UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA),

ANIMAL AND PLANT INSPECTION SERVICES (APHIS),

VETERINARY SERVICES (VS), NATIONAL IMPORT EXPORT SERVICES

PROTOCOL FOR THE IMPORTATION OF CATTLE OR BISON

FROM CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES

November 2007, Updated June 2018

1

1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The requirements for immediate slaughter and other-than-immediate slaughter are similar, except

for requirements for tuberculosis testing, identification, and moving from the port of entry to the

slaughter establishment. The term “bovines” includes both cattle and bison (Bos taurus, Bos 

indicus and Bison bison). “Bison” refers to farmed bison.

General regulations are described in title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 93.

1.1. No import permit is required if the bovines are offered for entry at a land border port and 

meet one of the following conditions:

1.1.1. The bovines were born in Canada on or after March 1, 1999 (determined by 

APHIS to be the date of the effective enforcement of a ruminant-to-ruminant feed

ban in the region of export), and have been in no other region; or

1.1.2. The bovines were born in the United States or were legally imported into Canada 

from a region recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a

region not restricted due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and have 

been under no movement restrictions within Canada or the United States for at least

60 days prior to importation into the United States.

1.1.3. In any other case, the importer must obtain an import permit from:

USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Veterinary Services (VS), National Import Export Services, (NIES)

4700 River Road, Unit 39

Riverdale, Maryland 20737-1231

The import permit application (VS 17-129) may be found online: VS 17-129, 

Instructions to compete the VS 17-129 form: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/downloads/vs17_129inst.pdf.

The completed import application form 17-129 may be faxed to 301-734-4704 or 

emailed to: VS.Live.Animals.Import.Permits@aphis.usda.gov

1.2. An official health certificate is required. The official health certificate must be issued by a 

veterinarian designated by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and must be

endorsed by a veterinarian employed by CFIA attesting to the certifications and tests

required in this protocol.

1.3. The official health certificate must include:

• name and address of the importer;

• species, breed, and number of bovines to be imported;
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA),

ANIMAL AND PLANT INSPECTION SERVICES (APHIS),

VETERINARY SERVICES (VS), NATIONAL IMPORT EXPORT SERVICES

PROTOCOL FOR THE IMPORTATION OF CATTLE OR BISON

FROM CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES

November 2007, Updated June 2018

2

• purpose of the importation;

• individual identification, which includes the official Canadian eartag number 

or other approved forms of individual identification, and any other 

identification present on the animal, including registration number and brands;

• description of the bovines, including age in months, sex, breed, and markings

(if any);

• region/country of origin;

• address or other means of identifying the premises of origin and any other 

premises where the bovines resided immediately prior to export;

• specific physical location of the APHIS-approved slaughtering establishment,

including the applicable Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

establishment number for bovines for immediate slaughter;

• name and address of the exporter;

• port of embarkation in Canada, the mode of transportation, route of travel

(slaughter animals), and port of entry in the United States.

2. IDENTIFICATION

2.1. For cattle, except for immediate slaughter, the “CΛN” brand or tattoo must be properly

applied before animals arrive at the port of entry. Improperly applied brands, hair brands,

or anything not resulting in a permanent mark is not acceptable. The mark must be no less 

than 2 inches high or more than 3 inches high, and must be applied to each animal’s right

hip, high on the tail-head (over the junction of the sacral and first coccygeal vertebrae).

2.1.1. If a tattoo is used, it must identify the exporting country with the CAN letters 

applied to the inside of the left ear. 

2.1.2. Note: alternative methods of permanent identification may be used if prior

approval is given by NIES before the shipment reaches the port. Any alternative 

methods of identification approved by NIES will be communicated promptly 

through the Regional Offices to the port veterinarians.

2.1.3. Bison: After April 1, 2015, the permanent legible the “CΛN” brand is no longer 

required for bison (Bison bison). 

2.1.1.1. If bison are not branded, two official ear tags, (one RFID tag and the 

other a visual-only tag with the same official animal number) are 

required.

2.1.1.2. Bison can continue to use the same identification requirements as for 

cattle.

2.2. All bovines, including those for immediate slaughter, must be individually identified with 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA),

ANIMAL AND PLANT INSPECTION SERVICES (APHIS),

VETERINARY SERVICES (VS), NATIONAL IMPORT EXPORT SERVICES

PROTOCOL FOR THE IMPORTATION OF CATTLE OR BISON

FROM CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES

November 2007, Updated June 2018

3

an official eartag of the country of origin traceable to the premises of origin of the animal

(birth place). The official eartag must be tamper-resistant and provide unique

identification for the individual animal and either use the country code as a prefix or have 

a mark unique to official eartags of the country of origin. The official eartags must have 

one of the following numbering systems:

2.2..1. National Uniform Eartagging System; or

2.2..2. Animal identification number, composed of the 3-digit country code and a 12-digit

number unique to the animal; or

2.2..3. Premises-based number system

No person may alter, deface, remove, or otherwise tamper with the official

identification while the animal is in the United States or moving into or through the

United States, except the identification may be removed at the time of slaughter.

2.3 As of June 18, 2018, APHIS VS, in conjunction with the CFIA, has simplified the 

management of returning U.S. - origin returning from Canada after period of more than 60 

days (more than 90 days for exhibit cattle) as summarized in the following table:

SUMMARY TABLE OF REQUIREMENTS (IDENTIFICATION ONLY)

Country 

of origin

CANADIAN ANIMAL RETURNING AFTER 60 

DAYS IN USA

USA ANIMAL RETURNING AFTER 60 DAYS (90 

FOR EXHIBITION) IN CANADA

TATTOO CΛN CΛN illegible USA USA illegible

RFID 124 Damaged or 

replaced with 

840

124 840 Damaged or 

replaced with 

124

840

RETURN TO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Accepted  Copy of 

original 

certificate 

on which it 

entered the 

USA may be 

required as 

part of case 

by case 

evaluation

 Copy of 

original 

certificate 

on which it 

entered the 

USA may be 

required as 

part of case 

by case 

evaluation

 Accepted  Copy of 

original 

certificate 

on which it 

entered 

Canada may 

be required 

as part of a 

case by case 

evaluation

 Copy of 

original 

certificate 

on which 

it entered 

Canada 

may be 

required 

as part of 

a case by 

case 

evaluation
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA),

ANIMAL AND PLANT INSPECTION SERVICES (APHIS),

VETERINARY SERVICES (VS), NATIONAL IMPORT EXPORT SERVICES

PROTOCOL FOR THE IMPORTATION OF CATTLE OR BISON

FROM CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES

November 2007, Updated June 2018

4

3. CERTIFICATION STATEMENTS: The following statements must be on the health 

certificate:

3.1. The bovines have been inspected and found to be free from any evidence of

communicable disease, and, as far as can be determined, have not been exposed to any

such disease during the preceding 60 days.

3.2. Canada is free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Rinderpest, Surra, and Contagious Bovine

Pleuropneumonia.

3.3. The bovines were born in the United States or Canada, or were legally imported into

Canada from a region recognized by the USDA as a region not restricted due to BSE, and

have been under no movement restrictions within Canada or the United States for at least

60 days prior to importation into the United States.

3.4. The bovines are not in quarantine in Canada.

3.5. The bovines were born on or after March 1, 1999, which is the date determined by APHIS 

to be the effective enforcement of a ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban.

3.6. The bovines have been individually identified with an official Canadian eartag, applied

prior to each animal’s entry into the United States.

3.7. For bovines imported for other than immediate slaughter, the following certifications are

required in addition to the above certifications:

3.7.1 The bovines are from a Brucellosis-free province or territory or from a

brucellosis-free herd.

3.7.2 The bovines have continuously resided in a Tuberculosis accredited free or

modified accredited advanced province or U.S. State.

3.7.3 The bovines have been permanently and humanely identified before arrival at the

port of entry with either a tattoo or a distinct and legible CΛN mark that has been 

properly applied with a freeze brand, hot iron, or other permanent method, and is 

easily visible on the live animal. [Note: If a tattoo is used it must identify the

exporting country with letters (CAN) applied to the inside of the left ear. Note

that alternative methods of permanent identification) may be used if prior 

approval is given by NIES before the shipment reaches the port. Any alternative

methods of identification that are approved by NIES will be communicated

promptly through the VS Regional Offices to the port veterinarians.]
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA),

ANIMAL AND PLANT INSPECTION SERVICES (APHIS),

VETERINARY SERVICES (VS), NATIONAL IMPORT EXPORT SERVICES

PROTOCOL FOR THE IMPORTATION OF CATTLE OR BISON

FROM CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES

November 2007, Updated June 2018

5

4. TUBERCULOSIS (TB) TESTING

4.1. No tests are required for bovines that are certified by CFIA as continuously residing in a 

TB-free province.

4.2. As of June 18, 2018, USDA will no longer require TB testing for cattle and bison from the 

Province of Manitoba.

5. FOR IMMEDIATE SLAUGHTER

5.1. Bovines for immediate slaughter must be inspected and moved directly from the port of

entry to the APHIS approved slaughtering establishment in conveyances that are sealed

with seals of the U.S. government at the port of entry. The route of travel from the port of 

entry to the approved slaughtering establishment must be listed on the health certificate.

5.2. The seals may be broken only at the APHIS approved slaughtering establishment by an

authorized USDA representative.

5.3. The bovines must be accompanied from the port of entry to the APHIS approved

slaughtering establishment by VS Form 17-30, VS Form 17-33, and the official Canadian 

health certificate.

6. PORT OF ENTRY INSPECTION

6.1. Bovines for U.S. entry must be presented to the port of entry by appointment and

accompanied by a health certificate. The port veterinarian shall conduct a visual health 

examination of the bovines to verify identification and the accuracy of the health certificate.

All bovines other than for immediate slaughter will be offloaded for inspection.

6.2. Effective March 19, 2018, USDA APHIS VS is specifically requiring confirmed preshipping approval for Canadian breeder and feeder bison imports. This change is 

implemented due to a lack of adequate inspection facilities to safely inspect such animals at 

the port. The following steps are required if inspection will be deferred to the destination 

facility:

6.2.1. Importation of breeding and feeder bison requires pre-shipment approval from the 

USDA APHIS VS Northern Border Port Services (NBP) office.

6.2.2. The importer must notify the NBP office at least 7 days in advance of the proposed 

shipment, providing the address of the destination premises and the scheduled date 

and time of arrival. The NBP office will arrange an inspection or assessment of the 

destination facility, as appropriate, to approve the facility. The NBP office will 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA),

ANIMAL AND PLANT INSPECTION SERVICES (APHIS),

VETERINARY SERVICES (VS), NATIONAL IMPORT EXPORT SERVICES

PROTOCOL FOR THE IMPORTATION OF CATTLE OR BISON

FROM CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES

November 2007, Updated June 2018

6

verify that VS personnel are available to perform the inspection of the bison on the 

proposed date of arrival.

6.2.3. Once approved, the NBP office will immediately email notification of the approval 

to the importer. The importer may then schedule an appointment at the port for 

clearance.

6.2.4. A copy of the email approval notice from the NBP office must be presented to the 

Port VMO, along with the completed VS Form 17-29, Declaration of Importation 

(https://www.aphis.usda.gov/library/forms/pdf/vs17_29.pdf) 

6.2.5. After clearance at the port, the Port VMO will email notification to VS personnel 

in the destination state that the bison are en route under seal to the destination 

premises for inspection.

6.2.6. The shipment will not be allowed entry without written (email) notification of 

approval.

6.2.7. Contact information for the USDA APHIS VS Northern Border Port Services may

be found at the following website: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/nies_contacts/aic-ps.pdf or 

email vs.nbp@aphis.usda.gov.

7. ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES

Please check the animal health regulations of the importing state of destination for possible

additional regulations and requirements for the proposed import (State Regulations and Import

Requirements).