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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
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Import of Live Sheep, Goats, and Germplasm

Last Modified: Jun 17, 2022
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USDA APHIS regulates the importation of all ruminants and their germplasm (embryos/oocytes, semen, cloning tissue) to prevent the spread of animal diseases. Ruminants include all animals which chew the cud, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, deer, antelopes, camels, llamas and giraffes.
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Import of Sheep, Goats, and their Germplasm from Canada

Live Sheep and Goats

Australia; a permit and export health certificate are required.

  • Australia (Import protocol and health certificate being updated); a permit and export health certificate are required.

New Zealand; a permit and export health certificate are required.

Sheep and Goat Semen

Miscellaneous

Australia (Import protocol being updated); a permit and export health certificate are required.

European Union; a permit and export health certificate are required.

  1. Importers or their designated agents must provide documentation of the destination facility premise registration premises ID assigned and recorded in the Surveillance Collaborative System/ Scrapie (SCS SCR) with the permit application.
  2. There are also post-import requirements for each facility using this commodity.

Iceland; a permit and export health certificate are required.

  1. Importers or their designated agents must provide documentation of the destination facility premise registration premises ID assigned and recorded in the Surveillance Collaborative System/ Scrapie (SCS SCR) with the permit application.
  2. There are also post-import requirements for each facility using this commodity.

The Netherlands

New Zealand (protocol is being updated); a permit and export health certificate are required.

United Kingdom

There are specific post-arrival requirements for imports of sheep and goat semen from Canada, the European Union, Iceland and the United Kingdom.

Sheep and Goat Embryos

Australia (protocol is being updated); a permit and export health certificate are required.

New Zealand (protocol is being updated); a permit and export health certificate are required.

What You Need to Know

  • U.S. transits are classified as shipments presented to a U.S. port of entry for conveyance purposes to then be transported to a destination country shortly after.
  • Please note that any animals and their germplasm transiting the US must not transit countries with questionable disease statuses prior to reaching a U.S. port of entry.
  • All transits require a contingency plan. Please submit your contingency plan with your permit application (VS 17-129) on the E-permits website or via email at LAIPermits@usda.gov

To submit an import permit electronically, please visit APHIS eFile.

If you are applying to import live animals, semen and embryos, you may submit applications by email to LAIPermits@usda.gov

Contact Us

Live Animal Import/Export and Permitting
USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services
4700 River Road Unit 39
Riverdale, MD 20737
Phone: 301.851.3300 Option 2

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