August 8, 2019

Notice Regarding Equine Imports and Transits

USDA would like to bring to your attention the following recent issues and 

concerns regarding equine imports and transits: 1) Import documentation 2) Horses 

transiting countries of lesser health status 3) Horses sick or injured upon arrival to 

the port of entry. 

This notice is being shared to make you aware that effective August 26, 2019, at all 

ports of entry the following policies are fully enforced. 

Import documentation 

In accordance with Title 9 Code of Federal Regulations part 93.314 (9 CFR 93.314), 

complete and accurate original documentation must accompany all horse shipments 

that present for entry into the United States. Previously, USDA has permitted 

stakeholders to send original documents after the release of horses when revised 

health certificates and addendums are required. However, this practice requires 

additional resources and personnel. To align our import requirements and 

procedures for all ports of entry, USDA no longer permits the release of horses 

without complete original documentation. Horse shipments arriving in the United 

States not accompanied by complete and accurate original documentation are

refused entry or held until the required documents are received. An import 

compliance assistance fee may also be charged to the importer, in accordance with 

Title 9 Code of Federal Regulations part 130.4 (9 CFR 130.4).

Horses transiting countries of lesser health status 

USDA works to prevent the entry of diseases that may impact United States 

agriculture. To further this mission, horse shipments that transit a country of lesser 

health status, in relation to the country of origin, in route to the U.S. will assume the 

lesser health status and complete import requirements of that country upon arrival to 

the U.S. For example, if a horse shipment transits through a Venezuela Equine 

Encephalitis (VEE) affected country, the horse shipment is required to complete a 

7-day quarantine upon arrival to the U.S. 

Horses sick or injured upon arrival to the port of entry 

USDA also requires each animal be inspected upon arrival, found free of any 

evidence of communicable diseases and, insofar as can be determined, exposure 

thereto during the 60 days preceding exportation. From doing a recent audit of 

equine imports and transits, it has been noted in the last 6 months over 200 imported

horses were found sick on arrival, recently castrated or injured due to noncompliant 

transport containers. These 200 horses were imported from 17 different countries 

Animal and Plant

Health Inspection

Service

Veterinary Services

Strategy and Policy

Live Animal Imports

4700 River Road

Unit 39

Riverdale, MD 20737

(301)851-3300
involving 13 different shipping agents. Noncompliance of transport containers has also been 

observed on transits through the U.S. All transport crates and containers must comply with 

International Air Transportation Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations (LAR) which 

promotes animal welfare, safety and survival during transport. All horses imported into the 

U.S. or transiting through the U.S. must present healthy and fit to travel. Horses imported 

that are found to be sick, injured on arrival, or arrive in overcrowded and otherwise 

noncompliant containers are charged an import compliance assistance fee due to additional 

resources needed to support these horses while in quarantine. Quarantine release may be 

delayed for any clinically ill horse with signs of communicable disease, and any horse(s) in 

contact with clinically ill horse(s) in quarantine, also known as contact horses. Horses that 

are transiting through the U.S. may also be detained from further travel and offloaded in 

accordance to the approved contingency plan if noncompliant transport containers are 

observed or the horse(s) is deemed unfit to travel until arrangements are corrected or the 

health of the horse(s) is addressed. 

USDA encourages importers to verify that all U.S. import requirements have been met prior 

to export. Import requirements can be found on the following website: USDA APHIS VS 

Equine Import and Export. 

For more information, questions or concerns, please contact the Acting National Live 

Animal Import and Export Director, Dr. Rachel Cezar-Martinez, at Rachel.CezarMartinez@usda.gov or the National Port Services Director, Dr. Renee Oleck, at 

Renee.S.Oleck@usda.gov or at the following phone number: (301) 851-3300.