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Regulations and Assessments

International Animal Export Regulations

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Notice

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these regulations for exporting animals or animal products to a foreign country, you should contact the APHIS-VS Area Office in the State from which the animals or products will be exported.

Japan - Summary of Requirements

The following protocols for exporting animals to Japan are available through the International Regulations Retrieval System (IRRS).

SPECIES - MOST RECENT UPDATE

Cattle

Sheep and Goats

Swine

For information regarding this protocol please contact:  VS.Live.Animal.Import.Export@aphis.usda.gov

Equine

Dogs and Cats:

http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/index.html

Poultry/Birds

Informative notes:

As of May 18, 2009 Japan has banned the importation of all birds origination from or moving through the state of Minnesota.

As of May 1, 2009 Japan has banned the importation of all birds origination from or moving through the state of Tennessee.

As of April 27, 2009 Japan has banned the importation of all birds origination from or moving through the state of Illinois.

As of March 12, 2009, Japan has banned the importation of all birds originating from or moving through the state of New York.

For information on avian influenza related bans to Japan, see the following web-site:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/news/hpai.html

The following statement must appear on health certificates for live birds to Japan: "The exported bird [or birds] has [or have] not been raised in any HPAI affected country for at least 90 days before shipment or since its [or their] hatching."

"Poultry" includes domestic fowl, ducks, turkeys, quail, geese, pheasant, and guinea fowl

Poultry/bird quarantine facility information:

a) A USDA or USDA-accredited veterinarian will inspect the “embarkation quarantine facility” immediately prior to onset of quarantine/isolation.

b) An acceptable facility is one that prevents the free entry of mosquitoes. An outdoor cage/coop with tight-sealing doors and mosquito-proof screening or a standard home were all windows without mosquito-proof screening are kept closed at all times and all doors are kept closed except during entry and exit would qualify as an acceptable facility.

c) A USDA or USDA-accredited veterinarian will carefully inspect the bird(s) at the facility at least once during  quarantine/isolation.

Rodents

Note: Japan has banned the importation of Prairie Dogs as of March 1, 2003

Other Animals

Additional information

Regarding Japan's requirements can be found here:

http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/index.html

For species not listed, the requirements are not known. However, exporters wanting to ship livestock or germplasm whose requirements are not listed in the IRRS, should have the interested party (importer/buyer) in the country of destination apply for an Import Permit at the appropriate ministry. This Import Permit will most likely outline the specific requirements.

 

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Last Modified: November 4, 2009