Veterinary Division
General Requirements for Animal Imports into North Carolina
For specific information contact:
NORTH CAROLINA
Health Requirements Governing the Admission of Animals
For More Information on Current Regulations, Please Contact:
Dr. David T. Marshall
State Veterinarian
1030 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1030
Telephone: (919) 733-7601
Fax: (919) 733-6431
DOGS AND CATS
All dogs and cats entering the state must have a health certificate issued within 30 days and, for animals three months old and older, rabies vaccination within 12 months of entry.
§ 130A-193. Vaccination and confinement of dogs and cats brought into this State.
(a) A dog or cat brought into this State shall immediately be securely confined and shall be vaccinated against rabies within one week after entry. The animal shall remain confined for two weeks after vaccination.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) A dog or cat brought into this State for exhibition purposes if the animal is confined and not permitted to run at large; or
(2) A dog or cat brought into this State accompanied by a certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian showing that the dog or cat is apparently free from and has not been exposed to rabies and that the dog or cat has received rabies vaccine within the past year. (1935, c. 122, s. 11; 1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
HORSES AND OTHER EQUIDAE
Health certificate is required within 30 days of shipment with horses individually listed.
A. Horses, ponies, mules, asses zebras, and all other equine species may be imported into the state when accompanied by an official health certificate giving accurate description of them and certifying that as determined by a physical examination they are free fro any evidence of an infectious or transmissible disease and have not been exposed recently to any infectious or transmissible disease, and attesting that any animal over six (6) months of age has passed a negative official test for equine infectious anemia within 12 months prior to entry.
B. Exhibition
Negative official equine infectious anemia test certification within the past 12 months. No health certificate is required.
C. Market/Auction Sales
All equine over six (6) months of age moved for the purpose of change of ownership must be accompanied by an official certificate verifying a negative test for EIA conducted within twelve (12) months prior to sale or movement. Equine may have tests conducted at certain established pre-approved markets at seller's expense for reasons of sale and transfer provided they move with an owner-shipper statement and provided that the equine are restricted until the test has been conducted and held in isolation until negative test results have been received.
GENERAL
1. Animal imports must meet the requirements of Health Regulations Governing Admission of Livestock and Poultry into North Carolina and be in compliance with Federal Interstate Health Requirements.
2. Any accredited veterinarian approved by the recognized livestock sanitary official of the state of origin may inspect animals and issue health certificates. Permits may be obtained from the State Veterinarian's office, 1030 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1030, Telephone (919) 733-7601. Requests for permits must be made by the resident consignee. Requests for bird permits should be directed to Rollins Diagnostic Laboratory (919) 733-3986.
3. No animal affected with, or recently exposed to, an infectious or transmissible disease shall be imported into the state unless accompanied by a permit from the State Veterinarian.
4. The owners and operators of all vehicles including trucks, trailers, railcars, airplanes and other conveyances shall not move any livestock or other animals, including poultry, into North Carolina except in compliance with the provision of these regulations. An owner or custodian of livestock shall not aid, abet, direct or permit the movement of animals into North Carolina in violation of the regulations. An owner or custodian shall prepare each consignment for shipment according to the requirements of these regulations and see that such requirements are certified on an official health certificate, or by a permit issued by the State Veterinarian of North Carolina when a health certificate is not required.
All livestock not required to be accompanied by health certificates, test certificates or permits by the provisions of these regulations shall be accompanied by a waybill, invoice or owner-shipper certificate stating:
(1) The point from which the animals are moved interstate.
(2) The specific unloading destination (including street address and number if any) of the animals.
(3) The number of animals covered by the document.
(4) The name and address of the owner or shipper.
(5) The identification of the animals.
Owners, custodians and carriers shall not unload livestock or other animals including poultry except at locations indicated on health certificates. Any deviation of unloading site shall be accompanied by a written permit issued by the State Veterinarian or his agent.
Trucks and other conveyances used for transportation of livestock and poultry must be maintained in a sanitary condition. Owners and operators of trucks and other conveyances used for interstate movement of livestock infected with, or exposed to, an infectious or transmissible disease shall be required to have them cleaned and disinfected under official supervision. A certificate of such cleaning and disinfection shall be attached to the waybill or in possession of the conveyance operator.
5. Requirement for official health certificate. All livestock, poultry and pets imported into the state shall be accompanied by an official health certificate containing the names and addresses of the consignor and consignee, the origin of the animals, their final destination and an accurate description or identification of the animals (age, sex, breed, tag, tattoo or brand number). It shall also indicate the health status of the animals listed including dates and results of required tests and dates of pertinent vaccinations. Health certificates shall be void after thirty (30) days except those for cattle and hogs entering the state for exhibition purposes; these shall be valid for sixty (60) days from the date of issuance and the requirements for negative brucellosis tests within thirty (30) days of entry into the state shall be interpreted to mean within sixty (60) days.
The exceptions are:
a. Apparently health animals for immediate slaughter.
b. Horses or mules of the United States Army or horses which are consigned to any race track or entering the state temporarily for exhibition purposes.
c. Dogs for exhibition purposes, which are to be within the state for a limited time.
d. Poultry. Other than official health certificate required. See Poultry.
Poultry, hatching eggs and psittacine bird health certificates should be mailed to Rollins Diagnostic Laboratory, 1031 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1031
Contact the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Resources, Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology, 1912 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699-1912, Telephone (919) 733-3410.
ZOO, FUR-BEARING, & OTHER WILD ANIMALS
Health certificate, and/or prior permit, within 30 days, from the State Veterinarian, is required.
A. A permit is required for the importation of the following animals:
Bobcat (any North and South American wild feline)
Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
Coyote
Fox
Marten
Raccoon
Ringtail
Skunk
B. Permits for the above animals are issued only if the animal(s) will be used in a research institute, or for exhibition by a USDA licensed exhibitor, or organized entertainment such as zoos or circuses.
C. Any species or hybrid of a mammal (not already mentioned) which exists or naturally occurs in the wild must be accompanied by a valid certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 30 days of entry.
A separate permit for native species may be needed from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (919) 661-4872, for native species.
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