Commercial Dog Import: African Swine Fever (ASF) Federal Order FAQs

No. Only dogs for commercial resale or adoption from ASF-affected countries must comply with these requirements. Check for countries where ASF and other diseases are known to exist.

When the import permit is issued by APHIS Animal Care, you will be provided with the Dog Import Record, which is to be completed and submitted back to APHIS through eFile within 2 business days of the dogs’ arrival in the United States. The Dog Import Record will contain guidance on how to submit the completed documents to APHIS.

Various types of bedding are acceptable (for example, training pads, blankets), but bedding must be free of dirt, wood shavings, hay, straw, or any other organic/natural bedding material.

All bedding that accompanies the dog(s) during transit must be properly disposed of at the post-entry point(s) of concentration in a way that prevents the introduction or spread of ASF. Disposal methods may include:

• incineration; or
• disinfecting the bedding with an APHIS-approved disinfectant, placing the bedding in a leakproof bag, sealing the bag, disinfecting the bag exterior with an APHIS-approved disinfectant, inserting the disinfected bag into another leakproof bag, sealing that bag, disinfecting the bag exterior with the same disinfectant product, and disposing of the bag in a landfill in accordance with all State and local regulations. 

No. The animals are not required to be microchipped prior to arrival to the United States. The dog’s microchip must be scanned just prior to being bathed, and this number recorded on the Dog Import Record. If the dog had an International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-compliant microchip implanted prior to entering the United States, then that chip can be scanned and recorded. If the dog is not microchipped or does not have an ISO-compliant microchip, then an ISO microchip must be implanted after arrival just prior to bathing, and the chip scanned and confirmed at that time. This information must be entered onto the Dog Import Record that will ultimately be uploaded into eFile when completed.

If the individual bathing the dog(s) does not have a microchip scanner, then the importer will need to provide them with one so that the chip can be verified and recorded before dogs are bathed. Please remember that dogs must be bathed at the post-entry point(s) of concentration within 2 calendar days of arriving in the United States.

Any shampoo is acceptable; there is no specific type of shampoo that must be used.

No. The bathing needs to be performed at the U.S. post-entry point of concentration (the first location to which the dogs are directly moved after arrival in the United States). The bathing could be performed at any suitable location or facility, by any individual.

Regardless of where each individual dog is taken after arrival, the animal must be bathed within 2 calendar days of arrival in the United States. The importer of record will be responsible for obtaining the required documentation and signatures from the bather(s) to submit to APHIS via eFile within 2 business days of the animal(s) arrival in the United States.

The Dog Import Record will contain guidance on how to submit the completed documents to APHIS. This will be the responsibility of the importer of record, and the documents will need to be uploaded into eFile in the corresponding permit authorization.