United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Veterinary Services National Center For Import And Export Import/Export Animals 4700 River Road, Unit 40 Riverdale, MD 20737-1231

GUIDELINES FOR IMPORTATION #1104 (This is consolidation of guidelines #1104, 1109, and 1118) AMPHIBIANS, FISH, REPTILES, SHELLFISH AND AQUATIC SPECIES Including:  blood, tissues, serum, feces, extracts, fluids, venom, urine, chondroitin, and glucosamine from these species. Not including:  antivenom, oils, and meals (e.g. fish oil or fish meal). INTRODUCTION: Materials derived from all animals are potentially subject to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations and must be cleared by USDA inspectors at the port of arrival before entry into the United States is authorized.  A USDA import permit is required for animal material that may pose a risk of introducing exotic animal diseases into the United States.  However, material from the above listed animals that have not been inoculated with or exposed to any livestock or poultry disease agents or antigens may enter the country without USDA restrictions. NOTE:  The US Fish and Wildlife Service has jurisdiction over the importation of marine mammals and fish.  Please contact their Office of Management Authority at (703) 358-2104 or the Permit Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service at (301) 713-2355 or 713-2289. PROCEDURES: A USDA import permit will not be required for material from these types of animals if the following is provided in the shipping documents: An identification of the material and the species of origin; and A written declaration indicating the material does not include any equine, ruminant, swine or avian species or their materials (such as in transport media or stabilizers). This information must be supplied as statements on producer/shipper letterhead in a clear and concise manner, and be available for review by the Inspectors at the Port of Arrival.  We recommend that a separate memo or letter be included with the shipping documents, such as U.S. Customs declaration and invoice. Please instruct your shippers to provide this information. If the above information is not supplied, the shipment may be subject to delays.  If the material to be imported cannot meet these criteria, then a USDA import permit may be required. Permit applications may be obtained several ways: On-line at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/permits/ By writing to: USDA, APHIS, VS National Center for Import and Export 4700 River Road, Unit 40 Riverdale, MD 20737 (301) 734-3277 telephone (301) 734-6402 fax

VS - Safeguarding Animal Health Phone (301) 734-3277, FAX (301) 734-6402

http://www.aphis.usda.gov An Equal Opportunity Employer