Import Alert: New World screwworm restrictions on live animals from El Salvador

APHIS prohibits the importation of live ruminants, swine, and their germplasm from El Salvador.

APHIS will permit the importation of dogs from El Salvador if accompanied by a health certificate signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official of the region of origin. The certificate must state that the animal has been inspected for screwworm within 5 days prior to shipment to the United States and the animal is either free from screwworm or was found to be infested with screwworm, held in quarantine, and treated until free from screwworm prior to the certificate being issued and the dog being exported to the United States.

Horses originating from or that have resided in El Salvador within the 60 days immediately preceding export to the United States must complete the established import screwworm protocol. This includes pre-export treatment and examination, as well as treatment, examinations, and a 7- day quarantine in a permanent import quarantine facility upon arrival. Horses transiting El Salvador will be required to complete screwworm mitigations upon arrival. Please note that horses that have resided in a screwworm-free country for a minimum of 7 days after residing in El Salvador may request a derogation from the screwworm protocol, if they are then examined by a veterinarian authorized to do so, found free of screwworm, and certification of this examination accompanies the horses upon arrival to the United States. Such requests must be made prior to the exportation of the horse to the United States.

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Specific information about live animal import requirements for all species regulated by APHIS VS can be found at: www.aphis.usda.gov/live-animal-import .

A list of regions APHIS recognizes as affected by screwworm can be found on the USDA APHIS Animal Health Status of Regions website.

For additional information about live animal imports regulated by other Agencies, please check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, and/or USDA APHIS Animal Care to ensure import requirements of those agencies are met, when applicable.