Animal and Animal Product Trade Contacts
Not sure who to contact? We can help!
Select an option from the list below.
- ask about importing or inspecting a live animal from a foreign country, quarantines, or export inspections
- ask about international requirements (including health certificates) for exporting live animals or traveling with a pet
- ask about endorsing an international pet health certificate
- ask about endorsing an export health certificate for live animals other than pets
- ask about endorsing an animal product export certificate or related questions
- request an animal product export facility inspection, ask about facility packages, or related questions
- ask the local VS service center about the approved establishment program for the safe import of animal trophies, hides, or feathers
- ask about importing animal products into or transiting them through the United States, confirm current trade restrictions, or check related testing requirements
- ask about a live animal import permit or permit application
- confirm current trade restrictions for live animals or ask other questions (not related to permits) about importing live animals into or transiting them through the United States
- ask questions about using the Automated Commercial Environment to submit APHIS-required import data for plants, animals, or their products
- ask about permit requirements to import dogs for resale or adoption or get help applying for a permit
Port Services (by State)
APHIS Veterinary Services oversees animal inspection and quarantine activities at ports throughout the United States. Contact your nearest Port Services office for questions about import inspections at a port of entry, quarantine of animals arriving from a foreign country, requesting approval as a private animal import quarantine facility, or scheduling an inspection for animal export.
USDA-Accredited Veterinarians
Contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian for questions about your destination country's entry requirements for live animal exports or pet travel (including any needed vaccinations, tests, or treatments); issuance of health certificates; and status updates on certificate endorsement.
Pet Health Certificate Endorsement
Contact APHIS Veterinary Export Trade Services if you have questions about endorsing an international pet health certificate. For quickest help, see tips for pet owners and accredited veterinarians.
Live Animal Export Certificate Endorsement (Not Pets)
APHIS Veterinary Export Trade Services offers commodity-specific expertise for exporting live animals other than pets, including hatching eggs and germplasm. Use the dropdown to contact us with questions about endorsing health certificates. For quickest help, see tips for exporters and accredited veterinarians.
Animal Product Export Certificate Endorsement
Contact APHIS Veterinary Services' Product Certificate Team for animal product export certificate endorsement or questions.
Product Certificate Team
Email: vspsok@usda.gov
Animal Product Export Facility Inspections or Packages
Contact APHIS Veterinary Services' Facility Packages Team for animal product export facility inspection requests, packages, or questions.
Facility Packages Team
VS Service Centers for Approved Establishment Program
APHIS' Approved Establishment program helps ensure the safe import of animal trophies, hides, and feathers. Email us to ask about becoming an approved establishment or if you have questions or need to submit paperwork for a shipment consigned to an approved establishment.
Approved Establishment Program
Email: vets.ae@usda.gov
Animal Product Import and Export
Contact APHIS' Animal Product Import and Export team for questions about current trade restrictions, testing requirements for international trade, importing an animal product into the United States, or transiting an animal product through the United States.
Animal Product Import and Export
Email: apie@usda.gov
Phone: 301-851-3300
VS Strategy and Policy
5601 Sunnyside Ave., #AP-220/3-WS-2504
Beltsville, MD 20705
Email is preferred. For urgent requests, state "URGENT" in the email subject line.
Live Animal Import Permits
Contact APHIS' Live Animal Import Permit team if you have questions before you apply for a permit.
For questions about import permits or permit applications:
Live Animal Import Permit Team
Email: laipermits@usda.gov
Phone: 301-851-3300
Live Animal Import and Export
Contact APHIS' Live Animal Import and Export team for questions about current trade restrictions or other questions not related to permits.
For general questions related to the import of a live animal:
Live Animal Import and Export
Email: laie@usda.gov
Phone: 301-851-3300
Automated Commercial Environment
Contact APHIS' Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) team if you have technical questions about using the APHIS Core Message Set to file APHIS-required import data in ACE for plants, animals, or their products.
APHIS Core Message Set Help Desk
Email: ace.itds@usda.gov
Phone: 833-481-2102
ACE Team
Email: ace.itds@usda.gov
Import Permits (Dogs for Resale and Adoption)
APHIS' Animal Care program works with partners at U.S. ports of entry to make sure dogs imported into the United States for commercial sale or adoption meet the Animal Welfare Act's health, age, and vaccination requirements. Contact our team if you have questions about import permit requirements for these dogs or need help applying for a permit.
Live Dog Import Permit Team
2150 Centre Ave.
Bldg. B, Mailstop 3W11
Fort Collins, CO 80526