G/LIC/Q/GHA/3  
 
8 April 2019 
(19-2232) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF REPL IES TO THE QUESTIONN AIRE ON  
IMPORT LICENSING PRO CEDURES FROM GHANA  
REPLIES FROM GHANA TO THE QUESTIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES  
 
The following communication, dated 3 April  2019, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Ghana . 
 
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1.  What is the purpose of requiring permits for the importation of poultry?  
 
Reply : The main considerations for requiring an import permit are consumer protection and 
prevention of introduction of transboundary animal disease.  
 
2.  What is the purpose of the statistical information?   
 
Reply : To enable us perform import risk assessment and develop zoo sanitary requirements  
 
Is this in addition to any customs declaration forms that may be also required?  
 
Reply : Yes. 
 
3.  What is the period  of validity for the import permits?    
 
Reply : 3 months.  
 
4.  What fees are associated with the import permits?  
 
Reply : The fees associated with the permits are: annual importer registration and inspection 
of consignments.  
 
5. Are there any additional  restrictions placed on poultry importers by the Government of 
Ghana, such as e.g. weight restrictions?   
 
Reply : Yes, on some commodities such as chicken feet . 
 
6. Are additional permits  from other ministries required for poultry importers?  
 
Reply : Yes. 
 
According to the MFA, “The approval to import, the issuance of the interim and the final import 
permits, will depend on the animal health situation in the country of origin of the products.”  
 
1. What is meant by “ animal health situation in the country of origin of the products?”  
 
Reply : It means the animal disease situation in the country of origin. In other words, 
whether the animals are sick or healthy ? Are there any transboundary animal disease(s) 
outbreak or c onditions that affect international  trade? G/LIC/Q/GHA/3  
 
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What process does the Director of Veterinary Services use to determine the health situation 
in the country of origin?   
 
Reply : The Director of Veterinary Services uses a range of information available from the 
World Animal Health Information System (WAHID) Web site of World Organization for Animal 
Health (OIE) to determine the health situation in the country of origin   
 
Can Ghana provide, in detail, how health inspection s are carried out before the issuance of 
a final import permit?  
 
Reply:  Final import permit is also referred to as Release Permit. Upon arrival of the imported 
cargo at the point of entry, border veterinary control and inspection activities are undertake n 
as follows:  
 
(a)  Documentary Check : The inspector verifies for the origin and health guarantees 
on the veterinary health certificate accompanying the consignment. In addition , 
the inspector verifies that the Veterinary health certificate:  
• refers to only  one consignment ;  
• is signed by official veterinarian ;  
• is signed and endorsed with the country’s official stamp ; 
• have both signature and the stamp must be in different colours than the one 
used for the printed certificate ;  
• the Consignment is coming from an approved country and establishment . 
 
(b)  Identity Check : The inspector verifies that the information declared on the 
veterinary health certificate is in agreement with the goods presented, the 
country and their establishment of origin. Containerized pr oducts are also verified 
for the seals fixed by the official veterinarian.  
(c)  Physical Check :  The inspector conducts organoleptic and simple chemical tests 
on the state of the products, the conditions and means of transport especially the 
cold chain whi ch can adversely affect product quality. Inspector then takes 
samples for analysis to confirm the quality of products.                                                                                                
2. When importers  are denied a final import pe rmit, are they given the reason why their 
import permits were denied?    
 
Reply : Yes, importers denied final import permit (also called Release Permit ) are given 
reasons for denial.  
 
Does a process of appeals exist following the denial of the import permit?   
 
Reply : All applicants have the right to appeal to the denial authority, though there are no 
written procedures.   
 
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