USDA United States
Department of
Agriculture
Animal and
Plant Health
Inspection
Service
Veterinary Services
National Center For Import And Export
Import/Export Animals
4700 River Road, Unit 39
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231

Importing a Horse into the United States


USDA GUIDE SHEET FOR HORSES THAT REQUIRE
A 7-DAY QUARANTINE


Horses may be imported into the United States provided they are accompanied by a proper veterinary health certificate issued by a full-time veterinary officer of the National Government stating that the horses have:

    1. been in that country for 60 days immediately preceding importation. If the horses have not been in the country 60 days, 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 diseases and insofar as can be determined exposure thereto during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation.

    3. not been vaccinated with a live, attenuated, or inactivated vaccine during the 14 days immediately preceding exportation.

    4. not been on premises where African horse sickness, dourine, glanders, surra, epizootic lymphangitis, ulcerative lymphangitis, equine piroplasmosis, equine infectious anemia (EIA), contagious equine metritis (CEM), vesicular stomatitis, or Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) has occurred during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation, nor have these diseases occurred on any adjoining premises during this same period of time.

    5. not been in a country where CEM is known to exist, nor have had any contact, breeding or otherwise, with horses from such a country, for the 12 months preceding exportation.
    6. been inspected and found to be free of ectoparasites.

Horses presented for entry into the United States from countries that are not recognized by the USDA as being free from VEE or screwworm are required to be quarantined for a minimum of 7-days at the port of entry. Quarantine charges are $270.00 per day for each horse for days 1 through 3, and $195.00 for each horse for days 4 through 7 (prices subject to change without prior notice.) If the length of quarantine is extended beyond 7 days, the quarantine rate may be lowered. While in quarantine, tests for dourine, glanders, equine piroplasmosis, and EIA are conducted. Horses that test positive for any of the diseases will be refused entry into the United States.

To reserve space at a USDA-operated quarantine facility the importer or agent should contact the port veterinarian at one of the following locations:

 
New York Animal Import Center
200 Drury

Rock Tavern, NY 12575

(845) 564-2950
Los Angeles Import Center
11850 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 725-1970

Miami Animal Import Center
6300 NW 36 Street
Miami, FL 33122
(305) 526-2926

     

It may be prudent to check with the State of destination as to any additional State Health requirements that must be met. Some States have health requirements that are in addition to those required by the Federal Government.



COUNTRIES THAT REQUIRE A 7-DAY QUARANTINE

All countries in the Western Hemisphere except for:

Canada
Mexico
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands

*see additional requires for Horses from Countries Affected with Screwworm.


VS - Safeguarding Animal Health
Phone (301) 734-3277, FAX (301) 734-6402
http://www.aphis.usda.gov
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