New Delhi: Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the return of many Indian nationals, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has announced a one time relaxation allowing stranded citizens to bring their pet dogs and cats back to India.
The move follows a memorandum issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, which acknowledged that in emergency situations many standard pre export procedures may not be completed before travel.
Under the temporary relaxation, returning pet owners must declare that the animal has lived with them for at least one month. They are also required to present available vaccination records such as a pet passport, vaccination certificate, or pet health booklet wherever possible.
Authorities indicated that even if vaccination schedules are delayed or documentation is incomplete, pets may still be cleared after undergoing clinical examination and receiving necessary rabies vaccination at the port of entry. Final clearance for entry into the country will be granted by the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services after verification and health checks.
The decision aims to support Indians evacuating from conflict affected regions who faced uncertainty over transporting their pets due to disrupted documentation and travel arrangements.
In a separate development linked to the regional crisis, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has granted temporary relaxations in flight duty time norms for long haul flights operated by Air India.
Airspace restrictions over Iran and Iraq have forced the airline to take longer routes, including flying through Egypt, for services to Europe and North America. The altered flight paths have increased journey durations and crew duty hours.
The regulator has allowed temporary flexibility in pilot Flight Duty Time Limitation norms to ensure operational continuity. These relaxations are expected to remain in effect until April 30 as airlines adjust to longer routes caused by the ongoing regional conflict.
