Import Alert: New World Screwworm Restrictions for Live Animals Originating from or Transiting Mexico 

Import Alert: New World Screwworm Restrictions for Live Animals Originating from or Transiting Mexico 

Issuance Date: November 24, 2024 

                      1:00 pm  U.S. Eastern 

Effective Date: November 22, 2024  

Effective November 22, 2024, and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) is temporarily suspending the importation of live animals originating from or transiting Mexico based on the confirmation of New World screwworm in cattle. 

APHIS is temporarily suspending the importation of ruminants, including live cattle and bison, from Mexico. An updated import alert will be issued with additional guidance once APHIS has implemented mitigations that would allow resumption of imports. Importation of bovine germplasm, sheep and goats and their germplasm, and swine and their germplasm from Mexico are already prohibited.  

APHIS will allow the importation of dogs from Mexico if accompanied by a health certificate signed by a full-time, salaried SENASICA veterinary official. 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 Mexico 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 Mexico 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 Mexico 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.  

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.