VPN 31 2009 -01Registration of feed mills as a source of feed to farms approved for export to the European Union29 Oct 2015
VPN 31 2009 Semen and embryos centres 2009Standard for the registration and maintenance of quarantine facilities for collection of bovine/ovine semen and embryos for export.29 Oct 2015
VPN 33 2010Control measures to be taken when the European Union approved meat is imported into South Africa with a view to process and export it to the European Union market29 Oct 2015
VPN 38 2011Standard for the registration of a veterinary-approved cold storage facility for imports and/or exports29 Oct 2015
VPN 39 2011Procedures for the importation, movement and processing of uncooked pork and uncooked pork products from countries that are not free from Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), including the requirements for state veterinary-approved pork processing and packing facilities29 Oct 2015
VPN 39 2011-01Standard for the registration of an approved pig compartment29 Oct 2015
VPN 41 1 2012Standards for the registration of a veterinary approved farm feed/mixing establishment for export29 Oct 2015
VPN 42 1 of 2013Procedures for the importation, movement and processing of uncooked pork and uncooked pork products from countries that are not free from Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), including the requirements for state veterinary-approved pork processing and packing facilities.27 Nov 2018
VPN 43 1 2012Standards for the registration of a veterinary-approved pet food / Sterilising establishment for export 
VPN 44 2012-01Standards for the inspection of poultry farms for export29 Oct 2015
VPN 47 2014-01Standard for the registration of a vector protected quarantine facility for export29 Oct 2015
VPN FMD 2014Veterinary procedural notice for Foot and Mouth Disease control in South Africa29 Oct 2015
VPN55 2018 01 Standards for the implementation of animal welfare practices for ostriches to be transported to and slaughtered  at EU and USA approved export abattoirsJan 2018

VPN 59-2019-10

Addendum A of VPN59 Requirements for export of beef to China

Registration and maintenance of approved establishments for the export of animals and animal products to markets which have import requirements different from the South African national standard (split system).Jan 2021
 GUIDELINES FOR THE SAMPLING, TRANSPORTATION AND HANDLING OF SAMPLES FOR MICROBIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF MEAT.Sept 2021

Export certificate and Movement permit Templates

This page has been created to give the export-registered companies of the Western Cape access to the most current templates that are required for applying for export certificates or movement permits the Western Cape State Veterinary services. These templates are subject to change without any notice.

Please note

If your situation differs in any way from the proposed process, or if you have information from the veterinary authority of the importing country that differs from the process, or certificate described below, please contact your local state veterinarian to discuss the matter. Exporters are advised to verify the requirements of the importing country by contacting the veterinary authorities, or their representatives in the importing country or South Africa, in advance of each consignment.

CountrySpeciesProductDocument statusCertificate / permitIDDate Updated
AllEquineEnzymesUnclearedVeterinary Health Certificate to Supply Enzymes of Equine Origin342 Oct 2014
AngolaBovineDairy

Agreed

Cleared

Movement Certificate for Milk and Milk Products from the Western Cape to Gauteng Intended for Export to Angola

Veterinary Health Certificate for Dairy and Dairy-based Products from RSA to Angola

221

13

5 Nov 2015
 Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, Ostrich, GameMeatAgreedMovement Certificate for Meat from the Western Cape to within SA Intended for Export to Angola722 Oct 2014
 Ovine, PorcineCasingsClearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Casings from RSA to Angola1002 Oct 2014
  Canine DewormerAgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Canine Dewormer from RSA to Angola1442 Oct 2014
 AvianEggsClearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Egg Based Products from RSA to Angola1352 Oct 2014
 Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, PorcineMeatClearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Meat and Meat Products from RSA to Angola312 Oct 2014
 Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, poultryPet foodAgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Pet Food from RSA to Angola1342 Oct 2014
BotswanaBovine, Ovine, Caprine, Swine AgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Meat Products from RSA to Botswana19830 Jun 2015
 PoultyMeatClearedMovement Certificate for Poultry Meat Products from Western Cape to other provinces for export to Botswana19730 Jun 2015
 PoultyMeatClearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Poultry Meat Products from the Western Cape to Botswana1962 Oct 2014
ChinaFishFishmealAgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Exportation of Fish Meal and Fish Oil and other Aquatic Proteins to China1 
GhanaBovineDairyClearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Dairy and Dairy-based Products from RSA to Ghana2233 Oct 2014
  Pet foodClearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Pet Food Products from RSA to Ghana2223 Oct 2014
 Bovine, Ovine, CaprineMeatClearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Meat and Meat Products from RSA to Ghana393 Oct 2014
 PoultryMeatClearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Poultry Meat Products from RSA to Ghana403 Oct 2014
Hong KongBovine, Ovine, Caprine, PorcineMeatAgreedMovement Certificate for Meat Products from the Western Cape to other Provinces Intended for Export to Hong Kong1522 Oct 2014
 Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, Ostrich, GameMeatAgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Meat and Meat Products from RSA to Hong Kong652 Oct 2014
IsrealFishMealAgreedModel certificate for plants producing poultry / feather / fish meals intended for Export to Israel22412 Feb 2016
 PoultryMealAgreedModel certificate for plants producing poultry / feather / fish meals intended for Export to Israel4112 Feb 2016
JapanFishMealClearedCertificate of Fishmeal for Animal Feed from South Africa to Japan163 Oct 2014
LesothoBovineDairyAgreedMovement Certificate for Dairy Products from the Western Cape to Gauteng Intended for Export to Lesotho2072 Oct 2014
 BovineDairyAgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Milk and Milk-based Products from RSA2063 Oct 2014
MalawiBovineDairyAgreed

Movement Dairy to Malawi

Veterinary health certificate Dairy to Malawi

 24 April 2017
MaldivesBovine, Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, PoultryMeatUnclearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Meat and Mead-based Products from RSA to Maldives443 Oct 2014

Mauritius

(The above country frequently changes their import requirements. Make sure that the import permit matches the export templates)

Bovine, Ovine, CaprinePrecooked MeatAgreedMovement Certificate for Meat and Meat Products from the Western Cape to within SA Intended for Export to Mauritius243 Oct 2014
 Bovine and OvineFrozen unprocessed meatAgreedVeterinary health certificate for frozen meat to Mauritius 30 july 2018
 Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, PoultryPetfoodAgreed

Veterinary Health Certificate for Canned Petfood from RSA to Mauritius

Veterinary Health Certificate for Pouched Petfood from RSA to Mauritius

Veterinary Health Certificate for Wet Petfood from RSA to Mauritius

45

110

49

3 Oct 2014
 Bovine, Ovine, CaprineCasingsAgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Casings from RSA to Mauritius1513 Oct 2014
 PorcinePork Meat/ ProductsAgreed

Veterinary Health Certificate for Chilled Pre-cooked Prok Products from RSA to Mauritius

Veterinary Health Certificate for Frozen Pork Meat from RSA to Mauritius

46

205

3 Oct 2014
 OvinePrecooked Lamb MeatAgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Frozen Pre-cooked Lamb Meat from RSA to Mauritius803 Oct 2014
 PlantHorse FeedAgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Horse Feed from RSA to Mauritius93 Oct 2014
 BovinePrecooked BeefAgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Frozen Precooked Beef from RSA to Mauritius473 Oct 2014
 AvainPrecooked/ Processed PoultryAgreedVeterinary Health Certificate for Frozen Precooked Poultry from RSA to Mauritius483 Oct 2014
MozambiqueBovineDairyAgreedMovement certificate for dairy to Mozambique24825 October 2016
 Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, AvianMeat productsAgreedMovement Mozambique Heat treated meat 21 Feb 2017
 PoultryEggsCleared

Movement Certificate for Table Eggs intended fo Mozambique

Veterinary Health Certificate for Table Eggs to Mozambique

189

192

3 Oct 2014

2 Apr 2015

 Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Swine, PoultryPet FoodCleared

Movement Certificate for Petfood intended for Mozambique

Veterinary Health Certificate for Canned Petfood to Mozambique

5

50

3 Oct 2014
SwazilandBovineDairy productsAgreedMovement Swaziland Dairy 21 Feb 2017
 Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Swine, PoultryPet foodAgreedMovement Swaziland Pet food 21 Feb 2017
 

Poultry

Mixed Species

Meat

Agreed

Agreed

Movement Swaziland Poultry Meat

Movement Swaziland Meat Products

 

21 Feb 2017

04 April 2017

UAEBovine, Ovine, Caprine, Swine, PoultryMeatClearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Meat and Meat Products from RSA to UAE1956 May 2019
UgandaBovine, Ovine, Caprine, Swine, PoultryMeat and meat products

Uncleared

Uncleared

VHC Uganda meat and meat products

Movement Uganda meat and meat products

278

159

23 May 2017

23 May 2017

ZimbabweBovine, CaprineCheeseCleared

Veterinary Health Certificate for Cheese from RSA to Zimbabwe

Movement Certificate for Processed Dairy Products from the Western Cape to Gauteng Intended for Export to Zimbabwe

60

148

2 Oct 2014
 BovineDairyClearedMovement Certificate for Dairy Products from the Western Cape to Gauteng Intended for Export to Zimbabwe773 Oct 2014
 Avian, Bovine, Caprine, Ovine, PorcinePetfoodCleared

Veterinary Health Certificate for Petfood from RSA to Zimbabwe

Movement Certificate for Petfood from the Western Cape to Gauteng Intended for Export to Zimbabwe

61

98

3 Oct 2014
 FishFishmealCleared

Veterinary Health Certificate for Fishmeal from RSA to Zimbabwe

Movement Certificate for Meat Products from the Western Cape to Gauteng Intended for Export to Zimbabwe

10

15

3 Oct 2014
 FishFrozen FishCleared

Veterinary Health Certificate for Petfood from RSA to Zimbabwe

Movement Certificate for Frozen Fish from the Western Cape to Gauteng Intended for Export to Zimbabwe

62

68

3 Oct 2014
 BovineMeatCleared

Veterinary Health Certificate for Beef Products from RSA to Zimbabwe

Movement Certificate for Meat Products from the Western Cape to Gauteng Intended for Export to Zimbabwe

63

78

3 Oct 2014
 AvianMeatCearedVeterinary Health Certificate for Chicken Meat Products from RSA to Zimbabwe643 Oct 2014

Document status:

Cleared: Certificate has been accepted

Cleared certificates can be used at your own risk as they are not based on documented agreements or any official import permit. Indemnity forms are required before veterinarians issue these certificates

Uncleared: Certificate has not been accepted

Uncleared certificates have not been used before and it is not known if they will be accepted or not. Indemnity forms are required before veterinarians issue this certificate

Agreed: Certificate has been accepted and the certificate is based on an agreement or import permit

Agreed certificates are the best type of templates to use as they have been used before and are known to be accepted. It is still, however, important to check with the importing country before the product leaves South Africa.

State vet offices

Worcester State vet office

  • Contact details: Ansulize.Pepler@westerncape.gov.za  tel: 021 808 5059

  • Our offices are located at 30 Van Arckel Street, Worcester.

  • GPS coordinates 33.623641 S, 19.457008 E

  • Clients are assisted by appointments only – please make an appointment timeously by contacting Dr Christi Kloppers, as the State Vet is not always available.

Cape Town Veterinary export certification office

  • Contact details: vetexport@westerncape.gov.za, Tel: 021 808 5400 (please email this office as the phones are a constant problem)

  • located at 34 Roeland street, Cape Town

  • GPS Co-ordinates: -33.9291839S 18.4183276 E

  •  At Cape Town Export Certification Office, clients are assisted by appointment only from Monday to Friday from 08:30 am to 12:00 pm (excluding public holidays).

  •  To make an appointment, clients are required to send an e-mail to vetexport@westerncape.gov.za with their required time slot. Please indicate the number and destination of pets in your e-mail when you make an appointment with us. Should your requested time slot not be available our office will call/e-mail you to reschedule.

  •  Clients are required to make an appointment at least 2 days in advance.

 (

s

Head office of the Department of Agriculture at Elsenburg /Boland state vet office

  • Contact details:  svboland@westerncape.gov.za, tel: 021 808 5253, fax: 021 808 5125

  • Our offices are located at the Head office of the Department of Agriculture at Elsenburg. When searching on Google maps, use ‘Provincial Department of Agriculture’ alternatively,

  • GPS Co-ordinates Elsenburg Head Office: 33.845259 S 18.834722 E

  • Clients are assisted by appointments only on Monday Wednesday and Friday from 08:30 am to 12:00 pm

George State vet office

  • Contact details : SVGeorge@westerncape.gov.za Tel: 044 803 3770/1; Fax 044 873 3342

  • Our offices are located at 4 Varing Avenue George.

  • GPS coordinates 33.57.31 S, 22.27.16 E

  • Clients are assisted by appointments only – please make an appointment timeously by contacting the office as the State Vet is not always available

Vredendal State vet office

  • Contact details:  deidre.daniels@westerncape.gov.za tel: 027 201 3510

  • Our offices are located on the corner of Matzikama Street and North Road, Vredendal.

  • GPS coordinates 31.662625 S, 18.507298 E

  • Clients are assisted by appointments only – please make an appointment timeously by contacting Deidre Daniels as the State Vet is not always available.

Malmesbury State vet office

  • Contact details : samantha.burger@westerncape.gov.za Tel: 022 433 8910

  • Our offices are located at on the corner of Spoorweg and Municipal Streets, Malmesbury.

  • GPS coordinates 33.465701 S, 18.721446 E

  • Clients are assisted by appointments only – please make an appointment timeously by contacting Samantha Burger as the State Vet is not always available.

Swellendam State vet office

  • Contact details : christi.kloppers@westerncape.gov.za Tel: 028-425 4850; 

  • Our offices are located on the main road, 67 Voortrek Street, direct at the back of ABSA bank.

  • GPS coordinates 34.02126 S 20.44140 E

  • Clients are assisted by appointments only – please make an appointment timeously by contacting Sanita Gunter as the State Vet is not always available.

Oudtshoorn State vet office

  • Contact details: cathy.fox@westerncape.gov.za Tel: 044 203 9443; Fax: 044 279 1910

  • Our office is located at 39 Van Der Riet Street, Oudtshoorn

  • GPS coordinates: -33.583576 S    22.197837 E

  • Clients are assisted by appointments only – please make an appointment timeously by contacting Cathy Fox as the State Vet is not always available.

Beaufort West State vet office

  • Contact details : Tel: 023-4142154; Fax 023 414 3980

  • Our offices are located in Blyth Street, Beaufort West.

  • GPS coordinates 32.375009 S, 22.589063 E

  • Clients are assisted on Tuesday and Friday only from 10h00 -12h00– please contact Veronica Johannes as the State Vet is not always available.

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