Importation Practices and Sourcing
- Importers often source fully tanned leather from countries not declared FMD-free, such as China and India, due to lower costs and supply consistency.
Disease Transmission Risks from Processed Leather
- Despite processing, leather may still harbor and transmit diseases like anthrax.
Current Importation of Leather Products
- Finished leather items like shoes, bags, seat covers, gloves, and jackets are imported from all countries regardless of their disease status.
Export-Oriented Processing of Imported Leather
- Most imported tanned leather is further processed into finished goods for export.
Compliance with OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code
- The Veterinary Administration can authorize importation of hides and skins from FMD-infected countries, provided they undergo standard chemical and mechanical tanning processes that effectively eliminate pathogens.
Conditions for Importation of Fully Tanned Leather
- Importation is allowed subject to these conditions:
- All imports must have a Veterinary Quarantine Clearance (VQC).
- The leather must be processed to ensure destruction of disease-causing organisms.
- Precautions must be taken post-processing to prevent contamination with infectious agents.
- Imports without the necessary VQC will be subject to seizure, confiscation, or re-exportation.
Effectivity
- The order takes immediate effect from August 15, 2005.