*** GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ***

Effective Date: October 28, 1985

Last Update: March 5, 2008

N E W Y O R K

Health Requirements Governing the Admission Of Animals

For More Information on Current Regulations Please Contact

Dr. John P. Huntley, Director

Division of Animal Industry

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

10B Airline Dr.

Albany, New York 12235

Telephone: (518) 457-3502

Permits: (518) 457-3971

FAX: (518) 485-0839

The following is a radically abridged summary of those portions of Title 1 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (parts 53-62-63-64-65) which deal with the importation of livestock and poultry. While it is useful for quick reference, the full text of the rules and regulations should be consulted before issuing or approving interstate shipment certificates.

Who May Inspect

Accredited, licensed veterinarian or veterinarian employed by the U.S.D.A.

Who May Approve

Chief Livestock Sanitary Official.

Official Health Certificate

Official document of the state of origin which provides complete information on each animal including health data, tests, origin, destination and identification and which certifies that the animals to be shipped meet New York State health requirements for importation.

Importation without health certificate or waybill illegal regardless of purpose for which imported. Official copy of certificate must be in the mails for delivery to Albany before the animals enter the State of New York. Animals under quarantine or subject to quarantine cannot enter.

Blood Tests

All blood tests must be performed by an approved laboratory.

***CATTLE***

Cattle with mange, ringworm, warts or other communicable diseases are ineligible for entry.

Official health certificate and individual identification

Anaplasmosis

All cattle and bison six months of age or older originating in the following states:

Alabama Arkansas California

Colorado Florida Georgia

Idaho Kansas Louisiana

Mississippi Missouri Montana

Nebraska Nevada North Carolina

Oklahoma Oregon South Carolina

South Dakota Tennessee Texas

Utah Washington Wyoming

Puerto Rico Virgin Islands

shall have been negative to an anaplasmosis test conducted within 30 days prior to entry.

Vesicular Stomatitis

All cattle and bison originating from a state which has had a case of vesicular stomatits in the past 30 days shall have a statement on the health certificate:

“All animals identified on this health certificate have been examined and found to be free from vesicular stomatitis and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the past thirty days these animals have not been exposed to said disease, nor held at a location within ten miles of any place in which said disease has been found to exist.”

Tuberculosis

Cattle and bison originating in states which have been continuously classified as Tuberculosis accredited free for 5 years or more may enter New York without testing.

All other cattle and bison six months of age and older must be negative to a tuberculosis test within 60 days of entry.

Cattle from Modified Accredited Advanced, Modified Accredited, Accreditation Preparatory, or non-accredited states or zones must meet 9CFR77 testing requirements.

Brucellosis

Class Free States

Cattle and bison originating in states which have been classified as Brucellosis class Free for 5 years or more may enter New York without test.

All sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older from other class Free states shall have been negative to a test for brucellosis conducted within 30 days prior to entry.

Class A States

Vaccinated female cattle and bison over 14 months of age and all other sexually intact cattle and bison over 8 months of age shall have been negative to a test for brucellosis conducted within 30 days prior to entry

AND

all sexually intact cattle and bison shall originate in a certified brucellosis free herd or be held under quarantine after entering New York and retest 45 to 120 days after entry.

Class “B” and “C” States

Call 518-457-3971 for requirements.

***HORSES & OTHER EQUIDAE***

Official Health Certificate shall include:

Signature of accredited veterinarian and chief veterinarian of state of origin.
Names and addresses of owner or trainer of the animal and consignee and destination in New York State.
Date of examination, number of animals and premises where examined.
Complete identification of each horse including names, registration number, tattoo, breed, sex, age, color and markings.
Negative EIA test date and results within the previous 12 months for each horse or other equidae six months or more of age.

Such certificates are valid for 30 days following date of examination shown on the certificate.

Slaughter horses

Horses and other equidae may move without EIA tests directly to slaughter or an approved market authorized to handle slaughter horses if they are accompanied by a VS 1-27 or an equine waybill listing the name of the consignor, the name of the market or slaughter facility, individual identification of the horses present and the number of horses in the shipment.

***HOGS***

Breeding Swine and Swine for Exhibition or Sale

Breeding swine and swine for exhibition or sale must meet the following requirements for importation into New York State:

Be accompanied by an approved health certificate and be individually identified.
AND

Brucellosis
Originate from a brucellosis Free state OR
Originate from a brucellosis certified free herd OR
Be individually tested negative for brucellosis within 30 days prior to entry
No brucellosis testing requirement for castrated or spayed pot-bellied pigs
AND

Pseudorabies
Originate from a pseudorabies class IV or Free State OR
Originate from a pseudorabies qualified negative herd OR
Originate from a pseudorabies monitored herd OR
Be individually tested and found negative for pseudorabies within 30 days prior to entry AND be held under quarantine until retested and found negative 30 to 60 days after entry.

Feeder Swine

Swine less than 120 days of age imported for the exclusive purpose of feeding for slaughter must meet the following requirements:

Be accompanied by an approved health certificate and be individually identified.
AND

Psuedorabies
Originate from a Class IV or Free State OR
Originate from a pseudorabies qualified negative herd OR
Originate from a pseudorabies monitored herd OR
Be individually tested and found negative for pseudorabies within 30 days prior to entry. Imported feeder swine shall be held separate from al breeding swine and proof of slaughter shall be provided upon request.

Swine for Immediate Slaughter

Swine for immediate slaughter must be accompanied by an approved health certificate or a waybill. Such swine shall not be diverted en route or unloaded except at the designated destination and shall be slaughtered within 6 days of entry into the state.

***SHEEP***

The importation of any sheep into New York except to an approved livestock market or inspected slaughter facility requires an approved Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) completed by an accredited veterinarian.

A CVI must include:

• The address of the consignor, destination of each animal, and date of qualifying veterinary examination

• A statement that the animals have been inspected by an accredited veterinarian and that the animals show no signs of disease (except where noted)

• Each animal must be identified by an official scrapie ear tag or registration tattoo; all other man-made identification must also be recorded

• Approval and countersignature by the chief livestock health official of the state or county of origin

• Certificates of veterinary inspection are valid for importation until 30 days after the qualifying veterinary examination.

Sheep for immediate slaughter

• Waybill required including date, consignor, premises shipped from, destination premises, number and species of animals being shipped, and signature of shipper

• Animals must be consigned directly to an approved livestock market or inspected slaughter facility

• Animals must be slaughtered within 6 days of entry into New York

***GOATS***

The importation of any goat into New York except to an approved livestock market or inspected slaughter facility requires an approved Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) completed by an accredited veterinarian.

A CVI must include:

• The address of the consignor, destination of each animal, and date of qualifying veterinary examination

• A statement that the animals have been inspected by an accredited veterinarian and that the animals show no signs of disease (except where noted)

• Each animal must be identified by an official scrapie ear tag or registration tattoo; all other man-made identification must also be recorded

• Approval and countersignature by the chief livestock health official of the state or county of origin

• Certificates of veterinary inspection are valid for importation until 30 days after the qualifying veterinary examination.

Goats for immediate slaughter

• Waybill required including date, consignor, premises shipped from, destination premises, number and species of animals being shipped, and signature of shipper

• Animals must be consigned directly to an approved livestock market or inspected slaughter facility

• Animals must be slaughtered within 6 days of entry into New York

***DOGS & CATS***

Importation of Dogs and Cats

Definitions. For the purposes of this Part, the following definitions apply:

Cat means any member of the species Felis catus, regardless of age, sex, or breed.
Dog means any member of the species Canis familiaris, regardless of age, sex, or breed.
Health certificate means a certificate issued and signed by a veterinarian, legally qualified to practice in the state or country of origin.

Importation prohibited without a health certificate.

No person shall bring or ship or cause to be brought or shipped into the State of New York any nonresident dog or cat without providing a health certificate. The health certificate may accompany the dog or cat or may be placed in the mail for delivery to the consignee prior to entry of the dog or cat into the State of New York
A common carrier accepting dogs or cats for delivery to a destination in the State of New York shall not be held responsible for violation of subdivision (1.) of this section.
A copy of the health certificate addressed to the Director, Division of Animal Industry, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Albany, NY 12235 shall be placed in the mail prior to entry of the dog or cat into the State of New York.

Form of Health Certificate

The health certificate shall list the date of examination, the breed, sex, and age of the dog or cat, the state or country of origin, and the full name and complete post-office address of the consignee and consignor.
The health certificate shall state that the examination revealed no clinical evidence of infectious or communicable disease, including external parasites and fungi, and that to the best of the veterinarian’s knowledge, the dog or cat has not recently been exposed to such infectious or communicable disease.
The health certificate shall state that the dog or cat has been properly immunized against rabies by a vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture within 12 months prior to the date of importation into the State of New York. The three-year vaccine is acceptable, but MUST be noted as such on the health certificate. The immunization requirement shall not apply if the dog or cat is under the age of 3 months or if a veterinarian certifies in writing that because of old age or other reason, the life of the dog or cat would be endangered by the administration of the rabies vaccine.

Time limitation of health certificate

The health certificate shall show that the dog or cat was examined by a veterinarian within 30 days of entry of the dog or cat into the State of New York.

Dogs or cats exempt from the health certificate requirement:

Dogs or cats passing through the State of New York to points beyond, dogs or cats which are brought into the State of New York for temporary residence for purposes of exhibition, and dogs or cats which enter the State of New York for delivery to research institutions, dealers or other persons registered or licensed and regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to the provisions of this Part, provided that such dogs or cats are at all times properly restrained and under the immediate control of the owner or custodian; that such dogs or cats are accompanied with proof of proper immunization against rabies; and that those dogs or cats entering the State of New York pursuant to U.S. Public Law 89-544, as amended, remain subject to its provisions.

***PSITTACINE BIRDS***

Health certificate issued within 30 days prior to entry.

Contact

Special Licenses Unit
NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4752
518-402-8985

***POULTRY & HATCHING EGGS***

All shipments of poultry breeding stock and hatching eggs, baby poultry and started poultry other than U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean or equivalent into New York are prohibited.

No person shall enter the State of New York with any truck, coop, cage, crate or other conveyance for the purpose of removing, delivering, or transporting live poultry unless the truck and the coop, cage, crate or other conveyance has been cleaned and disinfected immediately prior to its arrival. The operator of the truck shall maintain a record of the dates of cleanings and disinfections.

***BISON***

Same as Cattle above.

***LLAMAS & ALPACAS***

Llamas and Alpacas moved into New York for any purpose shall be accompanied by an approved certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI).
The CVI is issued by an accredited veterinarian and approved and countersigned by the chief livestock health official of the state or country of origin. Approval and countersignature of the certificate shall signify that said official has caused the statements thereon to be verified and shall further signify that these statements qualify the animal for movement into New York State in accordance with the provisions of this Part.
The CVI shall identify each animal to be moved into New York. Individual identification shall include all eartags and tattoos carried by the animal, its species, breed, age, sex and its registration number, if any.
The CVI shall include the full name and address of both consignor and consignee, the date of issue, the anticipated date of entry of the animal into New York State, and a statement that the animal has been inspected by an accredited veterinarian and is not showing signs of infectious, contagious or communicable disease (except where noted).
The CVI shall be valid up to and including the 30th day following the date of inspection of the animal. .

***DEER & ELK***

PRIOR PERMIT REQUIRED Contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-457-3971

In order to move deer into the State for any purpose other than immediate slaughter:

(1) the destination of the deer must be in compliance with the New York Codes Rules and Regulations part 68; and

(2) the deer to be moved meet the requirements of the New York Codes Rules and Regulations part 68 including having a prior permit for importation; and

(3) all deer must be accompanied by an approved certificate of veterinary inspection; and

Brucellosis:

· Deer originating from USDA Certified Brucellosis-Free cervid herds do not require testing for interstate movement;

· All sexually intact deer 180 days of age or older from USDA Brucellosis-Monitored cervid herds must test negative for brucellosis within 90 days prior to interstate movement;

· All other sexually intact deer 180 days of age or older must be tested for brucellosis within 30 days prior to interstate movement

Tuberculosis:

Deer must meet 9CFR77 requirements for movement

· The captive cervids are from an accredited herd and are accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection stating that the accredited herd completed testing necessary for the accredited status with negative results within 24 months prior to the date of movement

· The captive cervids are sexually intact animals; are not from an accredited herd; are officially identified; and are accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection stating that the herd from which they originated was negative to a whole herd test within 1 year prior to the date of movement and that the individual animals to be moved were negative to an additional official tuberculin test conducted within 90 days prior to the date of movement, except that the additional test is not required if the animals are moved interstate within 6 months of the whole herd test

· The captive cervids originate from a qualified herd, are being moved for exhibition, will be returned within 90 days of entry, and will have no contact with other livestock during movement or exhibition

· The captive cervids originate from a monitored herd, and have tested negative to an official tuberculosis test conducted within 90 days prior to the date of movement

· The captive cervids originate from a qualified or monitored herd, are less than 1 year of age and are natural additions to the qualified or monitored herd

· The captive cervids are moved directly to slaughter at an approved slaughering establishment

Chronic Wasting Disease:

Certified Herd Status required.

All CWD-susceptible cervids (Alces, Odocoileus & Cervus) including White-tailed deer, Mule deer including Black-tailed deer, Elk, Red deer, Sika deer, Barasinga deer, Eld’s deer, Rusa deer, Schomburgk’s deer, Sambar deer, and Throld’s deer and Moose must originate in and be shipped directly from a CWD Certified Herd that has for five years or more been on a state CWD surveillance program equivalent to New York’s program.

Importation of CWD susceptible cervids from a CWD infected zone is prohibited.

New York will not accept any Cervids from an area within 50 miles of any CWD positive wild cervid diagnosed in the past 60 months. Final decision on permitting the importation of CWD susceptible species from a state in which a CWD positive diagnosis has been made in the 60 months immediately preceding shipment will be made by the Department of Agriculture and Markets in consultation with the Department of Environmental Conservation. Such decision will include an evaluation of the equivalency of the CWD detection, control, and eradication program in the state of origin.

CWD certified herd status shall be required of source herd for such importation. The CWD program in which the source herd is enrolled in the state of origin will be evaluated for equivalency to the New York CWD Certified Herd Program.

Importation of CWD-susceptible Cervids for Immediate Slaughter

CWD susceptible Cervids originating from source herds in states with no known cases of CWD in the previous sixty months may be moved directly to slaughter at an approved CWD susceptible cervid slaughter facility within New York State under the following conditions:

A permit authorizing movement has been obtained from the Department prior to movement;
A waybill or certificate of veterinary inspection listing all animals in the shipment must accompany the animals in transit
All animals moved are individually identified with an approved identification tag and all identification is recorded on the permit;
Movement is direct to an approved CWD susceptible cervid slaughter facility. The shipment, or any part thereof, may not be diverted to any other location than that designated as the destination on the movement permit. The animals in the shipment shall not be allowed to come in contact with other Cervids while en route;
Samples shall be obtained from ten percent or thirty, whichever is less, of each distinct lot;
Waste from all CWD susceptible Cervids imported under this provision shall be disposed of in a manner consistent with the approved disposal plan; and
Cervids shall be slaughtered within six days of the date of movement as provided in the movement permit.

Importation of Non-CWD susceptible Cervids (Fallow deer, reindeer and some zoo species) for Immediate Slaughter

A permit authorizing movement has been obtained from the Department prior to movement;
A waybill or certificate of veterinary inspection listing all animals in the shipment must accompany the animals in transit.
All animals moved are individually identified with an approved identification tag and all identification is recorded on the permit;
Movement is direct to an approved slaughter facility. The shipment, or any part thereof, may not be diverted to any other location than that designated as the destination on the movement permit. The animals in the shipment shall not be allowed to come in contact with other Cervids while en route.
Cervids shall be slaughtered within six days of the date of movement provided in the movement permit.

A waybill must include:

1. The date the waybill is prepared.

2. The name and address of the owner or shipper (consignor).

3. The point from which the animals are moved interstate.

4. The name and address of the person or firm accepting delivery (consignee) in New York State.

5. The number of species covered by the waybill.

6. Individual animal identification number(s), species, age, sex of each animal in shipment.

7. A statement that the animals are being brought into this State for immediate slaughter.

8. The written and complete signature of the owner or shipper.

A waybill shall be void eight days after date of preparation thereof.

***RABBITS***

No regulations.

***ZOO, FUR-BEARING, & OTHER WILD ANIMALS***

for specific requirements.

In addition, contact the

Special Licenses Unit
NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4752
518-402-8985

***SEMEN & FROZEN EMBRYOS***

See General Requirements

***Biologics, Microorganisms, & Parasites***

No person, firm or corporation shall possess, use, sell, offer for sale, give away, send or bring into the State of New York the following products except by permit:

Anaplasmosis vaccine
Anthrax spore vaccine
Hog cholera virus or vaccine
Virulent virus laryngotracheitis vaccine
Pseudorabies vaccine, both modified live and killed types; and
All other biological products which are developed for the prevention of animal or poultry diseases which contain a living pathogenic agent.

***EMERGENCY PROVISIONS***

See General Requirements.