International Animal Product Export Regulations
APHIS developed the International Animal Product Export Regulations (IRegs) to provide U.S. exporters with our best understanding of other countries’ import requirements for certain animal-origin products.
Key Responsibilities and Considerations
- Confirm Import Requirements Before Shipping
Import requirements may change at any time. Exporters must ensure that their importer confirms current certification requirements with the Ministry of Animal Health (or equivalent authority) in the importing country before shipping.
- Obtain Certificates Before Shipping
Most countries do not accept certificates issued after shipment. Exporters should secure all required documentation in advance. APHIS primarily certifies the animal health status of the U.S. State or region where the product originates. If additional certifications are required, other agencies may be responsible for issuing them.
View other agencies that may require certifications
- Consult With APHIS Before Requesting Endorsement
Exporters should review the country-specific IRegs before requesting endorsement of certificates. Exporters should not assume APHIS will endorse a certificate without first consulting the appropriate APHIS Veterinary Services office.
View instructions for submitting export certificates for endorsement
- Determine Re-Entry Requirements for Returning Shipments
If a shipment of animal products or by-products is being returned to the United States, exporters should use the VS Permitting Assistant to determine re-entry requirements.
Look Up Export Requirements
For countries not listed, the requirements are not known. However, exporters wanting to ship animal products should have the interested party (importer/buyer) in the destination country contact the appropriate ministry (or equivalent authority) for the specific requirements.
More Information
Looking for the latest country requirement updates? See the History of Requirement Updates for Animal Product Exports.
Want to receive email updates from APHIS about animal product exports? Sign up and select the "Veterinary Services - IREGS Animal Product Updates (Exports)" topic.
Other Agencies Responsible for Certifying Animal Product Exports
Dairy Products
- Primary Agency:
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Dairy Standardization
- Contact: DairyExportsQuestions@usda.gov, 202-720-3171
- Note: APHIS may certify in limited cases.
Meat and Processed Egg Products (with FSIS mark of inspection)
- Agency: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
- Scope: Meat, meat products, and many processed egg products for human consumption
- Contact: importexport@fsis.usda.gov, 202-720-0082
- More information: www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/import-export/import-export-library
Table Eggs and Other Egg Products (without FSIS mark of inspection)
- Agency: USDA AMS, Poultry Division
- Contact: www.ams.usda.gov/services/imports-exports/eggs-egg-products, 202-720-4411
Aquaculture and Fish Products
- Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce
- Scope: Fishmeal, fish oil, and certain seafood products intended for human consumption
- Contacts:
- nmfs.seafood.services@noaa.gov, NOAA Seafood Commerce and Trade, NOAA Inspection Offices, 301-427-8300 or 800-422-2750
- NOAA Fishmeal Program, 228-762-7402 ext. 312
Honey and Apiculture Products
- Agency:
- USDA AMS (Specialty Crops Program)
- Contact: SCIInspectionoperations@usda.gov
CITES Documentation
- Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
- Scope: Certification under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) (1.41 MB)
- More information: FWS International Affairs Program
Gelatin and Collagen (Bulk Shipments)
- Agency: FDA
- Contact: BulkCGExport-LM-OFS@fda.hhs.gov
Other FDA-Certified Commodities
- For human consumption: CFSANExportCertification@fda.hhs.gov
- For veterinary products: CVMExportCertification@fda.hhs.gov
- For animal consumption: AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov
- More information: www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/products/import-exports
Veterinary Biological Products
- Agency: APHIS Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB)
- Scope: Export certification for veterinary biological products
- Contact: cvb@usda.gov, 515-337-6100
Submitting an Export Certificate for Endorsement
Electronic Submission Required
Exporters must submit the completed forms electronically via email to the appropriate APHIS endorsing office. If the country accepts the VS 16-4 form, this must be prepared according to the Special Instructions for Exporters (147.53 KB). Otherwise, exporters must submit the prepared certificate using the information on the IRegs.
Before endorsement, APHIS will print the forms on official VS Security Paper.
Use Only the "JUL 2022" Versions
The JUL 2022 versions include the following declaration in the “Additional Declarations” section: “This is to certify that rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, swine vesicular disease, African swine fever, and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia do not exist in the United States of America.”
Only the JUL 2022 versions are accepted:
- VS Form 16-4—JUL 2022 (129.82 KB)
- VS Form 16-4A – JUL 2022 (98.86 KB)
- Combined VS Form 16-4 and 16-4A – JUL 2022 (191.76 KB)
Contact the Endorsing Office First
If needed, exporters should contact the endorsing office to:
- Confirm the correct email address, and
- Understand the required email formatting to ensure smooth processing.
Alternative Submission Methods
If email submission is not possible, exporters must coordinate with the endorsing office to discuss alternative submission options.
Software Requirements
To complete the forms properly, users must have Adobe Reader version 9.0 or higher installed. Any Adobe product (Reader, Standard, or Professional) is acceptable if it meets this version requirement.