Trade Contacts

Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection User Fees

APHIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection work together at our Nation's ports of entry to provide Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) services. Contact our program specialists for questions about AQI user fees, including payments, how we set the fees, and related policies.

Automated Commercial Environment

Contact APHIS' Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) team if you have technical questions about using the APHIS Core Message Set to file APHIS-required import data in ACE for plants, animals, or their products.

Import Permits and Requirements for Plants and Plant Products

Travelers and importers may contact specialists with APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program for a wide range of questions. We can advise on permits and requirements for importing plants and plant products (including wood, wood products, endangered plant species, and transit shipments) and what products are and are not allowed into the United States from abroad. We can also answer questions about permits for plant pests, plant pathogens, biological control agents, bees, plant pest diagnostic laboratories, soil, soil microbe isolation laboratories, Federal noxious weeds, and parasitic plants.

Lacey Act Declaration

Under the Lacey Act, it is unlawful to import into the United States any plant or plant product that was illegally harvested. It is also unlawful to import certain products without a declaration. Our specialists can help you understand the Lacey Act declaration requirements, determine whether your product needs a declaration, and answer questions about how to file a declaration.

Commodity Preclearance and Offshore Monitoring Programs

Importers, producers, growers, industry representatives, and others may contact specialists with APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine program for questions about our preclearance and offshore certification activities. This includes offshore agricultural commodity preclearance activities in foreign countries, certification of offshore plant production facilities in foreign countries, and the Offshore Greenhouse Certification Program.

Regulated Garbage

U.S.-based companies, aircraft cleaners, cartage firms, fixed-base operators, and others may contact APHIS plant health program specialists for questions about handling regulated garbage. We can advise on current policy for handling regulated garbage at U.S. ports of entry and, for those interested, assist you in becoming an approved facility.

Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance

Contact APHIS' Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance staff if you think an agricultural product was imported into the United States without proper clearance. We can also answer questions about how to import agricultural goods (including animal products and byproducts) legally.

Plant Inspection Stations

Most imported plant material intended for propagation must transit through a USDA Plant Inspection Station to complete clearance and processing. Contact your nearest station to check the status of a shipment or notify us of a pending shipment. Our staff can also answer questions about local clearance processes.

Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program

Importers may contact APHIS' Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program for questions about the status of a product at one of our facilities.

Export Certification

APHIS has Certification Specialists nationwide with expertise in export programs for plants and plant products. Contact the specialist in your State for questions about requirements for exporting commodities to another country.

International Services Offices

APHIS has Foreign Service Officers and staff in nearly 30 countries overseas. Contact a specific office for questions about available animal and plant health inspection services in that country. Some countries are serviced by staff in other countries. Your contact office may be in another country.

Port Services (by State)

APHIS Veterinary Services oversees animal inspection and quarantine activities at ports throughout the United States. Contact your nearest Port Services office for questions about import inspections at a port of entry, quarantine of animals arriving from a foreign country, requesting approval as a private animal import quarantine facility, or scheduling an inspection for animal export.

Export Trade Services (by State)

APHIS has animal health officials available nationwide with expertise in export requirements for animals. Contact your nearest office for questions about international pet travel requirements (including health certificate endorsement) or endorsing an export or health certificate for live animals.

Animal Product Export Certificate Endorsement

For animal product export certificate endorsement or questions, select your State or Territory to email the appropriate office and include "Animal products: endorsement or question" plus your State or Territory's name in the subject line. Note: Offices may serve multiple States and Territories.

Animal Product Export Facility Inspections

For animal product export facility inspection requests or questions, select your State or Territory to email the appropriate office and include "Facility Inspection" plus your State or Territory's name in the subject line. Note: Offices may serve multiple States and Territories.

VS Service Centers for Approved Establishment Program

APHIS' Approved Establishment program helps ensure the safe import of animal trophies, hides, and feathers. Contact your local APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) service center to ask about becoming an approved establishment or if you have questions or need to submit paperwork for a shipment consigned to an approved establishment.

Animal Product Import and Export

Contact APHIS' Animal Product Import and Export team for questions about current trade restrictions, testing requirements for international trade, importing an animal product into the United States, or transiting an animal product through the United States.

Live Animal Import and Export

Contact APHIS' Live Animal Import and Export team for questions about current trade restrictions, testing requirements for international trade, importing a live animal into the United States, or transiting a live animal through the United States.

Automated Commercial Environment

Contact APHIS' Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) team if you have technical questions about using the APHIS Core Message Set to file APHIS-required import data in ACE for plants, animals, or their products.

Import Permits (Dogs for Resale and Adoption)

APHIS' Animal Care program works with partners at U.S. ports of entry to make sure dogs imported into the United States for commercial sale or adoption meet the Animal Welfare Act's health, age, and vaccination requirements. Contact our team if you have questions about import permit requirements for these dogs or need help applying for a permit.