Pets & Animals

Licence to Possess Veterinary Biologics

To possess and import veterinary biologics (i.e. veterinary vaccines, and pathogens on AVA's select list), you must first obtain a Licence to Possess Veterinary Biologics.

It comes in 2 categories:

• Licence to Possess Veterinary Biologics (Commercial Purposes)
• Licence to Possess Veterinary Biologics (Research and Development Purposes)

The Licence is valid for 1 year and should be renewed before it expires.

Below are the steps to apply for the Licence:

For more information and conditions related to the Licence, please read Application Information.

After obtaining the Licence to Possess Veterinary Biologics, you may proceed to apply for an AVA import licence for each of your consignments.

Different application requirements will apply, depending on the type of veterinary biologics you are bringing in. See the relevant sections below for more information.

Import Licence Requirements for Vaccines

Each import consignment of veterinary vaccines must be accompanied by an AVA import licence. In addition:

• You must have a Licence to Possess Veterinary Biologics before importing vaccines.
• Veterinary vaccines would need to be evaluated by AVA’s Biologics Evaluation Committee (BEC) and registered with AVA before they can be imported. See AVA's List of Registered Vaccines .  Note that all registered vaccines which have not been imported within 2 years after the date of registration or after the last import will be de-registered.

Apply for AVA Import Licence

You can apply for an AVA import licence for vaccines online via the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website.

Please note that you will have to log in to the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website and locate the specific import licensing service.

Download the relevant Veterinary Conditions documents listed below for more information on import requirements:

• Final Labelled Products (for immunisation of animals or birds, sale, transshipment, re-export or transit)
• Bulk/Unlabelled Products (for further manufacturing, processing or labelling)
• Seeds/Samples (for laboratory tests, production, research and development and field trials)

Registration of Vaccines

1. Application Requirements

 You have to submit these items to AVA:

•  Completed application form for registration of a vaccine together with a softcopy registration dossier    

•  You can find the Application form and Guidelines for Vaccine Registration here.    

The registration of each vaccine costs S$210.  The duration of the evaluation of the application will be based on the completeness of the information provided.

2. Submit dossiers and fee to AVA

Submit the application to AVA at:

52 Jurong Gateway Road
#14-01
Singapore 608550

Attn: BEC Secretariat

3. Import the registered vaccine

All registered vaccines which have not been imported within 2 years after the date of registration or after the last import will be de-registered.

Import Licence Requirements for Pathogens

Each import consignment of pathogens must be accompanied by an AVA import licence. In addition:

• You must have a Licence to Possess Veterinary Biologics before importing pathogens.
• The pathogen you import must be approved by AVA. See AVA’s Select List of Pathogens for a non-exhaustive list of pathogens you can import.

Download the relevant Veterinary Conditions document listed below for more information on import requirements:

• Micro-organisms of animals and birds
  
  1. Type Cultures/Stains
  2. Laboratory Isolates

• Viruses of animals and birds
  
  1. Type Cultures/Stains
  2. Laboratory Isolates

Apply for AVA Import Licence

Apply for an AVA import licence for pathogens via TradeNet.

The import licence fee is S$22 per consignment. 

For pathogens that you have previously imported, the application process generally takes 1 working day.

For pathogens you are importing for the first time, you must submit a risk assessment in the attached format to AVA’s Biologics Evaluation Committee (BEC) for import consideration, via email to:

• BEC Secretariat, Ms Low Bee Leng, low_bee_leng@ava.gov.sg.

With approval, you may then proceed to apply for your import licence via TradeNet.

Import Licence Requirements for Samples for Diagnostic Testing

An example of a sample for diagnostic testing is blood serum imported for the Rabies Virus Antibody Indirect ELISA test at AVA’s Animal and Plant Health Centre (APHC).

Below are the steps required to import blood serum into Singapore for rabies testing.

1. Apply for accreditation of veterinarian

Overseas veterinarians submitting blood samples to Singapore for the first time must apply for AVA accreditation. This accreditation is a one-off application.

Below are the steps the overseas veterinarian must follow:

2. Apply for AVA import licence

Apply online for an AVA import licence via the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website, once the submitting veterinarian has been accredited by AVA. 

Please note that you will have to log in to the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website and locate the specific import licensing service.
​

Please attach either of the following as supporting documents:

• a copy of the completed submission form and the veterinary certificate (issued by the submitting veterinarian), or
• the declaration form from the submitting veterinarian

The import licence will be processed and approved in 2 working days.  

Do note that the original completed submission form and veterinary certificate from the submitting veterinarian (issued when the blood sample is taken) must accompany the shipment.

3. Ensure serum and packaging meets requirements

The import should meet the following conditions:

• The sample is serum, not whole blood.
• The amount of serum is at least 0.5 ml. 
• Serum is stored in a screw-capped, leak-proof plastic tube. This sample tube is then wrapped in absorbent material (e.g. paper towel or cotton wool) and placed inside another leak-proof, unbreakable bottle, before being placed in the shipping container.  
• The sample tube is labelled with the dog/cat's name and microchip number.
• The sample is shipped together with a cold frozen gel pack (not ice).
• The sample is shipped together with the original import licence, submission form and veterinary certificate.  
• The delivery or shipping can be done at ambient temperature.  
• Refrigeration of the sample during shipping is not required.

4. Inform APHC of Consignment Details

Inform APHC at (65) 6316 5188 of the consignment details once the shipment has been sent out.

5. Inform CAPQ or Tuas Checkpoint for sample inspection

If you are delivering the sample personally, you can pay the laboratory fee upon submission of the blood sample if you do not have a GIRO account with AVA.

The test result will be faxed and mailed to you or the submitting veterinarian (as specified) within a week after the receipt of the blood samples.

Animal and Plant Health Centre

Changi Animal and Plant Quarantine Station

Tuas Checkpoint

Requirements for Genetically Modified Organisms

If you wish to import genetically modified organisms (e.g. viral genomes, micro-organisms) for the purpose of research, you should seek approval from the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC).

For more information, please contact the GMAC Secretariat at:

Tel: (65) 6826 6355
Fax: (65) 6478 9581 
E-mail: info@gmac.gov.sg

AVA Inspection, Sampling & Audit of Premises

Inspection & Sampling

Importers of all Veterinary Biologics, except samples for diagnostic testing, are required to book an inspection via the AVA Inspection & Laboratory e-Services before the date of arrival.

Contact AVA Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) office 5 days before departure of the consignment to notify them of the planned date of departure.

Audit of Premises

To renew your Licence to Possess Veterinary Biologics, your storage or research premises must undergo AVA audit inspection, and your operations must be found satisfactory.

AVA officers may also carry out surprise checks on your premises as and when it is deemed fit.

Transshipment of Veterinary Biologics

An AVA transshipment licence is required for each shipment of veterinary biologics, which includes: 

• veterinary vaccines, and 
• pathogens on AVA's select list.

The fee for the transshipment licence is S$22 per consignment. 

Veterinary Vaccines

Submit your application for a transshipment licence for veterinary vaccines online via the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website. 

Please note that you will have to log in to the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website and locate the "Licence to Import/Export/Transship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics".  

Pathogens on AVA’s select list 

Submit your application for a transshipment licence for pathogens via TradeNet. 

You will need to provide the appropriate HS codes and product codes. For the lists of products codes, see Product Codes for TradeNet.