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Importing Live Cattle and Bison from

Countries Other than Canada and

Mexico to the United States

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USDA APHIS regulates the importation of all ruminants and their germplasm

(embryos/oocytes, semen, cloning tissue) to prevent the spread of animal diseases.
Ruminants include all animals which chew the cud, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep,

goats, deer, antelopes, camels, llamas and giraffes.

View Guidelines for Importing Cattle/Ruminants (except from Canada and Mexico)

into the United States

View Countries From Which Bovines and Their Germplasm May Be Imported

Requirements

Live Domestic Cattle and Bison

Australia

Contact APHIS; live bovine and bovid imports are not possible at this time.

New Zealand (protocol is being updated); a permit and export health

certificate are required.

Bovine Embryos

A permit and export health certificate are required to import bovine

embryos from the countries listed below.

Australia (protocol is being updated)

Health Certificate Bovine Embryo Import from Australia (638.6 KB)  (August

2014) 

European Union

Model Health Certificate Bovid Embryo Import from the European Union (212.49

KB)  (January 2024)

NOTE: This health certificate also allows the import of water buffalo

embryos from the EU.

Liechtenstein
Model Health Certificate Bovine Embryo Import from the European Union

(197.14 KB)

Netherlands

Health Certificate Bovine Embryo Import from the Netherlands (100.25 KB)

New Zealand

Health Certificate Bovine Embryo Import from New Zealand (March 2024)

Norway

Health Certificate Bovine Embryo Import from Norway (63.6 KB) (February

2022)

Spain

Health Certificate Bovine Embryos from Spain (290.17 KB), (August 2023)

Veterinary Declaration of Collection Center for Bovine Embryos - Spain to US

(278.78 KB) (August 2023)

Switzerland

Health Certificate Bovine Embryo Import from Switzerland (289.61 KB)

 (February 2022)

United Kingdom

Health Certificate Bovid Embryo Import from Great Britain

Health Certificate Bovid Embryo Import from Northern Ireland

Bovine Semen

Bovine semen may only be imported from the countries listed on this page, with an

import permit as designated.

Australia (protocol is being updated)
Health Certificate (Bovine Semen from Australia)  (644.7 KB) (August 2014)

European Union

Approved EU, Great Britain and Northern Ireland Bovine Semen Sex Sorting

Facilities (September 2021)

Model Health Certificate Bovid Semen Import from the European Union (246.24

KB)  (January 2024)           

NOTE: This certificate allows the import of water buffalo and semen from

the EU.

ALERT: Because of ongoing lumpy skin disease outbreaks in Europe, bovine

semen from the following regions, collected on or after the specified dates, are

not eligible for importation to the United States: 

Greece (August 4, 2015 - present) 

Bulgaria (March 29, 2016 - present) 

Croatia (August 8, 2016 - present)

France

Health Certificate Bovine Semen Import from France (6.17 MB) (August 2023)

Liechtenstein

Model Health Certificate Bovine Semen Import from Liechtenstein (164.14 KB)

 (February 2022)

Netherlands

Health Certificate Bovine Semen Import from The Netherlands (101.89 KB)

 (August 2023)

New Zealand 

Health Certificate Bovine Semen Import from New Zealand (March 2024)

Norway

Health Certificate Bovine Semen Import from Norway (44.75 KB)
Spain

Health Certificate Bovine Semen from Spain (314.61 KB) August 2023

Veterinary Declaration of Collection Center for Bovine Semen (320.18 KB)

August 2023

Switzerland

Health Certificate Bovine Semen Import from Switzerland (275.3 KB)

United Kingdom

Health Certificate: Bovine Semen Import from Great Britain

(publishing.service.gov.uk)

Health Certificate: Bovine Semen Import from Northern Ireland

(publishing.service.gov.uk)

What You Need To Know

U.S. transits are classified as shipments presented to a U.S. port of entry for

conveyance purposes to then be transported to a destination country shortly

after. Notice Regarding APHIS Live Animal Import and Third-Country Import

Transit Permits (272.29 KB).

Please note that any animals and their germplasm transiting the United States

must not transit countries with questionable disease statuses prior to reaching

a U.S. port of entry.

All transits require a contingency plan. Please submit your contingency plan

with your permit application (VS 17-129 (106.94 KB)) to laipermits@usda.gov.

To submit an import permit electronically, visit APHIS eFile.

If you are applying to import live animals, semen, and embryos, you may submit

applications by email to laipermits@usda.gov

Contact Us

Live Animal Imports
For questions about import permits or permit applications:

Live Animal Import Permit Team

Email: laipermits@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3000

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

Live Animal Import and Export

Email: laie@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3300

All Contacts