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Approved Establishments

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There are certain serious animal diseases that could enter the U.S. through imported

animal trophies, their hides or their feathers. But with proper processing, the disease

agents are destroyed. 

To be safely imported, animal trophies and other animal hides or feathers from

certain regions of the world must be sent directly to Approved Establishments for

processing or sent to an Approved Warehouse for short term storage before

processing at an Approved Establishment, unless they are accompanied by a VS

import permit or a foreign government certificate.  APHIS requires this step in order

to protect American livestock and poultry from foreign animal diseases. 

Animal Trophies from Canada

Trophies from Canada may enter with documentation that proves country of origin,

including a bill of lading; certificate of origin; invoice; document on official letterhead

prepared by the manufacturer, seller, outfitter, Provincial government, Tribal Nation,

or shipper; or an official certificate issued by a veterinarian representing the

Canadian national government certifying the country of origin. The trophies must be

fully finished or receive special processing upon entry.
Items that DO NOT Require Special Processing

The following items do not need special processing at an Approved Establishment:

Finished/mounted trophies

Cleaned and dried bones, antlers, horns and hooves being used as trophies

Flint-dried hides not from countries with African swine fever

Trophy/display materials from rabbits, rodents, fish, shellfish and non-human

primates

You should still check with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before importing, because they may have

their own import restrictions. 

Items that DO Require Special Processing

Unfinished animal trophies, hides, and feathers that come from areas of the world

with the following foreign animal diseases must undergo special processing to

protect against introducing those diseases into the United States:

highly pathogenic avian influenza (for bird/poultry items)

virulent Newcastle disease (for bird/poultry items)

foot-and-mouth disease (for split-hooved animal items)

African swine fever (for swine items)

Information about which countries APHIS considers to be affected by these diseases

is available on our Animal Disease Status page. 

If you are looking to import these trophies using an import permit or foreign

certification, contact the APHIS animal product import staff by email at

APIE@usda.gov or visit the Animal Health Permits page for more information. 

To bring in these materials for processing in the United States, you will need to use a

USDA Approved Establishment for processing.  The Approved Establishment will use

proper processing techniques, which are specific to the animal materials and the

diseases of concern, to inactivate or remove any potential disease causing agents. 

After the processing is complete, they will release the materials back to you. 
Find an Approved Establishment

USDA maintains a database of approved establishments, which is sortable by state

and item type.  You will need to select an Approved Establishment before you begin

the import process. 

Become an Approved Establishment

If you are a taxidermist and are interested in becoming an Approved Establishment,

you will need to work with USDA to develop the appropriate plans and have your

facility inspected by one of our veterinary officials. 

VS Service Centers

Contact your local Service Center to ask about becoming an Approved

Establishment.

- Select a State - ▾

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Approved Establishments Contacts

More Information

Approved Establishment Program: Ensuring Imported Animal Trophies Do Not

Introduce Foreign Animal Diseases (579.49 KB)

Guidance for Approved Establishments (253.68 KB)

Guidance for Hunters (653.32 KB)