GUIDELINES FOR IMPORTATION #1119

Introduction:

Materials derived from animals, or produced with animal-origin ingredients are potentially subject to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) import regulations and must be cleared by Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel upon arrival at the U.S. port. A USDA Veterinary Services (VS) Import Permit is required for animal material that may pose a risk of introducing epizootic livestock or poultry diseases exotic to the United States. However, pet food/animal feed (including chews, treats, and supplements) and their ingredients, including rawhide and antler for use as chews/treats may be imported without a USDA VS Import Permit provided the conditions of this guideline are met.

Procedures:

1. Pet food/animal feed (including chews, treats, supplements) and their ingredients are allowed entry without a VS Import Permit from regions which are free of, and have no Special Restrictions (SR) for, the following diseases; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Newcastle Disease (END), Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), African Swine Fever (ASF), Classical Swine Fever (CSF), and Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD) when accompanied by an original health certificate, signed by a full-time salaried veterinarian of the agency responsible for animal health in the exporting region which states the following:

• The animal species from which the material was derived; AND
• The region in which any facility where the material was processed is located; AND
• The material was derived only from animals that have never been in any region listed in 9CFR 94.18(a) with the regions specifically named (as seen below); AND

BSE countries/regions include: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Republic of San Marino, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom [includes Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man), Northern Ireland, and the Falklands].

• The material did not originate in and was never stored, rendered, or otherwise processed in a region listed in 9CFR 94.18(a); AND
• The material was not otherwise associated with a facility located in a region listed in 9CFR 94.18(a).

Materials which do not meet the criteria above must be accompanied by a USDA VS Import Permit unless they are consigned to an approved establishment. ***EXCEPTION*** The following articles are prohibited from being consigned to an approved establishment: Raw (chilled or frozen) avian materials from regions affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and all products containing cattle (beef), bison, sheep, lamb, or goat origin materials from regions affected by Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).

To View lists of countries affected by the above listed diseases please visit the following web site;
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_disease_status.shtml

IMPORTANT: Imported pet food/animal feed products (including chews, treats, and supplements) containing plant materials may be subject to regulations enforced by USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). Please contact (301) 851-2046 for more information.

2. Plain rawhide intended for use as pet chews/treats (may be cut, molded, or in sheets) which has not been ground, flavored, basted, colored, or otherwise processed is allowed entry without a VS Import Permit subject to inspection by CBP personnel at the U.S. port of arrival.

Rawhide which does not meet the above requirements (e.g., is not plain rawhide) must be accompanied by a USDA VS Import Permit.

3. Antlers intended for use as pet chews/treats originating from a region free of FMD and Rinderpest are allowed entry without a VS Import Permit when accompanied by an original health certificate, signed by a full-time salaried veterinarian of the agency responsible for animal health in the exporting region which states the following:

• The name of the FMD/Rinderpest free country of origin of the antlers; AND
• That the antlers are clean, dry, and free of soil, clay, sand, tissue, and un-dried pieces of hide, flesh, sinew, and other related material.

Antlers originating from a region affected by FMD and/or Rinderpest must be accompanied by a VS Import Permit unless consigned to an approved establishment.

Entry:
An original certificate, as described in items 1 and 3 above, must accompany the shipment in order to prevent shipments from being delayed at ports of arrival. If the material to be imported cannot meet the criteria outlined in this guideline, then a USDA VS Import Permit is required.

Permit applications may be obtained several ways:

1. On-line at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/permits/
   
   
2. By writing to:
   USDA, APHIS, VS
   National Center for Import and Export
   4700 River Road, Unit 40
   Riverdale, MD 20737
   (301) 851-3300 telephone
   (301) 734-6402 fax