Live Animals
There are many different processes involved with importing different species of live animals into the United States. View the pages below to learn more about these processes, including the guidelines and regulations, permits and certification, and associated user fees.
News Update
Effective January 14, 2008, APHIS, Veterinary Services is removing restrictions placed on the importation of poultry and commercial shipments of live birds, all pet birds, hatching eggs, and unprocessed (not fully cooked) avian products from the province of Saskatchewan as a result of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), subtype H7N3. This action is based on information provided to APHIS by Canada on actions described in the final report that showed the disease occurred on a single premise in southern Saskatchewan and appropriate movement controls and biosecurity measures were immediately implemented. Intensive surveillance throughout the province demonstrated that HPAI H7N3 was confined to the index premises, which was completely depopulated by September 30, 2007.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services (VS), National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) will be postponing the implementation date of the Veterinary Services Process Streamlining (VSPS) Web-based system to process online reservations for the USDA Animal Import Center in Miami, Florida until further notice.
Prior notification to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is required for live food animal importations.
NOTICE: There is no requirement to give FDA prior notice to import pets not intended for human food or animal feed.
For more information, please contact the FDA Prior Notice Center at 866-521-2297.
Contact Us:
If you have any questions, or require further information related to imports or export of live animals, birds or germplasm, please contact National Center for Import and Export at (301) 734-8364, or send an email to VS.Live.Animal.Import.Export@aphis.usda.gov.
Live Ruminants (pdf 98kb)
Questions and Answers for Ruminants Imported from Canada (pdf 41kb)
Birds
Import Procedures for Returning U.S. Origin Pet Birds
Ratites and Hatching Eggs of Ratites
Canine
Canine Semen and Embryos - Import requirements for canine semen and embryos from countries affected with foot-and-mouth disease.
Cattle
Cattle - Guidelines for the importation of cattle ruminants (except from Canada and Mexico)
into the United States, including general requirements and necessary permits and certification.
Cattle from Canada (pdf 27kb)
Questions and Answers Transit Canadian Bovines to Mexico (pdf 22kb)
Transit Canadian Bovines to Mexico (pdf 28kb)
Questions and Answers US Breeding Cattle to Mexico (pdf 20kb)
US Breeding Cattle to Mexico (pdf 21kb)
Addendum for Rest Stops for Breeding Cattle from the United States and Canada - May 2008 (pdf 24kb)
Guidelines to Export Breeding Cattle from the United States and Canada to Mexico - May 2008 (pdf 28kb)
Equine
Horses that require a:
3-day Quarantine
7-day Quarantine
60-day Quarantine
Importing Horses from Canada (pdf 20kb)
Importing Horses from Countries Affected with Screwworm
Foot and Mouth Disease
Requirements for Horses from FMD Countries
Equine Semen and Embryos from FMD Countries
Certificate for Disinfection of Tack Trunks/Containers
Contagious Equine Metritis
Importing Semen from Countries Free of CEM
Importing Semen from Countries Affected with CEM
SVC Susceptible Species
Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes - At the current time, APHIS is developing certain import restrictions that will apply to shipments of live fish, fertilized eggs or gametes from SVC-susceptible species that are imported to the United States. Please contact Dr. Peter Merrill at the USDA APHIS VS National Center for Import and Export, 301-734-0649, for more information.
Sheep - view the certification form for importing sheep from Canada.
- Sheep from Canada Feeding (pdf 20kb)
- Sheep from Canada for Slaughter (pdf 15kb)