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Organism and Vectors Guidance and

Permitting

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The Veterinary Services Organisms and Vectors (OV) Permitting Unit regulates the

importation into the United States, and interstate transportation, of organisms and

vectors of pathogenic diseases of livestock and poultry.

The Code of Federal Regulations, in 9 CFR, §122.2 , mandates that “no organisms or

vectors shall be imported into the United States or transported from one State or

Territory or the District of Columbia to another State or Territory or the District of

Columbia without a permit”.

Veterinary Services Permitting Assistant

Veterinary Services Permitting Assistant

Use the Veterinary Services Permitting Assistant (VSPA) to get a summary of all

required import documentation, then apply for your VS import permit(s) directly

from your VSPA Request Summary!

Watch a short video to learn more about it. 
Recent Regulatory Changes

Importing COVID-19 Isolates

USDA REGULATES the importation into the United States of COVID-19

isolates exposed to livestock or poultry products (such as eggs, fetal bovine

serum, etc). The application is VS form 16-3, available on this web page.

Please also obtain permitting information from CDC Import Permit Program.

Additionally, US Fish and Wildlife Service regulates the importation of Vero cells

under The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Permits for COVID-19 exposed to fetal bovine serum from countries considered

as affected with Foot and Mouth Disease will require BSL3 handling (see

"Country Animal Disease Status")

USDA DOES NOT REGULATE the interstate movement of COVID-19

isolates. Use Guideline for No Interstate Transport Permit Required, #1125 for

movement of organism between US states and territories.

USDA DOES NOT REGULATE the importation or interstate transport of

HUMAN DIAGNOSTIC SAMPLES (tissues, blood, etc. suspected to contain

organisms). Please obtain permitting information from CDC Import Permit

Program.

Please visit this web page for updates and revisions to the above USDA

regulatory information.

VS Guideline 1125: No Interstate Transport Permit Required

Veterinary Services will implement changes to permitting requirements based on

Guideline 1125, effective April 15, 2019. The guideline describes allowances for nonregulated interstate movement of certain materials such as non-infectious materials

and materials that have not been exposed to infectious agents. Scroll down to view

Guideline 1125 in its entirety.

View Guideline 1125

U.S.-Origin Livestock and Poultry Pathogens Interstate Transport Permit Changes

Organisms and Vectors Permitting made some changes to the organisms excluded

from these permits.
Select FAQ 32 from the Frequently Asked Questions for Importation and

Transportation of OV's tab below for information.

Permit Condition: Customs Entry Required

A new permit condition will be added to import permits specifying a Customs entry

may be required for materials that are not shipped by a commercial shipper. The

importer is responsible for fulfilling this CBP requirement, if applicable. The

restriction reads: “Imported article (including hand-carried material) may be subject

to regulations enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection . 

Organism and Vector Import Guidance

Do I Need an OV Permit? 

(PDF, 332.04 KB)

Use this flowchart to determine if you need an OV permit.

VS-Regulated Livestock and Poultry Pathogens (Partial List) 

Excluded and/or Killed Select Agent Pathogens that May Need an OV Permit 

Guidelines: Animal Products That Do Not Require An Import Permit 

Use these guidelines to import without a USDA permit. 

Country Animal Disease Status 

Find the USDA-recognized animal health status of particular countries and regions,

organized by specific livestock or poultry diseases.

Importing and Transporting Organisms and Vectors 

Frequently asked questions

Types of OV Permits
The OV does not permit select agents, licensed veterinary biological products, noninfected animals or products, intrastate movement, or storage of biological

materials. APHIS and other federal agencies regulate the movement of certain

materials through alternate permitting programs. Please use the resources under

the Related Links box to find out more about these program.

Import Permits are issued to allow importation into the United States of: 

organisms that may cause disease in livestock and poultry, vectors that could carry

livestock and poultry pathogens, and/or organisms or vectors that were exposed to

animal(s) or animal product(s) outside of the United States.  

Interstate transport permits are issued for the receipt of organisms that may

cause disease in livestock and poultry, and/or vectors that could carry livestock and

poultry pathogens across state or territory lines within the United States. 

Permit conditions and restrictions apply as long as the material is maintained. 

However, permits do not need to be “renewed” for continued storage of material. 

New permit Amended permit Renewal permit

This is the

initial

application for

an organisms

and vectors

permit.

An application to

revise an existing

permit, within the

current permit

period.  An amended

permit does not

extend the expiration

date of the permit. 

An application to renew an existing permit for

an additional time period.  Limited changes

may be requested through the renewal

application, such as address or contact

information, or revisions relevant to the

existing material description or its proposed

use (e.g. different genotypes/mutations of a

virus, or additional use restrictions, etc). 

$150.00 $75.00 $97.00

 *Always check with local and state authorities as additional laws or regulations may

apply.  An OV permit does not supersede any other state or federal regulations.

Permits from multiple state or federal agencies may be required.

Applying for an OV Permit

To apply for an OV permit, complete and submit a VS Form 16-3, “Application for

Permit to Import or Transport Controlled Material or Organisms or Vectors”. The
fastest way to submit a permit is through the APHIS eFile System. See Animal Health

Permits for further instructions. 

Email apie@usda.gov with questions.

On Hold Shipment?

If your shipment has been placed under quarantine by the U.S. Department of

Agriculture or Department of Homeland Security, follow these instructions.

For general questions please contact the organisms and vectors staff via email at

APIE@usda.gov or call 301-851-3300.

Related Links

Animal Product Import Information

Division of Agricultural Select Agents and Toxins   

Veterinary Biologics

Plant Pest and Disease Programs

Biotechnology Regulatory Services

Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Import Permit Program (IPP)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permits