Safely Moving Organisms and Vectors: The Permitting Process

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS) is responsible for protecting American agriculture. As part of its role in 

protecting the health of the nation’s livestock and poultry populations, USDA works to ensure 

that disease-causing organisms and materials (vectors) that could carry livestock or poultry 

disease-causing organisms are moved safely. Within USDA, the Veterinary Services (VS)

Organisms and Vectors team regulates and issues permits for the importation and interstate 

transportation of these organisms and vectors. USDA issues most organisms and vectors permits 

to infectious disease researchers, diagnostic laboratories, or human and veterinary 

pharmaceutical companies. These groups study the organism/material and its disease-causing 

potential; conduct tests; create and evaluate new tests; and develop vaccines for humans and 

animals.

What Materials Need an Organisms and Vectors Permit for Interstate Movement or 

Import?

In general, if an organism or material is known to transmit disease in livestock or poultry, the 

organism or material, and its derived products would need permits for movement between 

states/territories or to be imported. Additionally, organisms or vectors exposed to animal 

products, such as fetal bovine serum, commonly used in cultures, vaccines, and to grow 

organisms, require a permit to be imported. Other material is subject to evaluation on a case-bycase basis.

There isn’t an all-inclusive list of VS-regulated organisms and vectors, but a partial list is 

available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/organisms-vectors. If there are questions 

about whether your item needs an Organism and Vectors permit, you can find more information 

on the website listed above. You can also request an evaluation by emailing OV@aphis.usda.gov

or by completing a permit application.

Examples of regulated organisms include Clostridium perfringens, prions like scrapie, and low 

pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Examples of regulated vectors include animal tissues 

presumed infected with regulated organisms; virus cultures for import into the United States that 

grew in eggs; and mosquitoes and other insects suspected of infection with regulated organisms. 

What Materials are Not Regulated by Organisms and Vectors Permitting?

The Organisms and Vectors team does not issue permits for movements of select agents; plants 

or plant pests; licensed veterinary biological products; uninfected animals or animal products; 

intrastate movement; human tissues; and/or human disease agents for interstate movement. 

Animal and Plant

Health Inspection 

Service

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Other groups within APHIS, other Federal agencies (such as the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention) or State and/or local governmental agencies may have jurisdiction.

Types of Permits

The Organisms and Vectors team issues two main types of permits: import permits and interstate 

transport permits. The user fees for permits are $150 for the initial application. Permits may be 

revised for $75 if changes are needed, but the time period covered by the permit does not change. 

Permits may be renewed yearly for $97.

Getting a Permit

To obtain a permit for movement, complete the permit application (VS form 16-3). You can use 

the e-Permits system, or you can submit the form to the organisms and vectors staff by mail, 

electronic mail or fax. You must include the user fee payment along with the permit application. 

Greater detail about applying for a permit is located online at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/organisms-vectors. 

USDA laboratory inspections are sometimes required prior to obtaining importation and 

interstate transport permits. USDA uses these inspections to ensure the laboratory has 

appropriate biosafety measures and knowledge to handle the agents safely. 

The entity/individual receiving the permit is responsible for proper use and containment of the 

organism. It is important that any laboratories using organisms and vectors have appropriate 

biosafety practices and containment facilities in place in order to minimize the accidental release 

of biological agents. The individual receiving the permit is responsible for complying with all 

Federal, State and local regulations. 

For More Information

4700 River Rd, Unit 2

Riverdale MD 20737

Phone: 301-851-3300 option 3

Email: OV@aphis.usda.gov

Web: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/organisms-vectors