Export Live Animals to China

• Horses - Protocol - November 2017
• Horses - Health Certificate ** - February 2018
  • Note: **Although this health certificate is available as a fillable PDF file, it must be submitted to APHIS for endorsement via the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). This means a hard copy of the health certificate and required supporting documents (e.g. test results) cannot be submitted by mail or in person for review and finalization. Click here for instructions on accessing VEHCS, and completing and submitting the health certificate and required supporting documents (as a PDF) to APHIS. When submitting a PDF file through VEHCS, it is preferred that the issuing Accredited Veterinarian sign the document using the ADOBE signature options, rather than printing, signing and scanning, for optimal quality resolution.
    • Additional page for animal identification (if needed).
    • Additional pages (if needed) for test results. One page can be used for multiple horses that have the same information (test type, dates, vaccinations, etc.) with the horses listed at the top.

(1) Only the below People’s Republic of China (PRC) health certificates are approved for bovine semen and embryos from USA to PRC. When filing the health certificate form, please use the Tab key to move from field to field. Do not use the Enter key.

The below protocols and health certificates are only intended for US-resident cattle producing semen and/or in vivo embryos.

Please note, before bovine semen and embryos are eligible for export, the collection facilities must be inspected by Chinese officials.

(2) Current List of China-Approved Bovine Embryo and Semen Collection and Production Facilities (135.18 KB) - January 2015 to Current

• Bovine - Embryos - Protocol (65.37 KB) - November 2004 
• Bovine - Embryos - Health Certificate (106.03 KB) - January 2006 
• Bovine - Semen - Protocol (202.33 KB) - November 2004 
• Bovine - Semen - Health Certificate (116.34 KB) - January 2006 

As of March 9, 2011, China requires temporary attestation for novel A/H1N1 flu (additional document required). As of August 1, 2014, China requires negative PCR test results for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) and porcine delta coronavirus (PDCoV) during quarantine (additional document required as of January 2022).

• Swine - Health Requirements (73.25 KB) - 1995 - Revised 2006 (Statements 9 and 10) 
• Swine - Temporary Attestation for Novel A/H1N1 Flu (7.12 KB) - August 2012
• Swine - Supplemental Attestation for PEDv and PDCv (72.55 KB) - August 2014
• Swine - Semen - Protocol (9.67 KB) - May 2000 

NOTE: China will NOT ALLOW live poultry from the following States:  

• The State of Alabama on or after October 27, 2023.
• The State of Alaska on or after October 5, 2022.
• The State of Arkansas on or after October 7, 2022.
• The State of Arizona on or after November 21, 2024.
• The State of California on or after August 22, 2022.
• The State of Colorado on or after April 8, 2022.
• The State of Florida on or after October 14, 2022.
• The State of Georgia on or after November 21, 2023.
• The State of Idaho on or after April 14, 2022.
• The State of Illinois on or after November 30, 2022. 
• The State of Indiana on or after February 8, 2022.
• The State of Iowa on or after March 6, 2022.
• The State of Kansas on or after March 11, 2022.
• The State of Maryland on or after November 21, 2023.
• The State of Massachusetts on or after March 7, 2024.
• The State of Michigan on or after April 13, 2022.
• The State of Minnesota on or after March 25, 2022.
• The State of Mississippi on or after November 4, 2022. 
• The State of Missouri on or after March 4, 2022.
• The State of Montana on or after April 7, 2022.
• The State of Nebraska on or after March 22, 2022.
• The State of Nevada on or after October 17, 2022. 
• The State of New Hampshire on or after September 23, 2022. 
• The State of New Jersey on or after May 17, 2022. 
• The State of New Mexico on or after April 12, 2024.
• The State of New York on or after March 23, 2022.
• The State of North Carolina on or after February 9, 2024.
• The State of North Dakota on or after March 29, 2022.
• The State of Ohio on or after September 3, 2022.
• The State of Oklahoma on or after December 3, 2024.
• The State of Oregon on or after May 17, 2022. 
• The State of Pennsylvania on or after April 15, 2022.
• The State of South Dakota on or after March 5, 2022.
• The State of Tennessee on or after September 15, 2022.
• The State of Texas on or after April 2, 2024.
• The State of Utah on or after April 25, 2022.
• The State of Virginia on or after January 19, 2023.
• The State of Washington on or after May 5, 2022. 
• The State of Wisconsin on or after March 14, 2022.

China does not allow live poultry exports from U.S. states they consider HPAI affected (as listed above). Please modify health certificates to exclude all states currently banned, such as;

1. The United States of America officially confirms that commercial chicken flocks are free from highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (except Indiana and Kentucky), viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease, and plague of gosling.
   • Chicken - Breeding, Day-old Chicks, and Hatching Eggs - Health Certificate (192.6 KB) - July 2012 
   • Poultry (Non-chicken) - Protocol (48.55 KB) - June 2013 
   • Turkeys - Breeding, Day-old Chicks, and Hatching Eggs - Health Certificate (60.02 KB) - June 2013 
   • Geese - Breeding, Day-old Chicks, and Hatching Eggs - Health Certificate (59.5 KB) - June 2013 
   • Ducks - Breeding, Day-old Chicks, and Hatching Eggs - Health Certificate (60.31 KB) - June 2013
     • Note: For all of the above poultry health certificates, this format is required by AQSIQ.
   • Ratites - Protocol (8.62 KB) - February 1997 
   • Ratites - Hatching Eggs - Protocol (7.47 KB) - February 1997

• Amphibians-Research-Health Certificate (132 KB) - September 2024
• Aquatic Worms-Research-Health Certificate (133.68 KB) - September 2024
• Finfish and Eggs-Research - Health Certificate (164.33 KB) – April 2024

For all other aquatic animal exports, see information below. 

APHIS Registered Aquaculture Export Facility approval is required.

U.S. origin aquatic animals for breeding and ornamental purposes must use the VS Form 17-141 “Health Certificate for the Export of Live Finfish, Mollusks, and Crustaceans (and their Gametes)” for export purposes.

• Instructions for Completing the VS Form 17-141 (372.45 KB)  

U.S. origin crustaceans and finfish aquaculture facilities must also be included on China’s approval list in order for APHIS to endorse export health certificates: Annex 3 List of Registered Aquatic Animal Companies in the U.S. for Export to China

Note: When searching the Annex 3 listed above for a specific facility, type the Registered Aquaculture Export Facility alphanumeric approval code (example: RI24001AQ) into the “Overseas official registration No.” field. 

Only those U.S. origin aquatic animal species listed below have market access and are approved for export from the United States to China:

For exports of U.S. origin aquatic species that are not included on the lists above, the Chinese importer should contact the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) to request a special import permit. 

• Laboratory Rodents - Health Certificate (154.24 KB) - October 2015
• Laboratory Rodents -  Genetic Material - Health Certificate (127.09 KB) - October 2015
  • Note: For all of the above health certificates, this format is required by AQSIQ.
• Note: For aquatic research animals, refer to the “Aquaculture/Aquatic Animals” section of this page.

• Mink/Ferret - Health Certificate (147.53 KB) - September 2012
  • Note: This format is required by AQSIQ.
• Foxes - Protocol for Quarantine and Health Requirements (5.04 KB) - November 1988 
• Rabbits - Protocol for Quarantine and Exit-Entry Inspections (13.82 KB) - March 2009 

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