United States
Department of
Agriculture

Animal and Plant
Health Inspection
Service

Veterinary Services

National Center for
Import/Export

4700 River Road
Unit 39
Riverdale, MD 20737

(301) 734-8364
FAX (301) 734-6402

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Subject: BSE Minimal-Risk Regions and the Importation of Live Ruminants

To: Importers, Brokers, and Other Interested Parties

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently published new
regulations regarding the importation of cattle and bison from Canada into the United
States. This letter describes the changes in the regulations and lists the animals that are
now allowed for importation. The term “bovines” is used to represent cattle and bison.

Previously, importation of bovines from Canada was limited to animals under 30 months
of age for movement directly to slaughter or to feedlots for movement to slaughter. After
conducting a risk assessment and comprehensive evaluation, APHIS concluded that
bovines 30 months of age or older present a minimal risk of introducing and establishing
BSE in the United States if they are born on or after the date of an effective enforcement
of a ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban in the region of export.

APHIS published the final rule, entitled “Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Minimal-
Risk Regions; Importation of Live Bovines and Products Derived From Bovines,” on
September 18, 2007. The rule (in title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) part
93) sets import conditions for all bovines, including those 30 months of age or older, and
establishes the effective date of the Canadian ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban as March 1,
1999. Since this risk assessment and evaluation did not include sheep and goats, current
importation requirements for sheep and goats (in 9 CFR part 93) will remain in place.
This rule becomes effective on November 19, 2007.

Effective November 19, 2007, the following live ruminants may be imported into the
United States from Canada:

1. Bovines for other than immediate slaughter: Bovines may be imported if they are
accompanied by an official health certificate which states they were born on or after
March 1, 1999; have official identification and marks; and meet all other health
requirements.

2. Bovines for slaughter: Bovines born on or after March 1, 1999, can be imported if
they are accompanied by a health certificate and consigned directly to a recognized
slaughtering establishment in a sealed vehicle.

3. Feeder sheep and goats: Feeder sheep and goats can be imported if they are
accompanied by an import permit and official health certificate, are less than 12
months of age, and are transported under seal directly to a designated feedlot.

4. Sheep and goats for slaughter: Sheep and goats can be imported if they are
accompanied by an official health certificate, are less than 12 months of age, and are
transported under seal directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment.

Safeguarding American Agriculture

Federal Relay Service
APHIS is an agency of USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs (Voice/TTY/ASCII/Spanish)
An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer 1-800-877-8339


Letter to Importers, Brokers, and Other Interested Parties
Page 2

5. Camelids (such as camels, llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos) of any age may be
imported for any purpose. They must be accompanied by an official health
certificate.

6. Cervids (such as deer, elk, moose, and related species) of any age may be imported
for any purpose. They must be accompanied by an official health certificate.

The final rule does not allow the following:
1. Importation of breeding sheep or goats;
2. Transit of sheep or goats through the United States; or

3. Importation of sheep or goats to any location (sale barns, etc.) except to a single
feedlot or directly to slaughter.

This letter is not intended to provide complete details for the importation or post-entry
requirements of bovines and feeder or slaughter sheep and goats.

If you have further questions about the requirements to import ruminants from Canada,
please contact the National Center for Import and Export at (301) 734-8364 or see
www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/live_animals.shtml.

avid, MS, VMD, MPH
rector; Animals, Organisms and Vectors, and Select Agents
‘enter for Import and Export

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