A Quick Guide for Commercial Importers

of Plant and Animal Products

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE JANUARY 2015

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 

oversees the import of plants, animals, and related 

products into the United States. This includes fruits 

and vegetables, plants and seeds, meat, live animals, 

hides, trophies, and other agricultural items. Our 

import regulations help keep the United States free 

from pests and diseases that could severely damage 

agriculture and the environment if introduced here. 

To help importers and brokers determine which 

APHIS entry requirements apply to their shipments, 

we have developed this quick reference guide. 

Plants and Plant Products

Regulated items include: 

• Bulbs

• Tubers

• In vitro plantlets, calluses, and embryos

• Cuttings

• Live plants

• Root crowns

• Seeds

• Cut flowers and greenery

• Fruits and vegetables

• Miscellaneous products (such as dried floral 

arrangements, craft items, or soil)

In short, if it is a plant, was a plant, or could become 

a plant, we regulate it.

You can check the admissibility of fruits and 

vegetables in APHIS’ Fruit and Vegetable Import 

Requirements (FAVIR) database at www.aphis.

usda.gov/favir. To check the admissibility of plants 

and plant products, go to www.aphis.usda.gov/

planthealth/permits (click on “Plants and Plant 

Products Permits”). Also, APHIS’ import manuals 

for plants and plant products are available online at 

www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/.

Plants regulated by the Convention on International 

Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 

Flora (CITES) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 

require special import and export documentation. 

They must also travel only through certain designated 

ports. To learn more about permits for items regulated 

by CITES and ESA, contact the APHIS Permit Unit or 

go to www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/cites. 

The import of Federal noxious weeds is illegal, except 

under special circumstances. These non-native, 

invasive plants are a serious threat to U.S. agriculture 

and natural resources. For more information, go to 

www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/fnw.

Questions?

To learn more about import requirements for plants 

and plant products, go to our Web site at www.aphis.

usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports. 

Or, contact the APHIS Permit Unit:

4700 River Road, Unit 133

Riverdale, MD 20737

Phone: (301) 851-2046 or (877) 770-5990 (toll-free)

Fax: (301) 734-5990 

Email: plantproducts.permits@aphis.usda.gov 
Animals and Animal Products

Regulated items include, but are not limited to: 

Live Animals

• Livestock animals, including ruminants 

(e.g., cows, sheep, goats), swine, horses, 

and poultry

• Birds, including game birds and pet birds

• Hatching eggs

• Wild ruminants, swine, and horses

• Semen and embryos of livestock, birds, and 

wild ruminants, swine, and horses

• Certain species of fish (those susceptible to 

spring viremia of carp disease)

• Animals that can carry exotic ticks, including 

elephants, rhinos, hippos, tapirs, and certain 

species of turtles

Animal Products

• Eggs and egg products (from poultry, game 

birds, or other birds)

• Milk and milk products

• Meat and meat products (from horses, poultry, 

birds, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and swine)

Animal Byproducts

• Animal manure, urine, blood, bones, glands, 

organs, and related byproducts

• Casings

• Hides, skins, wool, bones, bird capes, and 

related byproducts

• Products that contain animal-derived 

ingredients (such as gelatins used in 

pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements)

• Animal-derived ingredients used in pet food 

and livestock, poultry, or aquaculture feed

• Trophies

In short, if it is an animal, came from an animal, 

or has animal ingredients in it, please contact 

our National Import Export Services staff for 

specific import information. You may email us at 

AskNIES.Products@aphis.usda.gov or call us at 

(301) 851-3300, option 1.

Questions?

To learn more about import requirements for 

animals and animal products, go to our Web site 

at www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/permits 

and click on “Animal and Animal Product Import 

Information.”

Or, contact APHIS’ National Import Export Services: 

4700 River Road, Unit 39

Riverdale, MD 20737

Phone: (301) 851-3300

Fax: (301) 734-4704/8226 

Email: AskNIES.Products@aphis.usda.gov 

For questions about entry regulations and port-ofentry procedures, contact the APHIS Quarantine, 

Policy, Analysis and Support staff: 

4700 River Road, Unit 60

Riverdale, MD 20737

Phone: (301) 851-2312 

Fax: (301) 734-5269 

USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider 

APHIS 81-45-014 and employer.