Animal Importation and Re-entry (USA)

Travellers should be advised that animals, including pets, which are transported internationally should be free of communicable diseases. CDC has jurisdiction over and places restrictions on the importation of dogs, cats, turtles, monkeys, other animals, and animal products capable of causing human disease (see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/faq_animal_importation.htm). Pets taken out of the United States are subject upon return to the same regulations as those entering for the first time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also have jurisdiction over animals and should be consulted for additional information.

Dogs

Dogs >3 months of age presented for importation from countries where rabies is known to occur (see Prevention of Specific Infectious Diseases: Rabies, Table 4-14) must be accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate that includes the following information:

  • The breed, sex, age, colour, markings, and other identifying information.
  • A vaccination date at least 30 days before importation (see following).
  • The vaccination expiration date. If not shown, the date of vaccination must be within 12 months of date of importation.
  • The signature of a licensed veterinarian.

A dog not accompanied by the previously described certificate may be admitted providing the importer completes a confinement agreement. Such a dog must be kept in confinement during transit to the United States, be vaccinated within 4 days of arrival at the destination, and remain in confinement for at least 30 days after the date of vaccination. These requirements apply equally to service animals such as Seeing Eye dogs. A copy of the confinement agreement (CDC 75.37) can be found on the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/cdc7537-05-24-04.pdf.

A dog <3 months of age may be admitted provided the importer completes a confinement agreement. Such a dog must be kept in confinement during transit and at the U.S. destination until it is vaccinated at 3 months of age and for at least 30 days after vaccination. Routine rabies vaccination of dogs is recommended in the United States and required by most state and local health authorities.

Table 7-1. Requirements for entry of pet dogs into the United States

Situation Requirements for Entry
Dog is of any age and from a country reporting no rabies (see Table 4–14). The dog has been in the rabies-free country since birth or for the past 6 months. No rabies vaccination requirement. If the dog appears to be ill upon arrival, examination by a veterinarian may be required. A local veterinarian should be consulted after arrival at final destination in U.S. to ensure local requirements are met.
Dog is >3 months old and is arriving from a country not free of rabies. If the dog appears to be ill upon arrival, examination by a veterinarian may be required. Owner must present a certificate upon arrival showing that the dog was vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to entry into the United States. The certificate must be current (unexpired), signed by a licensed veterinarian and in English or accompanied by a translation. A local veterinarian should be consulted after arrival at final destination in U.S. to ensure local requirements are met.
Dog is >3 months old and is arriving from a country not free of rabies, but no rabies vaccination certificate is presented. The dog will be released if it appears to be well and after the owner agrees on form CDC 75.37 to confine the dog immediately upon arrival at the final destination and to have it vaccinated against rabies within 4 days. Confinement may be at a place of the owner's choosing, including the home. The dog must then be confined for an additional 30 days following vaccination. Confinement is defined as restriction of the animal to a building or other enclosure, in isolation from other animals and people except for contact necessary for its care. If the dog is allowed out of the enclosure, the owner must muzzle the dog and use a leash. If the dog appears to be ill upon arrival, examination by a veterinarian may be required. A local veterinarian should be consulted after arrival at final destination in U.S. to ensure local requirements are met.
Dog is <3 months old and is arriving from a country not free of rabies. A vaccination certificate presented for a puppy <3 months old cannot be accepted. The dog will be released if it appears to be well and after the owner agrees on form CDC 75.37 (Notice to Owners and Importers of Dogs) to confine the dog until it is 3 months old, then have it vaccinated and confined for 30 additional days. Confinement is defined as restriction of the animal to a building or other enclosure, in isolation from other animals and people except for contact necessary for its care. If the dog is allowed out of the enclosure, the owner must muzzle the dog and use a leash. A local veterinarian should be consulted after arrival at final destination in the U.S. to ensure local requirements are met.
Dog is >3 months old and is arriving from a country not free of rabies. A rabies vaccination certificate is presented showing vaccination <30 days before arrival in the U.S. The dog will be released if it appears to be well and after the owner agrees on form CDC 75.37 to confine the dog for the balance of the 30 days since vaccination. Confinement is defined as restriction of the animal to a building or other enclosure, in isolation from other animals and people except for contact necessary for its care. If the dog is allowed out of the enclosure, the owner must muzzle the dog and use a leash. A local veterinarian should be consulted after arrival at final destination in the U.S. to ensure local requirements are met.
Dog of any age arriving in Hawaii or Guam from any location worldwide, including the mainland U.S. Quarantine requirements apply. For further information:

In Hawaii: http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ai_aqs_info.htm or call 808-483-7151

In Guam: http://ns.gov.gu/pets.html or call 671-735-7222

Cats

Although proof of rabies vaccination is not required for importation of cats, routine rabies vaccination of cats is recommended in the United States and required by most state and local health authorities.

Restricted Animals, Animal Products and Vectors

Certain live animals, hosts, or vectors of human disease, including insects, biological materials, tissues, and other unprocessed animal products may require a CDC permit for importation or transfer within the United States.

Monkeys and Other Nonhuman Primates

Nonhuman primates can transmit a variety of serious diseases to humans. Live monkeys and other nonhuman primates may be imported into the United States only by importers registered with CDC and only for scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes. Monkeys and other nonhuman primates may not be imported for use as pets. Nonhuman primates transported from the United States to other countries may only return to the United States via a registered importer for the approved indications listed above.

Turtles

Turtles can transmit salmonellosis to humans, and because small turtles are often kept as pets, restrictions apply to their importation. An individual may import no more than six live turtles with a carapace (shell) length of <4 inches. Viable turtle eggs may be imported into the United States if the importation is not for commercial purposes. CDC has no restrictions on the importation of live turtles with a carapace length >4 inches.

African Rodents and Civets

To reduce the risk of introducing monkeypox and the SARS coronavirus, live African rodents and civets and unprocessed African rodent and civet products may not be imported into the United States. CDC may issue permission for an importation of these animals and unprocessed animal products when the importation is for a bona-fide noncommercial scientific or educational purpose. Rodent and civet products that have been processed to render them noninfectious may be imported without permission.

Bats and Other Vectors

Any animal, including snails and insects, known or suspected of being infected with an organism capable of causing disease in humans may require a permit issued by CDC. All live bats require an import permit from the CDC and the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services. The applications for a CDC import permit for these animals can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/imprtper.htm.

Measures at Ports of Entry

CDC regulations provide for the examination of admissible animals presented for importation into the United States. Animals with evidence of disease that might be transmissible to humans may be subject to additional disease control measures. For additional information regarding importation of these animals, travellers should be advised to contact CDC, Attention: National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Mailstop E03, Atlanta, Georgia 30333 (1-404-498-1670).

Travellers planning to import horses, ruminants, swine, poultry, birds, and dogs used for handling livestock should be advised to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (1-301-734-8364) or at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ regarding additional requirements.

Travellers planning to import fish, reptiles, spiders, wild birds, rabbits, bears, wild members of the cat family, or other wild or endangered animals should be advised to contact the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (1-703-358-1949) or at http://permits.fws.gov/ImportExport/ImportExport.shtml.

Travellers planning to take a companion animal to a foreign country should be advised to meet the entry requirements of the country of destination. To obtain this information, travellers should write or call the country's embassy in Washington, D.C., or the nearest consulate.

Bibliography
  • CDC. Compendium of animal rabies prevention and control, 2004: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV). MMWR Morbid Mortal Wkly Rep 2004;53(No. RR-9):1-6.
  • CDC. Human rabies prevention — United States, 1999: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP). MMWR Morbid Mortal Wkly Rep 1999;48(No. RR-1):1-21.
  • DeMarcus TA, Tipple MA, Ostrowski SR. US policy for disease control among imported nonhuman primates. J Infect Dis. 1999; 179 Suppl 1:S281-2.
  • Foreign Quarantine Regulations. 42 CFR 71. Available at URL: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/42cfr71_03.html
  • Stam F, Romkens TE, Hekker TA, Smulders YM. Turtle-associated human salmonellosis. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;37(11):167-9.

- Paul Arguin

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