International Regulations (IRegs) for Animal Product Exports
APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) created the International Animal Product Export Regulations (IRegs) to provide exporters with our best understanding of importing countries' requirements for certain animal-origin products.
Countries may change their import requirements without notice. In all cases, the exporter is responsible for having their importer confirm with the Ministry of Animal Health in the importing country the certification requirements prior to shipping. The exporter should obtain any required certificates prior to shipping. Most countries will not accept certificates issued after consignments have shipped. The availability of APHIS endorsement of certificates should not be assumed until after consultation with the pertinent VS Field Operations Veterinary Export Trade Services (aka VS Service Centers).
Exporters are responsible for confirming prior to shipment that they have all certification required for the consignment.
The primary role of APHIS VS in the certification of animal products for export is to provide certification about the animal health status of the region of origin of the product. If other certifications are required, APHIS, VS may not be the Agency authorized to provide the required export certificate.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the procedures and requirements for exporting animals, animal products, or to obtain a zoosanitary certificate for an animal product, you should contact the VS Field Operations Veterinary Export Trade Services (aka VS Service Centers) covering the area from which the product will be exported, the area in which your office is located, or the area in which the product is manufactured. If you have a shipment on hold in a foreign country, please contact the Veterinary Services service center that issued your certificate.
* If you have a shipment of animal products or by-products that has been exported from the United States and you intend to return the shipment to the United States, please use our VS Permitting Assistant.
Exporters are advised that the forms linked below are to be submitted to the endorsing office electronically by email after preparation consistent with the Special instructions for exporters regarding the preparation of the new VS forms. Exporters should contact the endorsing office officials regarding the correct email address to use and the proper formatting of emails so that the process flows well. If submission by email is not possible, exporters should contact endorsing office officials to discuss alternatives. Prior to endorsement, APHIS prints the forms on special VS Security Paper. Only the below JUL 2022 versions of the VS Form 16-4 and VS Form 16-4A may be used.
- VS Form 16-4*- JUL 2022
- VS Form 16-4A- JUL 2022
- Combined VS form 16-4 and VS form 16-4A*
- Special instructions for exporters regarding the preparation of VS Form 16-4 and 16-4A
*This version of the VS Form 16-4 also contains the following statement as the initial content of the "ADDITIONAL DECLARATIONS" area: "This is to certify that rinderpest, foot-and-mouth-disease, classical swine fever, swine vesicular disease, African swine fever, and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia do not exist in the United States of America."
Prior to using these forms, users should ensure Adobe Reader Version 9.0 (or above) is installed on their computer. Version 9.0 (or above) is necessary to ensure that the forms open and function optimally. Any Adobe software (Reader, Standard, or Professional) may be utilized as long as it is version 9.0 or above.
Dairy Products
The USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are the agencies primarily responsible for the certification of dairy products exported for human consumption. (APHIS, VS may provide certification in certain circumstances.) AMS can be contacted at:
- Dairy Standardization
Agricultural Marketing Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 96456
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-720-3171
Fax: 202-720-2643
DairyExportsQuestions@usda.gov
Meat and meat products; processed egg products bearing the FSIS mark of inspection
The USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for export certification of meat and some meat products, as well as many processed egg products (such as pasteurized eggs), for human consumption.
- Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD)
FSIS, USDA
Phone: 202-720-0082
importexport@fsis.usda.gov
Aquaculture and fish products
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce, certifies fishmeal, fish oil, and certain other seafood products intended for human consumption. Contact information for NOAA is below. Exporters should send general questions not addressed on the following websites to: nmfs.seafood.services@noaa.gov
- NOAA Seafood Certification Program
U.S. Department of Commerce/NOAA Fisheries
1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone 301-427-8300 or Toll Free 800-422-2750
NOAA Seafood Commerce and Trade
NOAA Inspection Offices - NOAA Fish Meal Program
Fish Meal Program Manager
National Marine Fisheries Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
P.O. Drawer 1207
Pascagoaula, MS 39567
Phone: 228-762-7402 ext. 312
Fax: 228-762-9200
Table eggs and other egg products not bearing the FSIS mark of inspection
The USDA, AMS is the Agency that endorses export certificates for table eggs and certain other egg products (for human consumption).
- USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service
Poultry Division-Grading Branch
P.O. Box 96456
South Agricultural Building
Washington, DC 20090-6456
Phone: 202-720-4411
Fax: 202-690-3165
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/imports-exports/eggs-egg-products
Honey and other Products of Apiculture for Human Consumption
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) are responsible for the certification of honey and other products of apiculture for human consumption. For more information, please contact:
- Charlotte Liang, Ph.D.
Office of Food Safety
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Phone:240-402-2785
charlotte.liang@fda.hhs.gov - Specialty Crops Program
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
Marketing and Regulatory Programs
United States Department of Agriculture
SCIInspectionoperations@usda.gov
Plant and Plant Products
The APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) is the Agency responsible for certification of certain plant products. For more information, please visit the Plant and Plant Product Exports section of the website.
Locate your local PPQ Plant Export Specialist
CITES Documentation
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is the Agency responsible for providing CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) certification (1.41 MB). If CITES documentation is required, exporters should contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for bulk gelatin and collagen shipments
In many cases, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the appropriate authority for the certification of shipments of gelatin and collagen. The pertinent FDA office for certification of gelatin and collagen intended for human consumption may be reached at: BulkCGExport-LM-OFS@fda.hhs.gov
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for other commodities
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also provides certification of certain other products not listed above.
Questions regarding certification by the FDA of commodities (intended for human consumption) not listed above may be directed to: CFSANExportCertification@fda.hhs.gov
Questions for FDA regarding the export of “veterinary products” (as defined by FDA- not including veterinary biological products licensed by the APHIS Center for Veterinary Biologics) may be directed to: CVMExportCertification@fda.hhs.gov
Questions for FDA regarding commodities (intended for animal consumption and not listed above) may be directed to: AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov
Additional information regarding FDA programs associated with the export of commodities intended for animal consumption may be available at: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/products/import-exports
Veterinary Biologicals
The APHIS Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) is the agency responsible for export certification for veterinary biological products. For more information, see Exports: Veterinary Biologics Products. CVB may also be contacted regarding these exports via:
- Email: cvb@usda.gov
Phone: (515) 337-6100
IRegs for Animal Product Exports
For countries not listed, the requirements are not known. However, exporters wanting to ship animal products should have the interested party (importer/buyer) in the destination country contact the appropriate ministry for the specific requirements.