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Importing Poultry Hatching Eggs into

the United States

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines poultry as chickens, doves, ducks, geese,

grouse, guinea fowl, partridges, pea fowl, pheasants, pigeons, quail, swans, and

turkeys (including hatching eggs of these species).
Requirements

Import Requirements for Poultry Hatching Eggs (all countries except Canada)

Note: Hatching eggs cannot be imported from HPAI-affected regions

Poultry hatching egg shipments must be accompanied by a USDA import permit

(application to obtain a permit is VS Form17-129 (73.07 KB)). Processing time

for the application is approximately 7 – 10 business days. Applications should

be received no less than this time prior to shipment of birds. There is a

processing fee which can be paid by check, money order, charge card or by

providing a USDA user fee account. For an additional fee, the permit can be

amended after issuance by request.

Please sign up for an e-authentication account if you are based in the

United States or have a U.S. address. Electronic-authentication (eauthentication) is a registration system that enables customers to access

the online Electronic Permits (eFile) system in order to submit import

permit applications independently. Create an e-authentication account and

register for permits by following the steps outlined on the eFile website. 

Register for E File

Download the import application. For further information or questions, you

may contact Strategy & Policy, Live Animal Import Team:

VS.Live.Animals.Import.Permits@aphis.usda.gov

A health certificate, issued within 30 days of leaving the country of export,

must accompany all hatching egg shipments. A full-time salaried veterinarian of

the veterinary competent authority, located in the exporting country, must

endorse the health certificate, with English translation.

The following list of health certificates are for countries that have negotiated

health requirements with the United States:

Poland Health Certificate for Poultry Hatching Eggs (457.06 KB)

Brazil Health Certificate for Poultry Hatching Eggs (285.13 KB)

United Kingdom Health Certificate for Poultry Hatching Eggs (166.08 KB)

Model Health Certificate for Hatching Eggs Originating in the EPTR

Note: Countries comprising the EPTR: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech

Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain

(England, Scotland, and Wales), Greece, Hungary, Ireland (Republic of),

Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Northern
Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and

Sweden. 

All other exporting countries should use the model health certificate (310.6 KB)

 (310.6 KB) provided or use their own document which carries the following U.S.

health certificate requirement:

Effective October 1, 2023, the import of live ducks and duck hatching

eggs from the EPTR and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

countries (146.82 KB) (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) is

prohibited. All poultry except Columbiformes which originate from or

transit France (141.43 KB) are also prohibited.

Poultry Hatching Eggs Imported from Countries Designated as Free from vND

Effective October 1, 2023, the import of live ducks and duck hatching eggs from

the EPTR and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries (146.82 KB)

(Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) is prohibited. All poultry except

Columbiformes which originate from or transit France (141.43 KB) are also

prohibited.

Hatching eggs imported from these countries are not required to be quarantined.

However, the hatching eggs must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate

issued by a national government veterinarian of the exporting country as well as by

a USDA import permit. Follow this link to determine which countries the USDA

considers to be free from Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND): Animal Health Status of

Regions

Under the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, widely referred to as

Brexit, the UK ratified withdrawing from the EU and, on February 1, 2020, the UK

formally left the EU. As a result, it has become necessary to update our regulations

to reflect this change. APHIS-defined European Poultry Trade Region (EPTR)

consist of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain (England, Scotland, and

Wales), Greece, Hungary, Ireland (Republic of), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,

Malta, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,

Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

A model health certificate for hatching eggs originating in the EPTR (34.93 KB) is

provided and must have either of the following statements:
1. Hatching eggs of poultry did not originate from, or transit through any zone

within the EPTR that were restricted for outbreaks of Newcastle disease or HPAI

in commercial poultry for the following period of time, whichever is later: 1)

Until the restrictions were lifted by the national competent authority; or 2) 90

days after depopulation of all affected premises, followed by cleaning and

disinfection of the last affected premises, in that zone. Shipments must arrive

with seals approved by the competent authority and corresponding numbers

listed on the import health certificate.

Note: only 1) applies if the restrictions had been placed for Newcastle

disease or HPAI in racing pigeons, backyard flocks or wild birds.

2. Hatching eggs of poultry did not originate from, or transit through, any zone

within the EPTR that were restricted for outbreaks of HPAI. Hatching eggs of

poultry did travel under official seal through, zones that were restricted for

outbreaks of Newcastle disease in commercial poultry for the following period

of time, whichever is later: 1) until the restrictions were lifted by the national

competent authority; or 2) 90 days after depopulation of all affected premises,

followed by cleaning and disinfection of the last affected premises, in that zone.

Shipments must arrive with seals approved by the competent authority and

corresponding numbers listed on the import health certificate.

Note: The seal numbers must be noted in the health certificate signed

by the certifying veterinarian, with an official veterinarian verifying

the seals for such shipments were intact at the time of embarkation.

Poultry Hatching Eggs Imported from Countries NOT Designated as Free from vND

In addition to the required veterinary health certificate listed in section one and the

USDA import permit, importation of hatching eggs from countries not designated by

the USDA to be free of vND are restricted as follows:

1. Eggs must be transported from the port of entry to the hatchery in a vehicle

sealed by the USDA.

2. Eggs must be hatched and brooded under the supervision of the Area

Veterinarian in Charge (AVIC) in the State of destination. The hatchery must

meet certain biosecurity standards and be inspected and approved by the AVIC

prior to issuance of the import permit.
3. The poultry from such eggs must remain in quarantine for not less than 30 days

following hatch.

4. During quarantine, the hatching eggs and poultry from such eggs are subject to

any inspections, disinfections, and diagnostic testing as may be required by the

USDA to determine their freedom from communicable diseases of poultry.

Information on Quarantine Requirements

Note: An import permit will not be issued until quarantine arrangements have been

finalized.

Poultry hatching egg quarantines must take place at an APHIS approved private

facility

Importers must obtain the approval for a private facility to be used as

quarantine prior to applying for an import permit. Information and guidance on

obtaining that approval can be received by contacting Strategies and Policies,

Live Animal Import Team.

Quarantines for hatching eggs are for a minimum of 30 days at an approved

private quarantine facility (Note: there is no quarantine requirement for imports

from Canada). Birds are tested to determine if they are free of certain

communicable diseases of poultry. The cost of diagnostic testing is separate

from the quarantine fee.

 A list of current fees to support the import process is found at VS User Fees

Import Requirements for Poultry Hatching Eggs from Canada to the United States

There are no quarantine requirements for poultry hatching eggs imported from

Canada.

For transit shipments there is a contingency plan requirement: 

Shipments which transit a US port must have an approved contingency

plan. Importers should work with transited port veterinary office to obtain

approval. Plans should be reviewed annually to maintain approved status.

A U.S. import permit to transit can be issued within 30 days of U.S transit

(application # VS Form17-129 (73.07 KB)) by the U.S. port which will be

transited.

An import permit is required for poultry hatching eggs imported from Canada

via air or sea port.

An import permit is not required for poultry hatching eggs being imported

through a land border port.
A transit permit is required for hatching eggs which cross into the U.S. from

Canada by a land border port.

A current veterinary health certificate issued within 30 days of U.S. transit and

endorsed by a full-time salaried veterinarian of the agency responsible for

animal health of the national government of the exporting country. A health

certificate with English translation must meet all of the requirements listed

below and accompany the shipment. See an example health certificate (289.54

KB).

Health certificate requirements for import of poultry hatching eggs are as

follows:

1. Each flock and hatchery from which the shipment was originated was

inspected by a veterinarian within the past 30 days and no evidence of

Newcastle disease or any communicable disease of poultry was found no

were the poultry in the flock or origin exposed to any such disease during

the 90 days immediately prior to the inspection date.

2. Newcastle disease, fowl plague or highly pathogenic avian influenza has

not occurred on the premises of origin, nor on any adjoining premises

during the 90* day period preceding exportation

* For HPAI, the time frame is reduced to 28 days.

3. The area where the premise(s) is located has not been under quarantine

for any poultry disease during the preceding 90 days.

4. Do not originate from flocks not had contact had contact with any birds or

poultry originating in a control zone established by federal animal health

authorities due to the outbreaks of Newcastle disease of Highly Pathogenic

Avian Influenza.

5. Flock of origin have been maintained in the region from which they are

offered for exportation for at least 90 days immediately preceding the

date of export.

6. Flock of origin have not been vaccinated with a vaccine for any H5 or H7

subtype of avian influenza nor have originated from a zone under

restriction for HPAI.

7. Flock of origin has been vaccinated against Newcastle Disease at least 21

days prior to export using vaccines that do not contain any velogenic

strain of Newcastle virus or the flock was not vaccinated (health certificate

must indicate).

8. The hatching eggs were placed into new or appropriately sanitized

packaging materials at the premises from which the eggs were to be
exported.

USDA will monitor poultry hatching egg shipments at U.S. ports of entry. The

importer must arrange for USDA services at least three business days in

advance by contacting the USDA port veterinarian at the telephone number

listed on the import permit. The import permit lists any approvals, along with

any special instructions for the importer and port staff. 

The import/transit permit lists any additional requirements that may be

imposed, along with any special instructions.   If traveling by land, the importer

should call the port by phone and ask to be directed to the assigned USDA

veterinarian. The call will assist in ensuring there is a veterinarian available at

the port to receive the shipment at the time of crossing.

View VS Guidance and Other Documents for Avian Importation

Questions?

For general questions related to the import of a live animal:

Live Animal Import and Export

Email: laie@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3300