Origin certificates for exported livestock relaxed - May 15, 2002

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The Department of Agriculture has amended regulations to allow origin health certificates for animals intended for export from the United States to be valid for more than 30 days in some cases, depending on the testing requirements of the destination country. The rule, which will facilitate live animal exports to Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and other countries, went into effect April 1, 2002.

The change aligns the USDA requirements for export origin health certificates with testing requirements of importing countries. This eliminates the need for exporters to obtain another certificate when animals arrive at the port of embarkation after more than 30 days have elapsed.

The agency instituted the change to reduce costs and delays for U.S. livestock exporters who ship animals to certain countries. The change will not increase the risk of infected or exposed animals being exported because all animals are inspected before leaving the United States.

Origin health certificates attest that the animals in a shipment were inspected prior to export and found free of any evidence of, or exposure to, communicable diseases. The certificates also include identifying information pertaining to the individual animals in the shipments as well as all test results, certifications, or other statements required by the destination country.

For more information, consult the March 15, 2002, Federal Register, frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgibin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-6266-filed or contact Bob Bokma, Coordinator, Americas Region, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, at (301) 734-8066.