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. 

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.

Horses and Equidae

All horses and equidae transported on a public road in New York State must be accompanied by a copy of a current negative test report for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA).  There are only three exceptions:

1. The horse is under 6 months old
2. The horse is going directly to a livestock market for sale as a green-tagged animal, and that market has permission from the state to accept horses without current EIA tests.
3. The horse is being transported directly from a livestock market approved by the state to sell green-tagged equids with pending EIA tests. These animals will have a pending EIA test from the livestock market. The green market tag cannot come off the animal before the results are received by the new owner.
   • Specific conditions required for this transport from an approved market:
     • The animal is moved to a single location pending test results.
     • Animal was sold directly by the market to the purchaser with no intermediate ownership (not purchased at the market and then re-sold prior to receipt of EIA test results).
     • The animal was sold as a green-tagged animal and the green tag is still on the animal.

If you purchase a horse in New York and a copy of the EIA test is not provided, you cannot legally transport the horse. In addition, a Domestic Animal Health Permit holder is not allowed to sell or transfer ownership of a horse without a current EIA test . Knowing this requirement in advance lets you check that the seller has a copy of the EIA test to hand to you before you start your journey to pick up the animal. 

Sheep and Goats

New York state requires official scrapie identification on all sheep and goats upon change of ownership, unless they are sold directly to slaughter. There is no exception for younger animals. This identification can be approved scrapie eartags, registry tattoos, flock/individual ID tattoos or any other approved federal scrapie identification.