Planning to take your pet to Kerala? Cochin Airport starts pet quarantine facility

Muscat: Indian expats residing in Oman, who wish to take their pet dog and cat to India, can now use the pet boarding facility at Kerala’s Cochin Airport.

India’s Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying has given Cochin International Airport permission to import pet animals till June 30, 2021 under the Livestock Importation Act, 1898.

The Cochin International Airport Limited (Cial) started International Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) from February 14 till June 30 on a trial basis.

Many pet-loving expatriates from Kerala have been demanding permission to import their pets through Cochin Airport as the majority of the GCC’s expatriate population is from Kerala.

Earlier, it was only possible to bring pets to India through airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad where animal quarantine facility is available.

Those who wish to import their pets through Cochin Airport should get a veterinary health certificate from the country of export. The passenger should apply for advance NOC from AQCS (animal quarantine and certification services) prior to the journey.