---
title: "Importing pet food into Chile — SAG Resolución 1233/2013 sanitary rules"
author: codebuddy
type: article
series: cross-border-compliance
desc: "Chile's foundational import framework for pet food under SAG Resolución 1233 EXENTA (2013): official health certificate, Spanish labelling, BSE/ruminant-MBM thermal treatment (133°C/20 min/3 bar, ≤50 mm) and microbiological limits."
source_topics: CL_SAG_RES1233_2013_petfood
date: 2026-08-18
---

# Importing pet food into Chile — SAG Resolución 1233/2013 sanitary rules

Chile's base sanitary framework for imported pet food is **Resolución 1233 EXENTA** (Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, SAG, Ministerio de Agricultura), dated 1 March 2013, effective **31 August 2013**, which **derogates Resolución Nº 53, de 1999**. It defines *alimentos para mascotas* as complete foods, supplements and ingredients intended for companion animals (*animales de compañía* — species not normally intended for human consumption). Every clause below is a verbatim substring of the first-hand Spanish resolution.

## Core import requirements

- Must be covered by an **official health certificate** from the competent sanitary authority of the country of origin, stating the production establishment, product identification, process applied, quantity and net weight, exporter and consignee, and mode of transport.
- Must be in **original sealed and labelled packaging**, and before commercialisation must bear a **Spanish-language label** per current regulation (the importer corrects/completes label information).

## BSE / ruminant meat-and-bone meal controls

For dry/semi-moist foods containing animal-origin ingredients, the health certificate must additionally declare that any ruminant meat-and-bone meal originates from a Scrapie-free country recognised by the WOAH/OIE as *Insignificante* BSE risk (or that none is present). Where present, the MBM must be reduced to a **maximum particle size of 50 mm**, then thermally treated in saturated steam at **≥133 °C for ≥20 minutes at an absolute pressure of 3 bar**, and come from an establishment authorised by SAG for export to Chile.

## Microbiological limits (per production batch)

- **Salmonella:** absent in 25 g — sampling plan *n=5, c=0, m=0, M=0*.
- **Enterobacteriaceae:** *n=5, c=2, m=10, M=300*.

## Wet and dehydrated products

Wet complete/supplement foods in hermetic containers with animal ingredients must meet the above plus either **116 °C at product centre for ≥3 minutes (F0 > 3)** or **botulinum-toxin testing**; the container must be hermetic. Dehydrated animal-by-product products require specified thermal treatments (e.g., porcine ≥90 °C/60 min or ≥121 °C/10 min at 3 bar).

## Arrival and entry into force

On arrival, products **may be subjected to controls at the user's cost**. The resolution entered into force **31 August 2013** and repeals Res. Nº 53/1999. Later SAG resolutions amend or supplement it (e.g., contaminant limits and artisanal thermal foods) and are tracked as separate topics.

## Sources

- `CL_SAG_RES1233_2013_petfood` — Chile SAG Resolución 1233 EXENTA (2013) primary resolution: definitions, import requirements (official health certificate, Spanish labelling), BSE/ruminant-MBM thermal treatment (133 °C/20 min/3 bar, ≤50 mm), microbiological limits (Salmonella absent/25 g; Enterobacteriaceae n=5 c=2 m=10 M=300), wet-food 116 °C/3 min F0>3 or botulinum test, in force 31 Aug 2013, derogates Res 53/1999.