One of the main mandates of Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) is to implement zoo-sanitary measures effectively to protect the health and life of animals and humans from risks of entry, establishment and spread of exotic and or zoonotic diseases. To achieve this mandate, a major role is placed on the Plant and Animal Quarantine Offices of BAFRA whose main objective is to serve as a first line of defense to prevent the introduction of such animal diseases in the country. To facilitate carrying out such activities, BAFRA has established five quarantine stations at five official entry points i.e Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samdrupjongkhar and Paro as authorized under sections 8.3 and 36.5 of the Livestock Act of Bhutan 2001.
ENTRY BY AIR
- Plant and Animal Quarantine Station, International Airport, Paro
Year of establishment: 2008
Accommodation capacity:
| Sl NO | Species | Accommodation capacity (in nos.) |
| 1 | Sheep/Goats | 60 |
| 2 | Pigs | 100 |
| 3 | Pullets | 500 |
| 4 | Cattle/Horses | 8 |
| 5 | Dogs/Cats | 5 |
| 6 | Laboratory animals | 200 |
ENTRY BY ROAD
- Plant and Animal Quarantine Station, Samtse
Year of establishment: 2008
Accommodation capacity:
| Sl NO | Species | Accommodation capacity (in nos.) |
| 1 | Sheep/Goats | 60 |
| 2 | Pigs | 100 |
| 3 | Pullets | 300 |
| 4 | Cattle | 20 |
| 5 | Horses | 10 |
| 6 | Dogs/Cats | 5 |
- Plant and Animal Quarantine Station, Gelephu
Year of establishment: 2008
Accommodation capacity:
| Sl NO | Species | Accommodation capacity (in nos.) |
| 1 | Sheep/Goats | 100 |
| 2 | Pigs | 100 |
| 3 | Pullets | 500 |
| 4 | Cattle | 20 |
| 5 | Horses | 10 |
| 6 | Dogs/Cats | 5 |
| 7 | Laboratory animals | 200 |
- Plant and Animal Quarantine Station, Phuentsholing
Year of establishment: 2004
Accommodation capacity:
One conventional hall that can accommodate 15 large animals (cattle/horses).
- Plant and Animal Quarantine Station, Samdrupjongkhar
Year of establishment: 2008
Accommodation capacity: Two conventional halls that can accommodate 40 large animals (cattle/horses).
PROCEDURE FOLLOWED BY PLANT AND ANIMAL QUARANTINE OFFICES AT ENTRY POINTS
- The importer submits an import request to the nearest BAFRA office with the details of animal/animal products to be imported including the country of origin and the entry point via which animal/animal products will be imported. If breeding animals are to be imported by government institutions, such import request has to be routed through the head of the respective government organizations.
- Following approval of the import request, the importer must contact the Officer Incharge of BAFRA at the declared entry point and book the quarantine station at least two weeks in advance before the date of entry of the animals (for animal import only).
- On arrival at the entry point, the importer must declare the imported animal/animal products to the BAFRA officials on duty along with necessary documents which will be referred to the Regulatory and Quarantine Officer (RQO).
- If required documents are provided, RQO conducts on-board inspection at the entry point. The RQO inspects transport vehicle for transport condition, animal health condition, and animal welfare aspects.
- Animal is transported to identified quarantine station and unloaded under the supervision of the RQO who would also carry out onsite inspection of the animal following which animal is admitted into the quarantine station. Animal products are transported to the designated inspection bench where the RQO carry out zoo-sanitary investigation of the source country for possible disease outbreak, carry out organoleptic inspection, and collect necessary samples for analysis if required.
- While in quarantine station, RQO carry out zoo-sanitary investigation of the area of origin of animals in the source country for possible disease outbreak immediately after departure of the animal, carry out clinical examination of the animal and necessary treatment if required, collect necessary samples and send to referral laboratories for screening against notifiable animal diseases(for animal import only).
- If the animal/animal products qualify entry into the country, quarantine clearance certificate (in case of animal) and in-country movement permit (in case of animal products) is issued. If not, animal/animal products are re-exported or undergo destruction.
Flow diagram for the quarantine prodecures
