5.0 Export to the U.S.

5.1 Export to the U.S. - General

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General Requirements

a) the animal was born in Canada or the U.S. and has not been in any other country; or
b) the animal has been legally imported into Canada from some other country and unconditionally released into Canada so as to be eligible to move freely within Canada without restriction of any kind and has been in Canada after such release for 60 days or longer. An exception to these provisions is if a permit was obtained from the USDA to import into the U.S. animals that have been in Canada less than 60 days. If this situation arises, the district veterinarian should be contacted for more information.

Interpretations

Import Permits

a) They were born in Canada or the U.S. and have been in no other country; or

b) They were legally imported into Canada from a bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-free country and have been unconditionally released and eligible to move freely within Canada for at least 60 days before their export to the U.S.

a) any animals (including semen or embryos), poultry, birds, or semen that are destined to enter the U.S. by air, sea or an inland port of entry other than those listed below;

b) all fresh/frozen embryos that enter the U.S. without having been transferred to an eligible recipient;

c) all animals, poultry, or semen from animal donors if the animals, poultry or animal donors have been imported into Canada from a country other than the U.S. and have been resident in Canada less than 60 days excluding any Canadian quarantine period.

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Veterinary Service, National Center for Import and Export
4700 River Road, Unit 39
Riverdale, Maryland 20737
Tel.: (301) 734-3277
Fax: (301) 734-4704

Requests may also be made by contacting USDA authorities at the port of entry.

U.S. import permit:
Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Room 432
4401 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Tel.: (703) 358-2104

Canadian export permit:
CITES Administrator
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: (819) 997-1095

Federal Requirement vs. State Requirements and Requirements of Other Organizations

Use and Control of CFIA Seals

Land Ports of Entry

Because of limited inspection services at some ports of entry, exporters should be advised to schedule the arrival of their animals with the USDA/APHIS veterinarian.

5.2 Export to the U.S. - Cattle Under 30 Months for Feeding

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Health Certification

• have been born in Canada or the U.S. and not have been in any other region; or

• have been legally imported into Canada from a bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)–free region and have been unconditionally released and eligible to move freely within in Canada for at least 60 days before export to the U.S.

Certification Procedure

• The accredited veterinarian will be required to reject the entire load presented for export if the rejection rate of cattle over thirty months is greater than 10%. The animals rejected during the preliminary screening or those rejected as a precaution measure are not included in the 10% calculation.

• To continue with the export process, the exporter will be required to re-assemble the load and take actions to ensure that only eligible animals are presented to the accredited veterinarian for certification.

• Exporters who ship infrequently (90 days or more between shipments);
• Exporters who ship assembled loads when animals have an unknown or uncertain origin, especially if the animals are near the 30-month age limit;
• Shipments involving inexperienced exporters or newly accredited veterinarians; and,
• Shipments where accredited veterinarians have observed 10% or higher non-compliance with age requirements during preliminary inspections.

• Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ);
• Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA);
• Purebred registration certificate; or
• Breeding or birth records from the herd of origin may be used if the accredited veterinarian considers the data reliable.

a) Pregnancy diagnosis by palpation:

• Beginning January 12, 2006, new shipments must be segregated and physically separated by gender for at least 60 days before the palpation test is completed to prevent the misdiagnosis of early-term pregnancies which can be difficult to detect;
• Each animal in the shipment must be inspected; and
• If both uterine horns cannot be palpated for any reason to confirm that the animal is not pregnant, the animal must be considered pregnant and deemed ineligible for export.

b) Ultrasound Technology:

• Beginning January 12, 2006, new shipments must be segregated and physically separated by gender at least 45 days before the ultrasound diagnostic technique is used to prevent the misdiagnosis of early-term pregnancies which can be difficult to detect;
• Each animal in the shipment must be inspected;
• All suspect cases must be considered pregnant and deemed ineligible for export; and,
• The accredited veterinarian must have the necessary experience and training in the use of such technology.

c) Blood Test:

• The accredited veterinarian must use an approved test for this purpose. The CFIA district veterinarian can provide a list of approved tests/laboratories. The animals must be segregated and physically separated by gender at least 60 days before being presented for this test;
• Each animal must be tested individually; and
• This test must not be performed on animals that have received a pregnancy terminating agent as false positive results could occur.

d) Pregnancy Terminating Agent:

• All heifers confirmed or suspected to be pregnant must be clearly identified and grouped separately from the heifers qualified for export. Exporters may choose to treat such animals with a recognized pregnancy-terminating agent. Each animal treated with this agent must be re-examined using palpation or ultrasound no less than two weeks after the treatment and before export. An exporter may choose to treat every animal in the shipment; however, all treated animals must be examined to confirm they are not pregnant; and
• If the owner subsequently decides to send these treated animals to be slaughtered in Canada, they must not be slaughtered for use in food for at least two days after their last treatment with these products.

• Segregation of gender should be accomplished so that animals in one group cannot physically reach the animals of another group. For example, a group of males and a group of heifers should not be placed in adjacent fields with only a fence separating the two groups.
• Pregnancy determination by any of the above methods can be performed before the 30-day maximum period between inspection and export, providing the testing is followed by strict segregation by gender.

How to Complete the Canadian Health Certificate (HA 2184)

Note: While it is not a USDA requirement that the ear tag numbers be listed in ascending numerical order on the certificate, accredited veterinarians are encouraged to complete certificates in this manner. This practice will facilitate inspection at the U.S. port of entry and minimize delays.

Inspections at U.S. Ports or Entry

Link to export certificate HA 2184 and the Agent or Owner and/or Exporter's Declaration from the CFIA Web site.
The Export Certification - Verification of Dental Examination APHD-DSAE-IE-2006-1-2AD2 is available from your district veterinarian, as is a sample of the Addendum for Animals Not Included in the Shipment which can be printed on your official letterhead.