Animal and Animal Product Trade Contacts

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.

Live Animal Export Certificate Endorsement

APHIS has animal health officials available nationwide with expertise in export requirements for animals. Use the appropriate email for questions about endorsing an export health certificate for live animals: 

 Pets - AskVETS@usda.gov

 Livestock, including equine, poultry, and wildlife/zoo animals -  LivestockExport@usda.gov

 Semen, embryos - GermplasmExport@usda.gov

 Aquaculture - VETS.RAEF@usda.gov

 In-person appointments and drop-off endorsement services are not available.

Animal Product Export Certificate Endorsement

For animal product export certificate endorsements or questions, email vspsok@usda.gov.

Animal Product Export Facility Inspections

For animal product export facility inspection requests, questions, or packages, email vs.export.product.facilities@usda.gov.

VS Service Centers for Approved Establishment Program

APHIS' Approved Establishment program helps ensure the safe import of animal trophies, hides, and feathers. Email VETS.AE@USDA.GOV 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.

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.

Live Animal Import and Export

Contact APHIS' Live Animal Import and Export team for questions about current trade restrictions, testing requirements for international trade, importing a live animal into the United States, or transiting a live animal through the United States.

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.

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.