Aquatic Animal Testing Requirements for EXPORT

Export disease testing of live aquatic animals may be required before shipping to some

countries. This guidance clarifies definitions and provides a decision tree outlining which 

laboratories must be used, in order to meet the specific requirements of destination countries. 

Effective immediately, all exports must follow this guidance, before USDA can endorse the health 

certificate. 

Is testing required prior to export? 

Testing requirements will depend on the destination country. 

• Visit the USDA APHIS International Regulations (IRegs) for Animal Exports home page,

and select the destination country from the “IRegs for LIVE Animals” drop down menu.

• Each country page lists the requirements for export by species. For species not listed, the

requirements are not known. However, exporters wanting to ship animals whose

requirements are not listed, should have the interested party (importer/buyer) in the

country of destination apply for an Import Permit at the appropriate ministry. This Import

Permit will most likely outline the specific requirements.

When must testing be done at a certain type of laboratory? 

• Review the health certificate or instructions listed under the “Aquatic Animals” section

on the destination country’s IRegs page. If the species is not listed, review the Import

Permit.

• If testing is required, look for any language regarding the laboratory, then read the

“Which Laboratory Type Should be Used and When?” instructions below.

What is the difference between laboratory types? 

• After the laboratory type is determined (i.e., “APHIS-approved,” “Approved” or “Nonspecified”), read the “Definitions of Laboratory Types” instructions below to find out

which kinds of laboratories meet each laboratory type.

What happens if testing was not done at the correct type of laboratory? 

• Effective immediately, all shipments must follow this guidance before USDA can endorse

the health certificate.

o If testing is done after September 28, 2020  then all testing must be done at the

correct laboratory according to this guidance.

o If testing was done before September 28, 2020  then USDA will accept those

results (as long as they are also valid for the destination country) until September

28, 2021.

For all questions, please contact the USDA APHIS VS Endorsement Office serving your state. 
Aquatic Animal Testing Requirements for EXPORT

Definitions of Laboratory Types

For the specific purposes of live aquatic animal export testing (based on negotiated export protocol(s) 

language), the following laboratory definitions apply: 

• APHIS-Approved Laboratory – laboratories which are under APHIS oversight for specific OIE-listed

pathogen(s): 

a. Laboratories Approved to Conduct Diagnostic Testing in Support of Export Health

Certification of Aquaculture Species

b. National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN)

i. Infectious Salmon Anemia

ii. Spring Viremia of Carp

iii. Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia

• Approved Laboratory – laboratories which meet the following criteria, including Federal, State, and

university laboratories:

a. Documentation of a laboratory quality management system to standards acceptable to

APHIS [e.g., International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025, American

Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD)]

• Non-specified Laboratory – Any company in business and paying taxes as a testing laboratory, which

does not meet the “APHIS-Approved” or “Approved” criteria

Which Laboratory Type Should be Used and When?

For the specific purposes of live aquatic animal export testing (based on negotiated export protocol(s)

language), the following laboratores must be used: 

I. If export testing is required by the destination country to be performed at a laboratory described as 

“APHIS accredited,” “APHIS Approved,” “Designated by the competent authority,” “Approved by the

Competent Authority”, or equivalent, then the following applies:

1. All OIE-listed aquatic animal pathogens must be tested at an APHIS-approved Laboratory

(definition above). [OIE-listed aquatic pathogens – http://www.oie.int/en/animal-health-inthe-world/oie-listed-diseases-2019/]

2. All Non-OIE listed aquatic animal pathogens must be tested at an Approved Laboratory

(definition above).

II. If export testing is required to be performed at an “Approved Laboratory” (including labs that are

“acceptable to” or “recognized by” APHIS), but the type of approval is not specified by the destination 

country, then testing at any of the following types of laboratories is permitted (definitions above):

- APHIS-approved Laboratory for OIE-listed aquatic animal pathogens only, OR

- Approved Laboratory for either OIE-listed OR Non-OIE listed aquatic animal pathogens

III. If export testing is NOT required to be performed at a specific type of laboratory by the destination 

country, then testing at any of the following types of laboratories is permitted (definitions above):

- APHIS-approved Laboratory for OIE-listed aquatic animal pathogens only, OR

- Approved Laboratory for either OIE-listed OR Non-OIE listed aquatic animal pathogens, OR

- Non-specified Laboratory for either OIE-listed OR Non-OIE listed aquatic animal pathogens
Is export testing required to be done at a 

specific type of laboratory? 

YES

Is export testing required to be done at 

an “APHIS accredited” laboratory?

YES

OIE-listed 

Disease

APHIS-approved 

lab

Non OIElisted Disease

Approved lab

NO

Approved lab

APHISapproved lab

NO

Any of the following 

laboratory types:

APHISapproved lab Approved lab

Nonspecified lab