Health Guidelines for Ports of Entry

Port Health is responsible for inspection of;

• Goods
• Good commodities
• Chemicals
• Conveyances; that is trucks, aircraft, cars, buses
• Travelers for yellow fever and diseases in surveillance and create a safe environment at ports of entry through pest control, waste management, inspection of point of entry, water quality and monitoring. The Division also ensures safe cross border transportation of dead bodies. 
   

These are guideline for the prevention and control of the international spread of diseases and other public health threats at designated points of entry; air and land crossings into Botswana.

The Ministry of Health advises the public to be aware of the import of the following:

• Unsafe and poor quality goods
• Contaminated or adulterated foods
• Hazardous chemicals
• Dangerous pesticide formulations
• Cosmetics
• Plant and prohibited animal products
• Any other hazardous chemical and biological materials that may come into Botswana.

In addition to this, the port health service undertakes disease surveillance, screening and reporting of diseases and public health conditions from external sources that may threaten the health and safety of Botswana.

The following are requirements for all those entering Botswana:

• Travelers coming to or transiting through Botswana from yellow fever endemic countries must carry valid international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever as it will be demanded at points of entry upon arrival. Please click this link to get more information about yellow fever country requirements and recommendations by World Health Organization. 
• Airliners must complete the Declaration of the Health Part of the Aircraft "General declaration form" by International Civil Aviation Authority and submit to port health officers upon arrival at airports.
• Aircrafts travelling in from malarial areas, in and outside Botswana, must be disinfected when travelling to non-malarial areas and a proof of disinfection provided to port health officers upon arrival in the Health Part of the Aircraft General Declaration form.