General requirements
The following U.S. import requirements are prescribed in part 93 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations:
- the animal was born in Canada or the United States (U.S.) and has not been in any other country
- the animal has been legally imported into Canada from some other country and unconditionally released into Canada as to be eligible to move freely within Canada without restriction of any kind and has been in Canada after such release for 60 days or longer
- animals that do not meet the required residency statement as shown on the health certificate usually need an import permit obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- horses imported from country other than the U.S. may be exported to the U.S. before the required residency period without an import permit under certain conditions
- if this situation arises, the district veterinarian should be contacted for more information
The USDA requires export health certificates to be completed in English.
An export certificate is considered fully complete and valid only after it has been endorsed and stamped with the official export stamp by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinary inspector. This is usually the district veterinarian or veterinary inspector responsible for the geographic district in which the herd of origin is located, or another veterinary inspector if prior arrangements have been made.
The period of time that an export certificate remains valid is not only based on the date that the completed certificate is endorsed by a CFIA veterinarian, but may also be based on the actual date that the inspection, testing, or treatment commenced.
Please note that any animal that is a reactor to a preliminary testing for bovine tuberculosis is permanently ineligible for export to the United States and cannot be retested at a later date.
Interpretations
Animals: cattle, sheep, goats, other ruminants, swine, horses, asses, mules, zebras, dogs, cats, and poultry.
Livestock: cattle, elk, reindeer, bison, horses, deer, sheep, goats, swine, poultry (including egg-producing poultry), llamas, alpacas, and other animals that are part of a foundation herd or flock
Cattle: members of the species Bos taurus (domestic cattle), Bos indicus (Zebu-type cattle), and Bison bison (American buffalo).
Test date: the date on which the samples were drawn, not the date on which the test was performed in the laboratory or on which the results were reported. The exceptions to this definition are the test dates for the performance of intradermal tests for tuberculosis. In this case, the test date is the date on which the test is read and not the date of injection.
Exhibition: any publicly recognized exposition, race, horse show, rodeo, circus or stage exhibition in Canada or the U.S.
Communicable disease: any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease of domestic livestock, poultry, or other animals.
Birds: all members of the class Aves, including hatching eggs, other than "poultry."
Zoological park: for export purposes, a professionally operated zoo, park, garden, or other place maintained under the constant surveillance of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, for the exhibition of live animals, pigeons or birds, for the purpose of public recreation or education.
Herd: any group of animals maintained on common ground for any purpose, or 2 or more groups of animals of the same species under common ownership or supervision, which are geographically separated but among which there is an interchange or movement of animals without regard to health status.
Accredited veterinarian: non-federal veterinarian who is licensed to practice veterinary medicine and is formally authorized by means of an Accredited Veterinarian Agreement (CFIA/ACIA 1625) with the CFIA to perform inspections, tests, and activities for specified purposes.
Poultry: for the purposes of export to the U.S., chickens, ducks, geese, swans, turkeys, doves, pheasants, grouse, pigeons, partridges, quails, guinea fowl, and peafowl of all ages, including "poultry" hatching eggs.
Transportation of livestock exported to or transiting the United States
Animals loaded for transport in Canada must follow existing Canadian regulations for animal selection, loading, transport and transport planning: Health of Animals Regulations: Part XII: Transport of Animals (Health of Animals Regulations: Part XII: Transport of Animals-Regulatory Amendment Interpretive Guidance for Regulated Parties – Canadian Food Inspection Agency).
The animals must be fed, watered, and rested (FWR) during transport in the United States, following existing U.S. domestic animal transport regulations, at least once every 28 hours, including for any transport delays (eCFR : 9 CFR Part 89 – Statement of Policy Under the Twenty-Eight Hour Law).
The USDA import transit permit will specify the route of travel.
The FWR may take place inside the truck if all the animals have room to lay down at the same time. The truck driver must certify when and where the FWR occurred.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) port Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) or designated APHIS representative will determine if off loading of animals during the FWR is warranted due to temperature extremes and/or animal health/safety conditions.
In the event that offloading of a transit shipment is deemed necessary, conveyance seals may only be broken by an APHIS official or by an approved APHIS representative. The animals must be offloaded in an APHIS-approved FWR facility and remain under APHIS oversight for the duration of the FWR period. After reloading, the conveyance must be sealed by the APHIS official or approved APHIS representative with official USDA seals, and these seal numbers must be recorded on the corresponding import transit documents.
Import permits
No import permits are required from the USDA if the animals are presented for import at 1 of the U.S. land border ports listed at the end of this section and if they meet the specific requirements described in the following sections.
An import permit is required from the USDA for the following:
- any livestock, poultry or birds that are destined to enter the U.S. by air, sea or an inland port of entry other than those listed below
- note that there are no designated land border ports on the Canadian/United States border to Alaska, thus an import permit is required prior to entry into Alaska in order to facilitate process of inspections
- sheep and goats for imported for feeding or breeding purposes
- all animals (except horses), poultry, or birds if the animals, poultry, or birds that have been imported into Canada from a country other than the U.S., and have been resident in Canada less than 60 days, excluding any Canadian quarantine period; horses imported from a country other than the U.S. may not require an import permit if exported before 60 days (excluding any Canadian quarantine period) if some other special conditions are met
- if this situation arises, the district veterinarian should be contacted for more information
- all mares and stallions originating from countries affected by the contagious equine metritis (CEM) that have not completed CEM requirements in Canada
- they are required to complete CEM testing upon arrival in the U.S. at a state approved CEM quarantine facility
- state import permits must be obtained from the destination state where CEM quarantine will be completed; and
- an import permit may be required for Canadian animals transiting the U.S. for export to a third country
Applications for import permits VS-17-129 can be obtained from the following address:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Veterinary Service, National Center for Import and Export
4700 River Road, Unit 39
Riverdale, Maryland 20737
Telephone: 301-851-3300 option 2
Email: VS.Live.Animals_Import.Permits@aphis.usda.gov
For certain species, it may be necessary to obtain 1 or more Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permits. Applications for CITES import/export permits can be obtained from the following addresses:
U.S. import permit
Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 432
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Telephone: 703-358-2104
Facsimile: 1-800-358-2104
Canadian export permit
CITES Administrator
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-997-1840 or 1-800-668-6767
Facsimile: 819-953-6283
Contingency plans
A written contingency plan to deal with potential emergencies enroute is required for any livestock shipment (including transit) entering the United States. The contingency plan must be included as part of the application for an import permit where necessary (see above). At a minimum, the contingency plan will include an emergency contact number for the importer or their representative, veterinary contacts along the route who may provide assistance for health and safety issues involving the animals, and documented source(s) of water. (Notice Regarding APHIS Live Animal Import and Third-Country Import Transit Permits).
APHIS recommends the comprehensive contingency plan also address the following items:
- transport conveyances/shipping containers
- loading densities and space requirements
- environmental/weather protections
- ventilation/air supply
- feed/water supply
- management of animals that are sick, injured, or otherwise unfit to travel
- accident/ vehicle break-down management plan
- animal escape plan
- deceased animal management
APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) port and local offices must be notified immediately for any emergency situations. The full contingency plan should include these APHIS contact phone numbers, as well as contact numbers for state animal health officials.
The importer/exporter, through their shipping agent and/or transporter, is responsible for providing copies of any USDA import / transit permit and contingency plan to the APHIS port VMO at the port of entry, and the APHIS port VMO at the port of exit (transit shipments), prior to the arrival at the American border.
Federal requirements versus State requirements and requirements of other organizations
Although it is recognized that each state has the prerogative to establish import movement controls that may be more stringent than the national (USDA) health requirements, the state authorities cannot prevent the entry into the U.S. from Canada of animals that meet established federal conditions. However, once animals have gained entry to the state, individual state authorities have the legal mandate to deal with such animal as they see fit.
Exporters should be advised that individual state requirements may exceed or differ from the USDA requirements. It is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that any additional requirements are met through arrangements made with the importer either on the arrival of the animals or in advance of their departure.
The USDA has provided the following information source for interstate requirements: U.S. State and Territory Animal Import Regulations. For clarification on any rules and regulations, contact the United States state veterinarian.
Tests that are performed to meet specific state requirements but are not required for entry into the U.S. must be submitted to a provincial or private laboratory. The results do not constitute part of the official certification and are not to appear on the export health certificate; however, the test results may be attached to the export document.
It is the exporter's responsibility to check whether any conditions are imposed by other organizations (for example, requirements concerning endangered species) and to meet any such conditions.
Land ports of entry
Animals requiring veterinary inspection prior to entry into the U.S. must enter at a designated port of entry where facilities for animal unloading and inspection exist. Inspections must be scheduled in advance with the USDA Veterinary Services Field Operations Port Services.