Foreign Agricultural Services

Travelers to the United States

Travelers to the United States may find many of their questions regarding shipping of pets, horses or other animals to the U. S., as well as USDA import requirements and prohibitions on food, beverages, and agricultural products.

IMPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPPING ANIMALS, FOOD AND PLANTS

Food and Plants
Travelers’s Tips

Bioterrorism Act - New rules for mailing food gifts

Please note that as of December 12, 2003, food gifts mailed to the United States are subject to the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Bioterrorism Act). People mailing food gifts to the U.S. must notify the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prior to mailing their food gift in a process called "prior-notice." Please see the following links for further information and instructions for completing "prior notice."

Prior Notice for Food Articles sent by International Mail
Step-by-Step Web System Instructions
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pn/pnstepm.html

Prior Notice of Imported Food
Questions and Answers
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtac13.html

Prior Notice Fact Sheet
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtac13.html

Customs FAQ
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/

Bringing Agricultural Products into the United States
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing_goods/agri_prod_inus.xml

Importing Pets

• Importation of Pets and Other Animals Into the United States

• Pets/Animals

Importing Pet Birds
• Importing a Pet Bird

Import of U.S. Origin Pet Birds
• Importing procedure for returning U.S. origin pet birds

Importing Horses
• Importing a horse into the United States

Importing Horse Semen
• Import of Equine Semen into the United States

Hawaii Quarantine Information for Animals
• Animal Quarantine Station Rabies Information Brochure

GENERAL INFORMATION

Traveling to the United States
• Know before you go

Mailing Packages
• International Mail Imports

REFERRALS TO A SELECTION OF U.S. AUTHORITIES INVOLVED WITH AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Imports of foods, animals and plants

Bundesamt für Naturschutz
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and export permits for endangered species

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and import permits for endangered species

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
U.S. customs requirements

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Bioterrorism Act

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
U.S. import requirements for alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives