Importing and exporting laboratory animals

Your intended imports must come from facilities that have been accredited by us. This is a list of accredited exporters of laboratory animals where you can import laboratory animals from. This list includes facilities that export small mammals.

Ensure that your intended imports fulfil our veterinary conditions for import. These conditions require animal health certification, quarantine, and post-arrival inspection.

You should carefully read the relevant veterinary conditions below before importing any laboratory animals: 

• Veterinary conditions for import of small mammal embryos, ova, and semen 

• Veterinary conditions for import of small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, and gerbils) 

• Veterinary conditions for import of primates 

• Veterinary conditions for import of ferrets 

• Veterinary conditions for import of pigs 

• Veterinary conditions for import of hatching eggs (Malaysia) 

• Veterinary conditions for import of hatching eggs (except Malaysia)  

Additional requirements for import of genetically modified laboratory animals 

Before importing genetically modified laboratory animals, you must undergo an assessment by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). This requirement is set out in the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee’s (GMAC’s) bio-safety guidelines for research on genetically modified organisms, as well as the National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research's (NACLAR) guidelines on the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. 

AVS-issued import licence  

You must obtain an AVS-issued import licence in order to import laboratory animals. Your application can be submitted via GoBusiness Licensing Portal. The licence is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.  

Customs clearance permit 

A customs clearance permit can be obtained after you submit an inward declaration via TradeNet. You must provide the appropriate HS codes and product codes in your application.  

The lists of product codes for TradeNet are available here. 

Each imported consignment of laboratory animals must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate signed by a government veterinary authority or a registered veterinarian from the exporting country.  

The relevant veterinary conditions for import (provided in Step 2 above) provide more details on what the certificate should state. 

Make an appointment for inspection by submitting a request via the eservices - National Parks Board (NParks) at least five days before the animal’s arrival. Bringing your laboratory animal for inspection without making an appointment will subject you to an inspection fee. 

The inspection must be done during the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station’s (CAPQ) operating hours. 

Your consignment of laboratory animals and the necessary documents will be examined by our officer upon your consignment’s arrival at the port of disembarkation in Singapore.  

If the documents are in order and the animals are found to be healthy, your consignment will be released. You can then bring them to your laboratory facility or approved quarantine facility if quarantine is required. 

Laboratory animals which require quarantine for at least 30 days include: 

• Primates 

• Ferrets 

• Pigs 

All quarantine facilities must be inspected and approved by us. 

Find out the destination country’s import requirements. Some countries mandate that a veterinary health certificate or testing for diseases are conditions for entry. 

You should find out what the import requirements are from the website of the destination country’s relevant government authority. 

AVS-issued export licence  

You must apply for and obtain an AVS-issued export licence via GoBusiness Licensing Portal before leaving Singapore. The licence is only valid for 90 days from the date of issue.

Customs clearance permit 

You are also required to obtain a customs clearance permit by submitting an outward declaration via TradeNet. You will need to provide the appropriate Harmonized System (HS) codes and product codes in your declaration. 

The lists of product codes for TradeNet are available here. 

This step only applies if the destination country mandates that a veterinary health certificate is a condition for entry. 

You can obtain a veterinary health certificate issued by a licensed private veterinarian by bringing your laboratory animals to any AVS-licensed veterinarian for examination. The statements needed on the certificate, as well as the certificate’s validity period, will depend on the requirements established by the destination country. 

The destination country may also require that the veterinary health certificate be issued or endorsed by a government veterinarian. We can convert the veterinary health certificate issued by your veterinarian into a government health certificate, or provide the necessary government endorsement to the veterinary health certificate.

You can apply for conversion via GoBusiness Licensing Portal. This conversion takes one working day to process, and costs S$23 per certificate. 

This step only applies if the destination country mandates that incoming laboratory animals be tested for diseases. 

You can send your laboratory animals to us for laboratory diagnostic services at the Animal and Plant Health Centre. 

Prepare the following documents in soft copy: 

• A valid veterinary health certificate from the exporting country.

• An import permit or import licence issued by the importing country (if applicable). 

Apply for and obtain the transshipment licence via GoBusiness Licensing Portal, and upload these documents along with your application. 

Your consignment of laboratory animals will be transferred to the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station (CAPQ) if it is transiting Singapore for more than six hours during CAPQ’s operating hours.  

For a transit lasting less than six hours, or occurring during CAPQ’s non-operating hours, your consignment will be kept in the airline's animal holding area. 

You are required to pay S$26.25 per kennel unit per day to accommodate your consignment of laboratory animals at CAPQ. Feed will not be provided.