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Importing Live Sheep, Goats, and

Germplasm into 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 Countries From Which Sheep, Goats, and Their Germplasm May Be Imported

Requirements

Live Sheep and Goats

Australia; a permit and export health certificate are required.

Australia (Import protocol and health certificate being updated); a permit

and export health certificate are required.

New Zealand; a permit and export health certificate are required.

Protocol Import of Live Goats and Sheep from New Zealand (219.91 KB) 2024

Health Certificate for Live Sheep and Goats from New Zealand to the United

States

Sheep and Goat Semen

Miscellaneous

There are specific post-arrival requirements for imports of sheep and goat

semen from Canada, the European Union, Iceland and the United Kingdom

(136.38 KB).

Australia (Import protocol being updated); a permit and export health

certificate are required.

European Union; a permit and export health certificate are required.

1. Importers or their designated agents must provide documentation of the

destination facility premise registration premises ID assigned and recorded in

the Surveillance Collaborative System/ Scrapie (SCS SCR) with the permit

application.

2. There are also post-import requirements (136.38 KB) for each facility using this

commodity.

Protocol Sheep and Goat Semen Import from Member States of the EU (270.76

KB)
Model Health Certificate Sheep and Goat Semen Import from Member States of

the EU (96.36 KB)

Model Health Certificate documents for Spain Sheep and Goat Semen Import

from Spain (290.37 KB)

Health Certificate Sheep and/or Goat Semen from Belgium (377.54 KB)

Iceland; a permit and export health certificate are required.

1. Importers or their designated agents must provide documentation of the

destination facility premise registration premises ID assigned and recorded in

the Surveillance Collaborative System/ Scrapie (SCS SCR) with the permit

application.

2. There are also post-import requirements (136.38 KB) for each facility using this

commodity.

Protocol Sheep and Goat Semen Imports from Iceland (274.6 KB)

Model Health Certificate Sheep and Goat Semen Import from Iceland (105.71

KB)

The Netherlands

Health Certificate Sheep and/or Goat Semen from Netherlands (152.38 KB)

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

are required.

United Kingdom

There are specific post-arrival requirements for imports of sheep and goat semen

from Canada, the European Union, Iceland and the United Kingdom (136.38 KB).

Great Britain Health Certificate

Northern Ireland Health Certificate

Sheep and Goat Embryos

Australia 

Protocol is being updated; a permit and export health certificate are required.
New Zealand

Protocol is being updated; a permit and export health certificate are required.

United Kingdom

An import permit and export health certificate are required.

**Post Entry Requirements: There are specific post-entry requirements for

imports of sheep and goat embryos from the United Kingdom (287.21 KB).

1. Eligibility for Import

Sheep and goat in-vivo embryos or oocytes may only be imported from the

United Kingdom:

For transfer to recipient females in the U.S. if the flock or herd where

the recipients reside is listed in the National Scrapie Database; or

To an APHIS-approved embryo storage facility where they may be

kept until being transferred to recipient females in a flock or herd in

the U.S. listed in the APHIS National Scrapie Database.

2. Import Permit: An import permit is required. The application, VS Form 17-

129 “Application for Import or in Transit Permit”, is best filed electronically

using the eFile system. Alternatively, Form 17-129 can be obtained by

downloading from the APHIS web site, or emailing laipermits@usda.gov. Please

allow 7-10 business days for permit processing.

When applying for an import permit, the following information must be

provided:

Documentation confirming the flock identification number of the

destination flock/premises.

Documentation confirming the premises identification number of the

destination flock/premises as listed in the National Scrapie Database.

Confirmation that the importer has read and understands the postentry requirements (287.21 KB). 

3. Export Health Certificates:

Great Britain: 8746EHC_V2.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Northern Ireland: 8746EHC_V2_NI.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

4. Post-Entry and Additional Requirements:

Post-entry requirements pertaining to the imported embryos/oocytes and

resulting offspring apply and will need to be met by the importer of record.
These requirements will be outlined in the import permit and can also be

found in detail at Post-entry Requirements for Imported Sheep and Goat

Embryos from the United Kingdom (287.21 KB).

Additional Requirements: Importers are advised that individual states may

have additional import requirements. It is the importer's responsibility to

verify these conditions and to meet them. The importer should contact the

U.S. State veterinarian (State Regulations and Import Requirements) of the

destination state to determine these regulations.

Importing Sheep, Goats, and their Germplasm from Canada 

View requirements for importing live sheep and goats and sheep and goat semen

and embryos from Canada.

Learn More

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