Importing Live Sheep, Goats, and Germplasm into the United States

Australia

A Permit and export health certificate are required.

• Australia (Import protocol and health certificate being updated); a permit and export health certificate are required.

New Zealand

A permit and export health certificate are required.

• Protocol Import of Live Goats and Sheep from New Zealand (219.91 KB) 2024
• Health Certificate for Live Sheep and Goats from New Zealand to the United States

Miscellaneous

• There are specific post-arrival requirements for imports of sheep and goat semen from Canada, the European Union, Iceland and the United Kingdom (136.38 KB).
• Importing Ovine and Caprine Germplasm from Scrapie Affected Countries (5.52 MB)

Australia

• Import protocol being updated. A permit and export health certificate are required.

European Union

• A permit and export health certificate are required.
• ALERT: Due to the recent detections of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria, import of ovine/caprine semen from these countries is currently prohibited.
• ALERT: Because of ongoing peste des petits ruminants (PPR) outbreaks in Europe, sheep and goat semen from the following regions, collected on or after the specified dates, is not eligible for importation to the United States:
• Greece (July 8, 2024 - present) 
  Romania (July 15, 2024 - present) 
  Bulgaria (June 23, 2018 – present)
  Hungary (January 24, 2025-present)
  1. Importers or their designated agents must provide documentation of the destination facility premise registration premises ID assigned and recorded in the Surveillance Collaborative System/ Scrapie (SCS SCR) with the permit application.
  2. There are also post-import requirements (136.38 KB) for each facility using this commodity.
  • Protocol Sheep and Goat Semen Import from Member States of the EU (270.76 KB)
  • Model Health Certificate Sheep and Goat Semen Import from Member States of the EU (246.86 KB)
  • Health Certificate documents for Spain Sheep and Goat Semen Import from Spain (337.5 KB)
  • Health Certificate for Sheep and/or Goat Semen from Belgium (377.54 KB)
  • Health Certificate for Sheep and/or Goat Semen from the Netherlands (105.75 KB)

Iceland

A permit and export health certificate are required.

1. Importers or their designated agents must provide documentation of the destination facility premise registration premises ID assigned and recorded in the Surveillance Collaborative System/ Scrapie (SCS SCR) with the permit application.
2. There are also post-import requirements (136.38 KB) for each facility using this commodity.

• Protocol Sheep and Goat Semen Imports from Iceland (274.6 KB)
• Model Health Certificate Sheep and Goat Semen Import from Iceland (105.71 KB)

New Zealand

•  A permit and export health certificate are required.
• Sample Health Certificate for Sheep and Goat Semen (mpi.govt.nz)

United Kingdom

There are specific post-arrival requirements for imports of sheep and goat semen from Canada, the European Union, Iceland and the United Kingdom (136.38 KB).

• Great Britain Health Certificate
• Northern Ireland Health Certificate

Importing Ovine and Caprine Germplasm from Scrapie Affected Countries (5.52 MB)

Australia 

• Protocol is being updated; a permit and export health certificate are required.

New Zealand

A permit and export health certificate are required.

• Sample Health Certificate for Sheep and Goat Embryo (mpi.govt.nz)

Belgium

• An import permit and export health certificate are required. 
  **Post Entry Requirements: There are specific post-entry requirements for imports of sheep and goat embryos from Belgium (176.01 KB).
  1. Eligibility for Import
     • Sheep and goat in-vivo embryos or oocytes may only be imported from Belgium:
       • For transfer to recipient females in the U.S. if the flock or herd where the recipients reside is listed in the National Scrapie Database; or
       • To an APHIS-approved embryo storage facility where they may be kept until being transferred to recipient females in a flock or herd in the U.S. listed in the APHIS National Scrapie Database.
  2. Import Permit: An import permit is required. The application, VS Form 17-129 “Application for Import or in Transit Permit”, may be filed electronically using the eFile system. Please allow 7-10 business days for permit processing.
     • When applying for an import permit, the following information must be provided:
       • Documentation confirming the flock identification number of the destination flock/premises.
       • Documentation confirming the premises identification number of the destination flock/premises as listed in the National Scrapie Database.
       • Signed confirmation that the importer has read, understands and will ensure the post-entry requirements (176.01 KB) are met.
  3. Export Health Certificates:
     • Health Certificate for Ovine and Caprine in Vivo Embryos from Belgium to the United States
  4. Post-Entry and Additional Requirements:
     • Post-entry requirements pertaining to the imported embryos/oocytes and resulting offspring apply and will need to be met by the importer of record. These requirements will be outlined in the import permit and can also be found in detail at Post-entry Requirements for Imported Sheep and Goat Embryos from Belgium (176.01 KB).
     • Additional Requirements: Importers are advised that individual states may have additional import requirements. It is the importer's responsibility to verify these conditions and to meet them. The importer should contact the U.S. State veterinarian (State Regulations and Import Requirements) of the destination state to determine these regulations.

United Kingdom

• An import permit and export health certificate are required.

**Post Entry Requirements: There are specific post-entry requirements for imports of sheep and goat embryos from the United Kingdom (176.01 KB).

1. Eligibility for Import
   • Sheep and goat in-vivo embryos or oocytes may only be imported from the United Kingdom:
     • For transfer to recipient females in the U.S. if the flock or herd where the recipients reside is listed in the National Scrapie Database; or
     • To an APHIS-approved embryo storage facility where they may be kept until being transferred to recipient females in a flock or herd in the U.S. listed in the APHIS National Scrapie Database.
2. Import Permit: An import permit is required. The application, VS Form 17-129 “Application for Import or in Transit Permit”, is best filed electronically using the eFile system. Alternatively, Form 17-129 can be obtained by downloading from the APHIS web site, or emailing laipermits@usda.gov. Please allow 7-10 business days for permit processing.
   • When applying for an import permit, the following information must be provided:
     • Documentation confirming the flock identification number of the destination flock/premises.
     • Documentation confirming the premises identification number of the destination flock/premises as listed in the National Scrapie Database.
     • Confirmation that the importer has read and understands the post-entry requirements (176.01 KB). 
3. Export Health Certificates:
   • Great Britain (publishing.service.gov.uk)
   • Northern Ireland (publishing.service.gov.uk)
4. Post-Entry and Additional Requirements:
   • Post-entry requirements pertaining to the imported embryos/oocytes and resulting offspring apply and will need to be met by the importer of record. These requirements will be outlined in the import permit and can also be found in detail at Post-entry Requirements for Imported Sheep and Goat Embryos from the United Kingdom (176.01 KB).
   • Additional Requirements: Importers are advised that individual states may have additional import requirements. It is the importer's responsibility to verify these conditions and to meet them. The importer should contact the U.S. State veterinarian (State Regulations and Import Requirements) of the destination state to determine these regulations.