Uganda - Apply for Fish import and Export Permit

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Procedure

To import or export fish, a fish import/export permit is required.

1. Fish importers and Exporter are required to submit a written application to the Chief Fisheries Officer outlining the following:
   • The quantity.
   • The species, listing both local and complete scientific name(s)
   • Country of origin.
   • Address of the importers/exporter facility.
2. For permits vetted by the Fish Consultant AND / OR Research Officer. Evaluation will include:
   • Species type
   • Country of origin
   • Disease status of country in question
   • Note: The Branch reserves the right to prohibit importation of specific species.
3. If your application meets the above criteria, once approved and it will be forwarded to the Directorate of Fisheries Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries.
4. The Directorate of Fisheries Resource will review and sign it after the applicant has produced a certificate from a medical officer of health stating that the fish to be exported/imported in respect of which the licence is required comply with the international Healthy standards.
5. The Directorate will also assign specialist officer to test the fish to be exported/imported in the Laboratory for conducting the testing of fish and fishery products to support certification for quality and safety of fish and fishery products for the export and local market established, operationalized and maintained.
6. A fish export or import permit specified shall be issued on payment of fees set out in Rules and regulation laws governing the importation and exportation of food items.
7. Once the payments are cleared the Chief fisheries officer shall issue out a Fish import/export permit.
8. The Chief Fisheries Officer may refuse to issue a permit for import, export. Any person aggrieved by the refusal of Chief Fisheries Officer may appeal to the Minister within 30 days from the date of refusal by way of petition stating the facts and grounds for appeal.

Note:
Any person who applies for an import or export permit for live fish has to mention the species, strain, sex of the batch of fish intended for import or export; number, age and source of fish; health status report and clearance form source country; intended purpose of import or export; the mode of handling and transport of the fish.

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Required Documents

• Airway bill showing scientific and local names and quantities
• Invoice showing scientific and local names and quantities
• Import permit
• Health Certificate from a competent authority from the country of origin. The certificate MUST be written in English and no more than fifteen (15) days old.

Office Locations & Contacts

Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources - Head Office,
Directorate of Fisheries,
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
Entebbe Plot 16-18,Lugard Avenue,
Entebbe Uganda.
P.O Box 102,
Entebbe Uganda.
Tel: 041 4320004
Email: [email protected],
Website:Link

Eligibility

Provide eligibility criteria's for going through this procedure.

Fees

Issuance of Fish import and Export licenses or permits is contingent upon the payment of a fee. Criteria to determine the amount of fees to be paid to the licensing authorities vary.

Validity

A licence issued under import and Export permit shall be annual and is valid for one year and expire on 31 December every year.

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
Rule 16(6)

FISH IMPORT/EXPORT PERMIT
This is to permit…………………………………… of............................ …………………………………………….District,…………………………………….

Sub County to export/import fish species ……………………………from country of origin to (destination)………………………. In quantities of ………………………………………………… (Numbers or Kilos)

Fees paid (Shs)…………………………………………….

………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………
Chief fisheries officer Date

Original: Application
Duplicate: District fisheries officer
Triplicate: Department of Fisheries

Processing Time

Processing takes 3 months to Six Months.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites. 	
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

All persons and establishments engaged in commercial aquaculture have to demonstrate a system that allows for traceability of farmed products generated out of their production practices as demanded by the respective markets targeted, and their products must be traceable from the processing and/or marketing points.

Required Information

All requests submitted to the Aquaculture Branch must have the following data:

• Quantity of fish
  
• Species name local and scientific
  
• Country of origin
  

At least 3 working days prior to the arrival of the consignment a notice must be given to the Branch with these information:

• Time of arrival
  
• Port of arrival
  

Need for the Document

• A person is required to obtain a valid fishing license prior to fishing in inland waters or transporting fish taken from inland waters.
• A person is required to keep his/her fishing license with him/her at all times while fishing or transporting fish and must exhibit their license for inspection by any warden, department employee, guide or landowner upon request.

Information which might help

• A person shall not convey fish or fish products intended for sale to the public as food for human consumption in a vehicle unless the vehicle has been approved in writing by the Authority to be fit for the purpose of conveying fish.
• No person in Uganda is allowed to export or import a live fish or any other aquatic animal without the permission of the Minister.
• A person who contravenes a provision of subsection (1) of the fishing Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction or imprisonment for a term of five years or to both such fine and imprisonment and, in addition, the fish or aquatic animal shall be forfeited to the Uganda Government.
• Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of the Fishing Act the Minister has the power, from time to time, export or imports a specialized species of fish or other aquatic animal for the purpose of exchange of fishery information or for research.
• The Sea Fisheries Act provide Regulations, which state that every vessel intended for fishing to be registered with the Ministry of Fisheries Development and require vessels first to be licensed before they are transferred. They also require Specific requirements are set out for fishing vessels engaged in shrimp trawling.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

• External Link

Others

More information which might help people.