Animal Import & Export

The Department oversees the requirements for livestock, poultry, and companion animals being imported into the state.  Requirements vary for the type of animal; however, owners generally need to supply a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and official identification, and meet testing requirements for disease before they can move their animals.

Visit the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to find rules for transporting animals internationally and the contact information for the USDA Port Veterinarians.

High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Date effective: May 14, 2015
Species: poultry
Importing State: all
New import requirements are now in effect for poultry due to HPAI. 

Identification Requirements for Pet Birds

Date effective: February 19, 2018
Species: avian
New identification requirements are now in effect for importation of non-US-origin pet birds. 

Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV)

Date effective: Summer 2023
Species: Equine, Bovine, Porcine, Caprine, Ovine, Cervidae, Llama
Importing State: California, Texas
 

1CRR-NY 67.1 – Importation Prohibited

No person shall transport or bring into this State any equine, bovine, porcine, caprine, ovine, cervidae or llama from a point of origin located within 10 miles of any place in which the disease vesicular stomatitis has been found to exist during the 30-day period prior to the entry of said animal into this State.

1CRR-NY 67.2 – Certificate Required

No person shall transport or bring into this State any equine, bovine, porcine, caprine, ovine, cervidae or llama originating in a state in which the disease vesicular stomatitis has been found to exist during the previous 30 days unless said animal has been examined and found to be free from vesicular stomatitis and is accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, a copy of which has been mailed to the department, bearing the following statement attested to by the accredited veterinarian issuing said certificate:

"All animals identified on this health certificate have been examined and found to be free from vesicular stomatitis and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the past 30 days these animals have not been exposed to said disease, nor held at a location within ten miles of any place in which said disease has been found to exist."

There are no emergency export regulations for animals in effect at this time.

There are certain animals that are not under the jurisdiction of the Department for import requirements. Please contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for more information.

Rabbits

New York does not currently have importation requirements for rabbits. In light of incidences of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease in the western United States, we ask that all rabbit owners be aware of this disease and follow the USDA's precautions.

If you have any suspicion of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease in your rabbits or other rabbits in New York, please notify the Department immediately by emailing [email protected] or calling 518-457-3502. 

If you’re aware of suspicious cases in another state, please contact that state's veterinarian.