(888) 761-8626(425)844-2834
MOVE QUOTE

Commercial Birds into the United States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines commercial birds as birds imported for resale, breeding, public display, or any other purpose, except pet birds[modal], zoological birds, research birds, and performing or theatrical birds. Shipments containing 6 or mores pet birds are also considered commercial.

Requirements For Commercial Bird Imports:
  • USDA Import Permit
  • Veterinary Export Health Certificate
  • Port Inspection
  • Import Quarantine

USDA requirements for transiting commercial birds through the United States are detailed below under USDA Transit Process.

How to Import Commercial Birds

USDA Import Permit

Please use the Veterinary Services Permitting Assistant (VSPA) to confirm your live animal import permit requirements. Select the Live Animals tab. The VSPA will provide you with a summary of required import documents, including permit applications, certificates, informational letters, and more.

Vaternity Export Health Certificate

  • Commercial birds imported from any region of the world must be accompanied by a health certificate in English or with English translation that is:
    ✓Issued by a salaried veterinarian of the national government of the exporting region OR
    ✓Issued by a certifying official AND
    ✓Endorsed by the competent animal health authority of that country.
    Any allowable or required deviations of endorsement should be specified on the import permit.
  • Some exporting countries have a specific health certificate for commercial birds. Other countries may use the U.S. model health certificate or their own document that contains the same information and requirements as the model health certificate.

Port Inspection

  • Commercial bird(s) requiring quarantine must be shipped directly to the U.S. port of entry closest to the intended quarantine facility.
  • A USDA port veterinarian must inspect commercial bird shipments at the first U.S. port of entry, unless otherwise indicated on the U.S. import permit.
  • The importer must arrange for an inspection at least 72 hours in advance by contacting the USDA port veterinarian, whose contact information is listed on the import permit.
  • The port veterinarian will visually inspect the shipment, export health certificate, and U.S. import permit.

Import Quarantine

  • Commercial birds imported from areas of Canada that are not restricted due to HPAI or Newcastle disease, and have not transited such areas, do not require quarantine.
  • Other commercial birds (including hatching eggs) must undergo a minimum 30-day quarantine at a USDA Animal Import Center listed below or a USDA-approved private quarantine facility. View guidance for establishing a private quarantine. The initial approval process for a private quarantine may take several months and must be completed before USDA will issue the import permit.
  • Importers seeking to quarantine at a USDA Animal Import Center should make reservations directly with the center of choice before the shipment arrives.
  • Birds are tested during quarantine to determine if they are free from certain communicable diseases.
    The importer is responsible for all costs and fees associated with the import, including but not limited to costs and fees for port inspection, the quarantine stay, and laboratory testing during quarantine.
  • USDA will provide cost estimates for quarantine at a USDA Animal Import Center and for USDA fees associated with quarantine at an approved private facility.

USDA Transit Process

  • Commercial bird shipments transiting the United States from the exporting country to a third country destination must be accompanied by a USDA transit permit and a contingency plan as described in Transit Shipments of Live Animal Commodities.
  • Commercial birds originating from an HPAI-affected region or that would transit an HPAI-affected region enroute may not transit the United States.
  • The transit permit application process is the same as the import permit application process (see USDA Import Permit section). Denoting the route of travel on the application distinguishes the type of permit requested.
  • USDA oversees transit shipments while they are in the United States. The importer must arrange for USDA services at least 72 hours in advance by contacting the USDA port veterinarian whose contact information is listed on the transit permit.
  • The importer must submit a contingency plan with the permit application and the request for service at the U.S. transit port.
MOVE QUOTE

NOTE - For Pets Arriving after 2:30 pm in JFK or in MIA overtime Fees Apply.

Here are additional details on the MIA station.
When your bird arrives in the US at the Miami International Airport- for birds coming to quarantine at the Miami Animal Import Center, it will be met at the airplane by a USDA-VS inspector (or broker if you are using one) prior to transport to quarantine. There will be hourly user fees associated with this time ($132.00/hr.), and if the flight arrives in the late afternoon/evening or on a weekend, there would be additional overtime charges as well as “commuted travel time” charges ($156.00-$176.00/hr.).

If you have more than one bird, you can let us know how you would like them housed (together or separately).

During the quarantine period, the MPO staff will provide updates on your birds.

At the end of the quarantine period, if test results have come back negative and the birds are healthy, they will be released. You can schedule a time with us for you or someone else to pick up your birds from quarantine. The brokers mentioned below may also be able to help you with arranging transport at the end of quarantine as well if you aren’t able to come to quarantine to pick up your birds – you would need to contact them and see what services they can provide.