|Sign in
Importers

Importing

Determine whether your import requires an import permit and save time obtaining your permit by reviewing specific import requirements for common items.

Step One: Read the general requirements

Animals and animal products

An import permit is not required for commercially-produced packets of processed food products with ingredients of animal origin, labelled as having been produced in Australia or New Zealand.

  • Tinned foods
  • Seafood
  • Pet food (canned meat or biscuits)
  • Biscuits, cakes, pastry, noodles (cooked, with egg or honey ingredients)
  • Processed dairy products (butter, cheese, cream, ice-cream, infant food, pasteurized/UHT milk)
  • Egg (cooked – non fertile in hermetically sealed containers)
  • Health Foods containing bee products, including bee venom, pollen, propolis, royal jelly (must be processed and prepared as encapsulated doses such as tablets or capsules).
  • Processed beeswax (candles, cosmetics, foundation, ornaments, polishes)
  • Feathers (new dusters, hats, lures, bleached, curled or waved)
  • Furs (manufactured)
  • Leather (new and fully manufactured)
  • Saddles and saddle harnesses (new)
  • Wool (processed)
     

An import permit is required for all animals and animal products, including those listed above, from all other countries.

General requirements for all animal and animal product imports:

1. Permission to Import

Applications for a permit to import an animal or animal product are to be submitted on the official form well before the planned export of the animal or animal product.  Where a single entry permit is issued, the original copy of the import permit must be presented at the time of importation to obtain release of the consignment. Should the disease status of an exporting country change after an import permit has been issued Biosecurity Solomon Islands reserves the right to withdraw the permit or to vary the permit conditions at their discretion without prior notice.

Application Forms

2. Notification

The arrival date and mode of transportation are to be included in the permit application. In the case of live animals their arrival to be notified to Biosecurity Solomon Islands at least 48 hours prior to arrival, and no later than one working weekday before embarkation of the animals.

3. Transportation of Animals

Animals must be transported in a secure suitable container in accordance with the recommendations for the transport of live animals of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) live animals regulations as appropriate.

All feed or fodder accompanying the animals must comply with the import conditions of Solomon Islands for plant or animal products, if not then any surplus will remain on board the vessel or aircraft, or be destroyed at the owner’s expense upon arrival at the Port of Entry.

Any bedding should comprise only of sterile peat, soft board, treated wood shavings, shredded paper or other inert approved products.  All bedding material should remain on board the vessel or aircraft, or be destroyed by incineration at the owner’s expense upon arrival in Solomon Islands.

Animals are transported entirely at the risk of the importer and Biosecurity Solomon Islands holds no responsibility for the care or safety of animals during transport.

4. Documentation

The following documentation is required to accompany imports of animals and high risk animal products:

  1. A valid Import Permit is required: 
    1. For single importations of animals and animal products the Permit is to be presented at the time of importation. 
    2. For multiple importations under one Permit then a copy of the Permit may be presented at the time of importation.
  2. A Statutory Declaration by the owner or agent is required to accompany live animal imports, stating:
    1. A full description of the animal;
    2. That to the best of his/her knowledge the animal is free from all infectious and contagious diseases;
    3. That the animal has not been in contact with any diseased animals for the 30 days immediately prior to embarkation.
  3. An official Animal Health Certificate is required to accompany all imports of live animals and animal products.

The certificate must be signed by a Government Veterinary Officer of the exporting country attesting to the certification assurances required in the specific schedules for animals or animal products.

In some cases an Approved Veterinarian, approved by the veterinary authorities in the exporting country, may provide certification of pre-export treatments and health examinations.

5.    Post Arrival Procedures

On arrival in Solomon Islands all consignments of animals and animal products must be presented to a Biosecurity Officer for validation of any required documentation. In particular all live animals (except dogs and cats from Australia or New Zealand) must be inspected by veterinary officer approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock prior to release from the port of entry. All costs are to be borne by the importer.

Biosecurity Solomon Islands has the right to inspect, examine, sample, test, detain, quarantine and treat any consignments of animals to ensure they comply with Solomon Islands import requirements. Any non-compliant consignments of animals may be destroyed or re-exported. All costs associated with these actions are to be borne by the importer. Biosecurity Solomon Islands holds no responsibility for any losses incurred by the importer, owner or agent.

6. Post Entry Quarantine Requirements

Where animals are required to undergo a period of post entry quarantine, they must remain within the confines of an approved post entry quarantine facility for the full period of quarantine and will only be released at the discretion of by a veterinary officer approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The post-entry facility must meet the following general requirements:

(i) The facilities must be inspected and approved by an officer authorised by the Director of Biosecurity before a permit for importation is issued, and:

  • Be sufficiently secure to contain the quarantined animals.
  • Contain adequate handling facilities for animals
  • Maintain adequate separation from other animals.
  • Have adequate containment of drainage and animal waste.
  • Have adequate provision for feed and water.

7.    Fees

A permit fee and an inspection fee will be charged in accordance with the current schedule of BSI fees and charges for Biosecurity Solomon Islands. Any and all costs or fees associated with ensuring consignments comply with import requirements are to be borne directly by the importer. Biosecurity Solomon Islands holds no responsibility for any losses incurred by the importer, owner or agent. 

Plants and plant products

An import permit and accompanying phytosanitary certificate is not required for certain commercially packaged and labelled plant products from any country.

  • Cooked fruit and vegetables
  • Pickled fruit and vegetables
  • Cooked plant products
  • Preserved fruit and vegetables
  • Fried plant products
  • Processed nuts (in their final processed form, i.e. shelled or hulled)
  • Freeze dried plant products
  • Spices
  • Frozen fruit and vegetables
     

An import permit is not required for vegetable seeds for sowing (except maize, sweetcorn) in consignments of less than 250gm from certain suppliers in certain countries so long as certain requirements have been met.

View the list of Approved vegetable seed suppliers.
 

An import permit is not required for certain timber products from all countries so long as certain requirements have been met.

  • Wood charcoal (including shell or nut charcoal)
  • Wood wool; wood flour.
  • Sheets for veneering less than 6mm thick
  • Wood (including strips and friezes for parquet flooring, etc.
  • Particle board, oriented strand board (OSB) and similar board
  • Fibreboard of wood.
  • Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood.
  • Densified wood, in blocks, plates, strips or profile shapes.
  • Wooden frames for paintings, photographs, mirrors or similar objects.
  • Packing cases, pallets, boxes, crates, drums and similar packing with ISPM 15 certification.
  • Casks, barrels, vats, tubs assembled and full.
  • Tools, tool bodies, tool handles, broom or brush bodies and handles, of wood
  • Tableware and kitchenware, of wood.
  • Wood marquetry and inlaid wood; caskets and cases etc.

Requirements:

  • Inspection on arrival, treat if required
  • Must be free of pests, soil and foreign matter
     

An import permit is not required for certain miscellaneous products from all countries so long as certain requirements have been met.

  • Artifacts
  • Basketware
  • Caneware

Requirements for small hand-carried consignments:

  • Must be clean, free of pests, soil and foreign matter
  • Inspection on arrival with treatment if required

Requirements for commercial consignments:

  • Pre-shipment fumigation with MB at 48g/m3 for 16 hours at 21oC.
  • Phytosanitary certificate confirming fumigation
  • Inspection on arrival to confirm effective fumigation.
     

An import permit is required for all plant and plant products not referenced above.

General requirements apply to all plant and plant product imports:

1. Permission to import

An Import Permit is required. Applications are to be submitted on the official form. The original copy of the permit must be presented to obtain release of the consignment.

Application Forms

2. Documentation

A Phytosanitary Certificate (PC), issued by the National Plant Protection Authority in the country of origin, must accompany all consignments, certifying the produce to be free of pests and diseases. The certificate must also include any additional declarations specified on the Import Permit.

Where a consignment has been transhipped to the Solomon Islands via another country, a “Re-export Certificate” shall accompany that consignment. The re-export certificate shall be issued by the National Plant Protection Authority at the port of re-export and clearly identify the consignment (i.e. exporter, consignee, description of product, number of packages, distinguishing marks, place of origin, means of conveyance, point of entry into country). The certificate shall certify that the consignment in question has been transported and handled in such a manner as to prevent the possibility of pest infestation and product substitution during transit.

3. Pre-shipping procedures

  • Shipments must be free of soil and/or debris and be packed in new packages.
  • Leafy vegetables must be free of roots, and non-leafy vegetables must be free of foliage.
  • Consignments are subject to inspection on arrival and any treatment necessary.

 

Machinery, Equipment & Transport

Included here are:

  • Earthmoving machinery
  • Logging equipment
  • Mining equipment
  • Agriculture equipment
  • Used or second hand vehicles
  • New vehicles
  • Sporting equipment
  • Camping equipment
  • Military equipment

Any of the above will be inspected on arrival and must be found free of soil, any plant material and any other biosecurity risk material. You are recommended to clean your equipment before they depart from the exporting country. Government or accredited agent certificates of cleanliness are welcome and may reduce the requirement for inspection on arrival.

 

Step Two: Find any specific requirements

Many animals, plants, and animal or plant products have specific import requirements additional to the general requirements listed above. Use the search filter here to find any specific requirements for your import.* Also review the definitions of plant and animal technical terms.

SearchReset
BSI Editor
/ Categories: FAQ - Common Questions

FAQ - Importers and Arrivals

What can I bring or send to Solomon Islands?

Solomon Islands has strict laws relating to the importation of certain goods. This ensures that the biosecurity risk to Solomon Islands agricultural industries and unique environment is minimised.

You must declare certain food, plant material and animal products. When you declare these items they will be checked by a Biosecurity Solomon Islands officer who will determine whether they are allowed into Solomon Islands.

Some products may require treatment to make them safe. Other items may be restricted (e.g. fruit and vegetables) or prohibited (e.g. honey) due to pest and disease risks. Go to Importers to find a list of restrictions.

 

When to tick ‘yes’ on your Incoming Passenger Card

Travellers will be given an Incoming Passenger Card before they arrive in Solomon Islands. This is a legal document. You must tick Yes if you are carrying certain food, plant material or animal products. These must be assessed by a Biosecurity Solomon Islands officer who will decide whether they may enter the country or not. Alternatively, you may dispose of food, plant material or animal products on arrival in the bins located in the terminal.

If you fail to declare or dispose of any biosecurity items, or make a false declaration you could be prosecuted, fined more than $SBD 1,000,000 and risk 5 years in jail and a criminal record.

Find out more on the Travellers page.

 

What happens to items that I declare?

In many cases items you declare will be returned to you after inspection. However, any items that present a biosecurity risk will be withheld. Depending on the risk, you can:

  • store the item at the airport for collection upon departure from Solomon Islands (only available where your arrival and departure airport are the same)*
  • export the item*, or
  • have the item destroyed.

Biosecurity Solomon Islands makes every effort to minimise the risk of damage caused as a result of treatment, but does not accept liability for any damage that may occur to your goods.

*These options are subject to fees and special conditions may apply.

 

Why can’t I bring or send goods into Solomon Islands that are already available in Solomon Islands?

The items you buy in Solomon Islands have been commercially produced and imported under strict biosecurity conditions. Similar items that are home-made, traditionally produced or purchased overseas could carry biosecurity pest or disease risks and cannot be imported.

 

Why do I have to declare on my return to Solomon Islands items that I took overseas with me?

It may be possible for pests and diseases to contaminate your items while overseas. This is why Biosecurity Solomon Islands officers must inspect certain articles arriving into Solomon Islands irrespective of where they originally came from.

 

Where do I go for more information on items to declare?

For information about bringing or sending items to Solomon Islands, go to Travellers. 

If you need more information on items that need to be declared or that require an Import Permit, go to Importers.

 

Once I’ve cleared biosecurity at an airport, can I take food or other items to another island or province within Solomon Islands?

Once inspected and cleared by Biosecurity most items can be taken to other islands or provinces.  There are internal movement controls on some items but these are primarily items grown within the country.

 

Why are we sometimes sprayed on international aircraft flying to Solomon Islands?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), certain insects (e.g. mosquitoes) can act as transmitters or vectors of pathogens or parasites that are responsible for spreading a number of human diseases such as Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, Ross River Fever and Malaria.

All aircraft arriving into Solomon Islands are required to undergo a process called disinsection. This process eliminates these vectors and other insects of concern of concern (e.g. adult fruit flies) from the cabin and holds of aircraft.

Preparations of chemicals currently used in aircraft disinsection are based on two active ingredients, permethrin and d–Phenothrin, currently recommended by WHO. The difference between permethrin and d–Phenothrin is principally one of residual effect; permethrin is a residual pyrethroid and d–Phenothrin a non–residual pyrethroid.

 

I want to buy something over the internet from overseas—what do I need to know?

The Biosecurity Solomon Islands assesses international mail and air courier items sent to Solomon Islands. Biosecurity requirements apply to items ordered on the internet or through mail order.

 

What is the procedure and costs involved in importing my dog or cat to Solomon Islands?

Conditions for importing dogs and cats vary depending on the country of origin. However, all animals entering Solomon Islands require an import permit, issued by the Biosecurity Solomon Islands. To obtain an import permit, an application to import your pet must be completed and returned to Biosecurity Solomon Islands. The import permit contains a Veterinary Certificate which must be completed and endorsed by an official veterinarian in the country of export prior to the arrival of your pet in Solomon Islands.

The owner or importer must pay all fees associated with the import and quarantine accommodation of your dog or cat in Solomon Islands.

Specific conditions for importing some pets from some countries are available under All Live Animals and High Risk Animal Products on the Importers page.

 

Why do we import goods that we produce here in Solomon Islands?

The Solomon Islands economy depends on the export of plant products (e.g. timber, copra, cocoa palm oil). Solomon Islands promotes fair and consistent trading rules for all countries around the world. We cannot expect trading partners to import our produce if we are not prepared to import their products.

 

If we import goods, doesn’t the risk of diseases and pests entering Solomon Islands increase?

The Solomon Islands Government takes a very conservative approach to biosecurity and through Government policy aims to reduce the risk to a very low level, but not to zero. It would not be practical for Solomon Islands to take a ‘zero risk’ approach, as it would mean no tourists, no international travel and no trade with other countries. Other countries could then apply the same policies and our products would likely not be accepted overseas.

 

Can I bring health supplements into Solomon Islands?

Health Supplements (plant based)

An Import Permit is not required, provided that:

  • The article is a human therapeutic dietary supplement or natural medicine containing ingredients of plant origin only (this may be supported by product labelling, an accompanying brochure or internet printout, or a letter from a doctor); and
  • The product is imported into Solomon Islands (whether personally or by post) by a person who intends to use it for their own personal use; and
  • The product is imported in a quantity of no more than three months’ supply. Three months’ supply can be determined by:
    • The label dosage advice; or
    • A letter in English from a medical practitioner, naturopath or alternative health provider; or
    • A statutory declaration by the importer stating that the product is for personal use only and is less than 3 months’ supply; and
  • The product is commercially prepared and packaged. The product must be in one of the following forms: capsules, tablets, vials for injection, liquid, powder, ointment.

Herbs

Personal consignments of all dried plant parts (including seeds, fruits, herbs, bark and roots) and plant part mixes for human consumption or human therapeutic end use weighing no greater than 1 kg per product type are permitted if they meet the following import conditions. Products weighing more than 1 kg must comply with commercial conditions, or be re-exported or destroyed.

All material in the consignment must be thoroughly dried and not capable of propagation.

Each consignment will be subject to an inspection to verify that it is free of prohibited seeds, live insects, soil and other quarantine risk material. View the list of prohibited plants.

If seeds are found on inspection the consignment is to be directed for:

  • export; or
  • destruction at the importer’s expense.

If the consignment is not botanically labelled and the Biosecurity Officers cannot identify the plant matter and the consignment does not contain seeds, then the consignment is to be directed for treatment using:

  • Heat (if facilities are available)
  • export; or
  • destruction at the importer’s expense.

After inspection and treatment, all consignments that meet the above import conditions will be released from quarantine.

 

Can I bring protein powders into Solomon Islands?

An import permit is not required for commercially prepared and packaged protein powders in quantities of less than 10 kilograms or 10 litres and intended for human consumption only, provided that they are manufactured in one of the countries specified on the list below. Such powders may contain enzymes and/or egg proteins and are permitted to enter, for personal use only, without requiring an import permit.

Special conditions apply for products which contain ingredients sourced and or manufactured in a country NOT listed in country list below.

An import permit is required for the importation of commercial quantities of commercially prepared and packaged protein powders please contact Biosecurity Solomon Islands in Honiara.

List of approved countries for the export of commercially prepared and packaged protein powders.

Albania

Germany

New Zealand

Australia

Greece

Nicaragua

Austria

Guatemala

Norway

Belarus

Guyana

Panama

Belgium

Haiti

Philippines

Belize

Honduras

Poland

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hungary

Portugal

Brunei

Iceland

Romania

Bulgaria

Indonesia

San Marino

Canada

Ireland

Serbia (1)

Chile

Italy

Singapore

Costa Rica

Japan

Slovakia

Croatia

Latvia

Slovenia

Cuba

Lesotho

Spain

Cyprus

Lithuania

Swaziland

Czech Rep.

Luxembourg

Sweden

Denmark

Madagascar

Switzerland

Dominican Republic

Malta

Ukraine

El Salvador

Mauritius

United Kingdom

Estonia

Mexico

United States of America

Finland

Montenegro

Vanuatu

Former Yug. Rep. of Macedonia

Netherlands

France

New Caledonia

(1) Excluding Kosovo administered by the United Nations

 

Print
7780

* These are sample documents that provide an indication of the requirements your import must meet. You will receive the latest documents from us when you make your application. If you cannot find requirements for your proposed import and wish to investigate development of new ones, please contact us.

 
WonderWebs.com Sign in | Terms| Privacy| Copyright © 2026 Biosecurity Solomon Islands

Contact Us

Enquiries@biosecurity.gov.sb

Phone
Honiara HQ: (+677) 24657

HQ Office
At Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Hibiscus Avenue, Honiara

Read more

News & Updates

Read more

Forms & Documents

Read more
Support for the design and construction of this website was provided by the Australian aid program under their Solomon Islands Biosecurity Development Program and is gratefully acknowledged.