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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Imports: Animal and Animal Products

Last Modified: Dec 15, 2020
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Visit the APHIS Pet Travel Website to bring your pet into the United States from another country.

APHIS' mission is to safeguard the health of our nation's agricultural resources. Our many animal health experts work closely with other federal agencies, states, foreign governments, industry and professional groups, and others to enhance international trade and cooperation while preventing the introduction of dangerous and costly pests and diseases.

USDA-APHIS is charged with several critical tasks relating to Imports and Exports, including:

  • Facilitating international trade
  • Monitoring the health of animals' presented at the border
  • Regulating the import and export of animals, animal products, and biologics

APHIS restricts some animals and animal products from entering the United States because of the animal health situation in the region of origin.  In general, restrictions based on the APHIS-recognized animal health status of the region are issued through the regulatory process.  A region can be (a) a national entity (country); (b) part of a national entity (zone, county, Province, State, etc.); (c) parts of several national entities combined into an area; or (d) a group of national entities (countries) combined into a single area. The following links provides a list of the USDA-recognized animal health status of particular countries and regions, organized by specific livestock or poultry diseases.

Animal Health Status of Regions

Animal Health Statuses of Regions
View a list of APHIS-recognized animal health statuses of regions regarding specific animal diseases or pests, or acceptable commodities.

Temporary Restrictions

List of regions with temporary restrictions on importation of some animals and animal products to the United States will be posted here.

Import Information for...

Animal Products Guidance & Permitting 

The Import Animal Products team conducts permitting for the importation of animal products and by-products, regulatory and policy development, international protocol negotiations, field collaboration, and inter-agency collaboration.  Other items of interest that can be found on this site include but are not limited to the following:

  • Guidance on Animal Products That Do Not Require An Import Permit
  • On-Hold Shipments: Animal Product shipments placed on hold by CBP
  • Guidance on Animal Products exported from and returning to the U.S
  • Approved Establishments: Establishments approved to handle certain trophies and hides
  • Permitting: Apply, Renew, or Amend Animal Products/By-Products Import permits (Fees Apply) 
  • APHIS Approved Plants for Import of Meat and Casings into U.S. 
Organisms and Vectors Guidance & Permitting

Regulates the importation of organisms and vectors of pathogenic diseases of livestock and poultry into the United States.

View the process for obtaining an import permit for veterinary biologics.

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