Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) implements the measures to reduce the transmission/entry, establishment and spread of plants/animal pests and diseases.

1.General procedure for issuance of In-country Movement Permit (IMP) for plants and plant products;

• The application must be submitted to the nearest BFDA office for the movement of the plant consignments (for applicable consignment)
• In-country Movement Permit (IMP) will be issued after physical inspection and fulfillment of phytosanitary requirements.
• IMP are generally issued during the pest outbreak, transboundary movement and for regulated products
• Nominal fee are charged for issuance of IMP.

2. General procedure for issuance of In-country Movement Permit (IMP) for live animal and livestock products

• The application must be submitted to the nearest BFDA office for the movement of the live animals and livestock products
• In-country Movement Permit (IMP) will be issued after physical inspection and fulfillment of requirements
• Nominal fee are charged for issuance of IMP. (Nu. 20 )

BFDA facilitates the export of Plants/Animals and their products by issuing the certificates as per the requirements of the importing country. The following are the different certificates issued with the type of products to be exported:

A. Certificates of Plants and Plant Products

Phytosanitary Certificate/Export Certificate/Clearance

• Any individual/exporter wishing to export any plant/plant products must submit an application in the prescribed form to the nearest BFDA office along with relevant documents (a copy of CID, valid export license, a copy of the import permit issued by the importing country).
• If the export is by an agency, the application must be submitted with a forwarding letter signed by the head of the agency.
• Phytosanitary Certificate (PSC) will be facilitated after the consignments areinspected, tested and treated if required by the importing country.
• PSC for indigenous species and non-wood forest products shall be facilitated based on the clearance issued by the concerned technical departments (NBC, DoFPS, DoAetc).
• Nominal fees are charged depending on the type of certificate facilitated.

B. Zoo-sanitary Certificates/ Veterinary Health Certificate for Animal/livestock Products

Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) examines and tests export consignments of animals and animal products and issues export certificates as per the requirements of importing country following the procedure detailed below:

• Any individual/agency wishing to export any animal or animal products must submit an application in the prescribed format to the nearest BFDA office along with a copy of CID of the exporter or the copy of valid export license and where applicable, a copy of the import permit issued by the importing country.
• If the export is by an agency, the application must be submitted with a forwarding letter signed by the head of the agency.
• Based on the requirement of the importing country, the consignment may be subject to physical conformity inspection and laboratory analysis.

A. PLANT QUARANTINE PROCEDURES

1. BFDA quarantine officials will conduct risk-based inspection of imported plants and plant products at point of entry (PoE).
2. The consignments are inspected for conformity of the import phytosanitary conditions (for infestation of regulated pests, signs and symptoms of pests and diseases including invasive species).
3. If the consignments are found/suspected with quarantine pests or signs and symptoms, the consignments will undergo plant quarantine process for further examination, testing and confirmation and Phytosanitary measures.
4. Appropriate Phytosanitary measures will be undertaken in available facility
5. The plant consignment may be release/destroyed based on the phytosanitary status.
6. The cost of plant quarantine and treatment involved will be borne by the importers/traders.

B. ANIMAL QUARANTINE PROCEDURES

The primary mandates of Bhutan Food and Drug Authority is to implement effective biosecurity measures to protect the agriculture farming system including animal health, and public health from risks of entry, establishment and spread of exotic and or notifiable pests and diseases. Thus, a major role is placed on the Plant and Animal Quarantine Offices at the point of entries which serve as a first line of defense to prevent, safeguard health and life of animals including wildlife from entry of notifiable and exotic pests and diseases into the country. To facilitate biosecurity invasion, BFDA has established six quarantine stations and facilities in six major official entry points(Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu,Nganglam, SamdrupJongkhar and Paro)as authorized under Sections 8.3 and 36.5 of the Livestock Act of Bhutan 2001 and Section 5(h) of the Plant Quarantine Act of Bhutan 1993.  These facilities were established to provide optimum, competent and professional services for implementation of effective quarantine measures.

 PROCEDURES;

1. Following approval of the import request, the importer has to contact the Officer In-Charge of BFDA at the declared entry point and book the quarantine station at least two weeks in advance before the date of arrival of the animals.
2. On arrival at the entry point, the importer must declare the imported animals to the BFDA officials on duty along with necessary documents. When required documents are provided, on-board inspection will be carried out. 
3. Animals are then transported to the quarantine station and unloaded under the supervision of the BFDA officials on duty and the animals are admitted into the quarantine station. The animals will be quarantined for a minimum period of 15 days.
4. While in quarantine station, BFDA official will carry out clinical examination of the animals and necessary treatment if required, collect necessary samples and send to referral laboratories for screening against notifiable and or exotic animal diseases. 
5. If the quarantined animals is free from the diseases of quarantine interest as guided by the Bhutan Heath Code for import of animals, the animals will be allowed entry into the country after payment of admissible quarantine fees. If not, the animals will be re-exported or will be humanely destroyed.
6. The owners will be responsible for feeding and taking care of the animals during the entire duration of quarantine period.

A. Plant Services

Import of plants and plant products are allowed into the country with prior approval and obtaining Import Permit from the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA). On arrival of consignments at the point of entry, the consignments are subject to inspection, testing and treatment if required. The consignment must be accompanied with a Phytosanitary Certificate (PSC) for plant consignment issued by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the exporting country.

The following general procedures will apply for processing Import Permit;

• The importer shall submit the application for Import Permit at least one week before the expected date of arrival of consignment.

• Duly filled application for Import Permit may be submitted to the nearest BFDA field office (s).

• Relevant documents must be submitted (a copy of CID, Valid Trade License, etc) along with the application form
• Nominal fees are charge depending on the type of Import Permits (Nu. 300 for commercial, Nu. 100 for personal/Government institutions/agencies.

BFDA shall issue and regulates import of plant and plant products based on the following criteria: 

*Validity for Import Permit of plants and plant products are three months and one month for agrochemicals.

B. Livestock Services

Import of live animals, livestock products and animal related items are allowed into the country with prior approval and obtaining Import Permit from the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA). On arrival of consignments at the port of entry, the consignments are subject to inspection, testing and treatment if required. The consignment must be accompanied with a Zoo sanitary certificate (Health certificate) issued by the exporting country.

The following general procedures will apply for processing Import Permit;

• The importer shall submit the application for Import Permit at least one week before the expected date of arrival of consignment.

• Duly filled application form for Import Permit may be submitted to the nearest BFDA field office (s).
• The decision on the grant of the import authorization will depend on the import risk assessment and subject to fulfillment of the import conditions

• Relevant documents must be submitted (a copy of CID, Valid Trade License for commercial purpose, etc) along with the application form
• Nominal fees will be charged depending on the type of Import Permits (Nu. 300 for commercial, Nu. 100 for personal/Government institutions/agencies.

A. Registration  of Livestock farms, feed plant and animal processing unit (slaughterhouse, meat shops and dairy plants)

All livestock farms, feed and animal processing units are required to register with BFDA to operate their business to ensure appropriate biosecurity measures in those farms in ensuring a healthy herd and production of clean and safe food of animal origin. The registration of farms includes carrying out the feasibility of the farms, issuing technical clearance and legally accepting the terms for the operation of farms as per the technical standards and guidelines.

1. List of Registered Company for Supply of Feed
2. List of registered company for supply for Processed ,Chilled chicken and egg
3. List of Registered Company for Supply of Frozen and Chilled Fish
4. List of Registered company for supply of Dry Fish

The  Registry Update of Feed Mill, Click Here:

2.Registration and Licensing of Nurseries

Any individual or entity (ies) who wants to engage in commercial production and sale of seeds are required to register with BFDA for Seed Certification. The Technical Clearance from the concerned Departments (depends on the scope of the seed business)and Business License from the Department of Cottage and Small Industry (DoCSI) are the prerequisites for processing registration with BFDA.

BFDA will conduct periodic field inspection and monitoring of all the critical operations such as seed sampling, testing, processing, packaging and transportation as per the Minimum Seed Standard of Bhutan 2019. Only the compliant seed stocks will be certified and issued Seed Certificate.