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Animal Import Requirements

Acceptable Forms of Official Identification:

Commuter Permits:


All animals entering Utah must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (Health Certificate), except for animals consigned directly to an inspected slaughter establishment, approved auction market, which need only a Brand Inspection Certificate. A Brand Inspection Certificate is required for all cattle, equine, and elk.

Import Permit Numbers are only required for the following:

  • Exotic animals and wildlife, captive cervidae, and aquatic animals;
  • Animals under regulatory oversight for disease or infected with or exposed to a reportable disease;
  • Animals coming from control areas for disease;
  • Approved variances to import requirements;
  • International shipments; or
  • Commuter permits.

Import Requirements by Species:

All cattle entering Utah, except those going directly to an inspected slaughter establishment, approved auction market, require the following:

  • If cattle are going to a qualified feedlot, they require a CVI and brand inspection or proof of ownership and must comply with federal identification requirements as found in 9 CFR 86.  Cattle going to a qualified feedlot are exempt from testing and vaccination requirements.

Dairy Cattle:

Females:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • Brucellosis vaccinated or negative brucellosis test with in 30 days
      if over 4 months old. Vaccination status must be noted on the
      CVI.
    • Statement: "These cattle have not been commingled with bulls of
      positive or unknown trichomoniasis status" if over 12 months old
    • Negative TB test within 60 days if over 2 months old
    • Lactating Cow Requirements:
      • Must be tested for Avian Influenza within 7 days of entry
        • Less than 30 cows all cattle need to be tested. More than 30 only 30 will need to be tested.
        • Testing can be pooled at the lab but not at the dairy.
      • Cattle moving directly to slaughter or an auction can move on an owner-hauler statement sent to the state of origin and destination.
      • Cattle moving to a dairy must be on a health certificate and meet the other testing/id requirements (tb, brucellosis, official ID).
      • Entry Permit on Paper CVI. GVL not required.
    • Non-Lactating Cow
      • No milk testing required

Bulls 2-11 months:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • Negative TB test within 60 days

Bulls 12 months and older:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection
    • PCR Trich test within 30 days (unless for exhibition only)
    • Negative TB test within 60 days
    • Statement: "These cattle have not been commingled with bulls of positive or unknown trichomoniasis status"

Beef Cattle:

Females:

    • CVI
    • Official ID if over 18 months of age, used for rodeo or recreational events, or used for shows or exhibitions
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • Brucellosis vaccinated or negative brucellosis test within 30 days if over 4 months old. Vaccination status must be noted on the CVI.
    • Statement: "These cattle have not been commingled with bulls of positive or unknown trichomoniasis status" if over 12 months old

Bulls 2- 11 months of age:

    • CVI
    • Official ID if used for rodeo, recreational events, shows, or exhibitions.
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership

Bulls 12 months and older:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • PCR Trich Test within 30 days (even if it is a virgin bull)
    • Statement: "These cattle have not been commingled with bulls of positive or unknown trichomoniasis status"

Steers

    • CVI
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • Official ID if used for rodeo, recreational events, shows, or exhibitions

Rodeo:

Roping Steers

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • Negative TB test within 12 months

Rodeo Bulls older than 12 months:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • PCR Trich test within 30 days (unless returning to the state of origin immediately after the rodeo)
    • Negative TB test within 12 months

Bison:

Females:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Negative TB test within 60 days if older than 6 months
    • Brucellosis vaccinated or negative brucellosis test within 30 days

Males:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Negative TB test within 60 days, if older than 6 months
    • Negative PCR Trich test within 30 days if older than 12 months.

ALL swine over three months of age not intended for slaughter entering Utah require the following:

  • CVI
  • Official ID (840 RFID tag or metal NUES tag)
  • Ear notches/tattoos allowed if registered with a purebred association and accompanied by registration paperwork.
  • Statement: Swine have not been fed raw garbage.

Sheep:

Female:

    • CVI
    • Scrapie Tag

Male:

    • CVI
    • Scrapie Tag
    • Negative Brucella ovis Test within 30 days of arrival if older than 6 months of age and not coming from a flock certified as Brucella ovis free by the state of origin.

Goats:

Goats Intended for Meat:

    • Males and Females of any age
      • CVI
      • Scrapie Tag

Goats Intended for Dairy Purposes:

    • Males of any age and Females less than 6 months of age
      • CVI
      • Scrapie Tag
    • Females older than 6 months of age
      • CVI
      • Scrapie Tag
      • Negative TB test within 60 days of arrival

  • CVI
  • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
  • Negative Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) test within 12 months before entry to Utah.
  • Stallions for breeding or semen entering Utah require a negative Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) test within 30 days of entry OR proof of a negative initial test followed by yearly vaccination.
  • Quarter horses for racing require a negative Piroplasmosis test within 30 days prior to entry.
  • Utah accepts Extended Equine CVIs

Poultry: Domesticated fowl, including chickens, guineas, ratites, pigeons, coturnix quail, domestic waterfowl belonging to the order Anseriformes, non-wild subspecies of turkeys, or other captive-bred birds not listed in R657-4-2(2)(c) which are bred for the primary purposes of producing eggs or meat whether kept for production or exhibition.

Gamebirds:  Certain species of gamebirds cannot be purchased or possessed in Utah unless the individual or company has a Pen-Reared Gamebird Personal Possession Document from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) or a Commercial Gamebird Facility License from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF).

The species of poultry and gamebirds that fall under these requirements are:

  • Quail (bobwhite, California, Gambel’s).  Coturnix quail are exempt from licensing.
  • Partridges (chukar, red-legged, gray/Hungarian)
  • Pheasants

The following species of gamebirds are prohibited for importation:

  • Wild turkeys and their hybrids (Rio Grande, Eastern, Osceola/Florida, Merriam, Gould, and Oscellated)
  • Grouse
  • Partridges (except chukar, red-legged, and gray/Hungarian)
  • Quail (except coturnix, bobwhite, California, and Gambel’s)

 

Poultry:

  • CVI or National Poultry Improvement Plan VS Form 9-3
  • If not NPIP certified for PT and AI, then a negative Pullorum-Typhoid blood test and Avian Influenza test within the last 30 days.

Gamebirds:

  • See above for information on which species are allowed for importation.
  • CVI or National Poultry Improvement Plan VS Form 9-3
  • The CVI or NPIP Form 9-3 for gamebirds must include the license or COR number of the purchaser.  Purchasers without a license for gamebirds are prohibited from importing gamebirds.
  • If not NPIP certified for PT and AI, then a negative Pullorum-Typhoid blood test and Avian Influenza test within the last 30 days.
  • Gamebirds imported for release within 30 days of arrival shall test for Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, and avian influenza virus.  For more information on the testing requirements, contact DWR at (801) 538-4700.

  • CVI
  • Negative avian influenza test within 30 days before entry for raptors or birds destined for a zoological facility.
  • Most imports of wildlife or exotic species require a Certificate of Registration (COR) with Division of Wildlife Resources.

  • If over 3 months of age must be current on the rabies vaccine.
  • No puppies or kittens under the age of 8 weeks old, unless accompanied by the mother.
  • CVI and import permit required ONLY if the animal is being treated for transmissible disease

  • Elk, Reindeer, and Caribou - please click here.
    • Initial import application must be approved before testing or importation of animal.
  • Other Cervidae:
    • CVI
    • Import permit number
    • RFID tag
    • Negative TB test within 60 days of import if not coming from a certified TB-free herd.
    • Negative brucellosis test if coming from an international herd or from a herd in the brucellosis Designated Surveillance Areas of Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming that is not participating in the state surveillance program.

May require a certificate of registration from the Division of Wildlife Resources.

For Further information please visit our Aquaculture page.

  • CVI
  • Import permit
    • Any imports of species susceptible to reportable diseases (e.g. brucellosis or tuberculosis) shall meet the same testing requirements as required for the importation of domestic animals.
    • Movement of animals to be kept in zoological gardens or shown at exhibitions shall also be in compliance with the Federal Animal Welfare Act, 7 USC 2131-2159.
    • Most imports of wildlife or exotic species require a Certificate of Registration (COR) with Division of Wildlife Resources.

Rabbits: 

  • CVI
  • Import permit if not vaccinated for RHDV2.

Mink:

  • CVI
  • No exposure to mink viral enteritis within 3 years
  • No exposure to SARS-CoV-2 within 30 days
You can also refer to the InterstateLivestock.com web site for other state requirements – in addition to Utah.