Phytosanitary Control

Rule on Phytosanitary control determines customs procedures of phytosanitary control applied to goods

subject to phytosanitary control.

Ami of phytosanitary control:
Protect the territory of Georgia from intrusion of harmful plants and organisms of plant origin
Documents required for caring out phytosanitary border-quarantine control at economic border of Georgia:

• Phytosanitary certificate 
• If necessary import permit for products of plant origin subject to phytosanitary control

At border inspection points, goods intended for import to Georgia are subject to:

• Documentary control;
• Identity check;
• Plant health control;
• Taking of samples for field inspection or laboratory analysis.
• Results of phytosanitary procedures and decisions taken by authorized individual are reflected in “Certificate on State Phytosanitary Control”, that is approved by authorized individual with a signature and private stamp.

Phitosanitary control does not apply to:

• Personal belongings of diplomats and persons with diplomat status accredited to Georgia, diplomatic post and consular pouch, if there is information that personal goods subject to phytosanitary control are being transported in personal belongings of such individual, then control is carried out only in the presence of such individual or there representative. In case of consular pouch in the presence of authorized individual. In case diplomat or person with diplomatic status accredited to Georgia or their authorized representative refuses to open consular pouch, consignment will be returned to the sender.
• Goods required to eliminate force majeure conditions, if the force majeure situation prescribed under the Tax Code of Georgia arises.
• On goods that are imported (including postal assignment) in little amount as samples and/or for exposition purposes and are not intended for human consumption
• On goods imported by postal assignment or passenger’s luggage and/or hand/luggage (the value of which does not exceed GEL 500)

Main normative acts

• Decree N429 of the Government of Georgia dated 31st December, 2010
• Decree N426 of the Government of Georgia dated 31st December, 2010
• Decree N427 of the Government of Georgia dated 31st December, 2010
• Order N2-9 of the Minister of Agriculture of Georgia dated 18th January, 2008

Veterinary Control

The rule on conducting veterinary border-quarantine control determines the veterinary procedures to be passed on the Customs Point towards goods subject to veterinary control.

The purpose of veterinary control is:

• Protection of the animals health;
• Protection of population from the diseases common for animals and people;
• Avoidance of import of goods provoking diseases.

Documents to be provided at the customs point:

• Veterinary Certificate;
• Permission for import of goods subject to veterinary control;

• Plan of additional route in case of alive animals import;  

Goods subject to import into Georgia must go through:

• Documentary inspection
• To examine identity;
• Physical examination (whenever there is a suspicious towards goods or in accordance with monitoring plan), clinical examination when animals are imported.

Import of more than 5 units of domestic animals, which are not intended for use in economic activities, must comply with the following requirements:

• One must carry out prevention vaccination of diseases and their treatment for particular species of animals;  
• One must attach passport for domestic animal or certificate of treatment;

The results of veterinary procedures carried out by the authorized person must be reflected in the report on conducted state veterinary border-quarantine control procedures.

Veterinary control does not extend to:

• Personal belongings of the diplomatic mission’s representatives and representatives of other organizations with power equal to diplomatic mission, diplomatic pouch, consular bag. If there is an information that via personal belongings of diplomatic mission representatives are carried goods that might present a risk for human and animal health, than control procedures will be carried out in presence of  the person to whom the goods belong or in presence of an authorized person. If the tax authority is refused in disclosure of the consular bag, it is subject to return to the sender.  
• The goods intended to eliminate the results of overwhelming forces.
• Goods imported by luggage or/and hand luggage of passengers or/and postal assignments determined in Appendix #4.    

The main regulatory acts:

• The Government Decree #429, 31.12.2010
• The Government Decree #426, 31.12.2010
• The Government Decree #430, 31.12.2010