CEM Country Equine Importation
Import Procedures for Horses Imported Into The United States
From Countries Affected With Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)
Horses Over 731 Days of Age
Horses may be imported into the United States provided they meet the following requirements.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
All horses must be accompanied by an official health certificate written in English. The official health certificate must be signed by a full-time veterinary officer of the National Government of the country of export.
CERTIFICATIONS
1. The horse has been in the region for 60 days immediately preceding shipment to the United States. If not, the horse is to be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a full-time salaried veterinary officer of the National Government of each country in which the horse has been during the 60 days immediately preceding shipment to the United States.
2. The horse has been inspected and found free of contagious diseases, and insofar as can be determined, exposure thereto during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation.
3. The horse has not been vaccinated with a live or attenuated or inactivated vaccine during the 14 days immediately preceding exportation.
4. The horse has not been on a premises where African horsesickness, dourine, glanders, surra, epizootic lymphangitis, ulcerative lymphangitis, equine piroplasmosis, equine infectious anemia (EIA), Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE), or vesicular stomatitis has occurred during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation nor have these diseases occurred on any adjoining premises during the same period of time.
5. The horse has been inspected and found to be free from ectoparasites.
PRE-EXPORTATION REQUIREMENTS (TEST FOR CEM)
1. From stallions collect one set of specimens from the prepuce, urethral sinus, fossa glandis (including the diverticulum of the fossa glandis) within 30 days of export. From mares, collect one set of specimens from the clitoral sinuses and clitoral fossa. These results must be negative for the horse to be eligible for entry into the United States.
2. All specimens must be received within 48 hours of collection by a laboratory approved by the animal health authorities of the National Veterinary Service of the region of export.
3. The dates and time of specimen collection and culturing, and the results of such cultures with the name of the laboratory must be recorded on the health certificate.
4. If any specimen collected is found to be positive for CEM, the stallion or mare must be treated for CEM in a manner approved by the National Veterinary Service of the region of export. After the treatment is completed, at least 21 days must pass before the horse will be eligible to be tested again. All treatments performed, and the dates of the treatments, must be recorded on the health certificate.
5. The horse must not have been bred naturally or by artificial insemination from the period of time after specimen collection of the date of export.
Horses Less Than 731 Days Old and Geldings
Geldings and horses less than 731 days of age (weanlings and yearlings) may be imported from CEM affected regions without a permit. Horses must be accompanied by an official health certificate written in English. The official health certificate must be signed by a full-time veterinary officer of the National Government certifying that:
1. Been in the region for 60 days immediately preceding importation. If the horses have not been in said region 60 days immediately preceding importation, they are to be accompanied by a like certificate issued by a full time salaried veterinary officer of the National Government of each country in which the horses have been during the 60 days immediately preceding shipment to the United States.
2. Been inspected and found free of contagious disease and, insofar as can be determined, exposure thereto during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation.
3. Not been vaccinated with a live or attenuated or inactivated vaccine during 14 days immediately preceding exportation.
4. The horse has not been on a premises where African horse sickness, dourine, glanders, surra, epizootic lymphangitis, ulcerative lymphangitis, equine piroplasmosis, EIA, VEE, or vesicular stomatitis has occurred during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation nor have these diseases occurred on any adjoining premises during the same period of time.
4. The horse has been inspected and found to be free from ectoparasites.
U.S. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
1. Horses imported into the United States are required to be detained at the port of entry while tests for dourine, glanders, equine piroplasmosis, and EIA are conducted. Horses that are positive to tests for any of these diseases will be refused entry.
2. Upon completion of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) import quarantine and testing requirements, the mare or stallion must be consigned to a State approved to receive mares and stallions from CEM-affected countries to undergo the prescribed CEM treatment and testing requirements.
Countries Affected with Contagious Equine Metritis
Member States of the European Union (includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom [England, Scotland,
Wales, Isle of Man, and Northern Ireland])
Countries of the former Yugoslavia (includes Bosnia, Croat, Herzegovina, Macedonian, and Serbia)
Czech Republic
Guinea Bissau
Japan
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland