Import Alert: New World Screwworm Restrictions for Animal Commodities Originating from or Transiting Guatemala

Import Alert: New World Screwworm Restrictions for Animal Commodities Originating from or Transiting Guatemala 

Issuance Date: November 1, 2024 

                        1:10 PM U.S. Eastern 

Effective Date: October 28, 2024  

Effective October 28, 2024, and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) is restricting the importation of animal commodities originating from or transiting Guatemala based on the diagnosis of New World screwworm. 

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

APHIS will permit the importation of dogs from Guatemala as long as they are accompanied by a 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 leaving the region. 

Horses originating from or transiting Guatemala or that have resided in Guatemala within the 60 days immediately preceding export to the United States must complete the established import screwworm protocol. However, horses that reside in a screwworm-free country for a minimum of 7 days after residing in Guatemala do not need to complete 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.  

For other animal species, 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.  

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