Importing Birds – Tougher Than You Think

 

See a beautiful macaw you’d like to bring home from your trip overseas? Please check with us

as well as with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Due to the Avian flu scare in 2008, the U.S. government has imposed strict restrictions

regarding the importation of birds – and what they call “poultry products” such as eggs and

feathers – into the United States.

Per the USDA, in order to import a pet bird of non-U.S. origin, the owner must fulfill the following

requirements:

1) Obtain a USDA Import Permit.

2) Provide a current health certificate issued by a full-time salaried veterinarian employed

for the agency responsible for animal health of the national government in the exporting

country of origin.

3) Check if a CITES permit is necessary. Most exotic birds will require a CITES permit from both the exporting and importing countries.

4) Quarantine the bird for 30 days, at the owner’s expense, in one of the USDA’s import

centers listed on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website.

APHIS also provides procedures for returning pet birds of U.S. origin to the United States, and

also for a variety of other live bird importation situations.

 

You can download an import permit and find out more information at: http://

www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/nonus_pet_bird.shtml.

 

Source:

USDA Aphis Page: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/nonus_pet_bird.shtml