Import Requirements

For recent updates and/or specific questions, please call us at (615) 837-5120. For all categories, check Orders of the State Veterinarian for additional requirements.

  • Beef cattle* 18 months of age and older - Official ID, CVI (individual ID listed on CVI)
  • Beef cattle* under 18 months of age - CVI
  • Dairy Steers - Official ID, CVI (individual ID does not have to be listed on CVI)
  • Dairy Bulls* - Official ID, CVI (individual ID listed on CVI)
  • Dairy Females - Official ID, CVI (individual ID listed on CVI)
  • No susceptible species as determined by the state veterinarian may enter Tennessee from a premises or area that has been quarantined for vesicular stomatitis.
  • Animal(s) being imported from a state with a Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 72 hours of entering the state, with the following statement written by the accredited veterinarian on the certificate: “The animals represented on this health certificate have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis and are not exhibiting clinical signs of the virus.”
  • All cattle of any age used for rodeo, shows, exhibitions, or recreational events - Official ID, CVI (individual ID listed on CVI)

* All out of state breeding bulls - CVI, official ID, Trich Test / Trich Statement

Abbreviations:

  • CVI - Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (Valid for 30 days)
  • ID - Official Identification: NUES "brite" tags, Bangs (orange) tags or "840" tags
  • BR - Brucellosis (no testing from BR-free states)
  • TB - Tuberculosis (no testing from TB-free states)
  • Trich - Trichomoniasis
  • Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (valid for 30 days)
  • No susceptible species as determined by the state veterinarian may enter Tennessee from a premises or area that has been quarantined for vesicular stomatitis.
  • Animal(s) being imported from a state with a Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 72 hours of entering the state, with the following statement written by the accredited veterinarian on the certificate: “The animals represented on this health certificate have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis and are not exhibiting clinical signs of the virus.”
  • Equine Interstate Event Permit (Equine Passport); or
  • Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (valid for 30 days) - including description, date of negative EIA results, lab used and accession number.
  • Equine Infectious Anemia - Each horse or other member of the Equidae family, except foals less than six (6) months of age in the company of their EIA-negative dam(s), shall be accompanied by evidence that it has tested negative on an official test for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) conducted not more than twelve (12) months prior to entering the state
  • No susceptible species as determined by the state veterinarian may enter Tennessee from a premises or area that has been quarantined for vesicular stomatitis.
  • Animal(s) being imported from a state with a Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 72 hours of entering the state, with the following statement written by the accredited veterinarian on the certificate: “The animals represented on this health certificate have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis and are not exhibiting clinical signs of the virus.”

Official Identification Required:

  • Official ear tags that provide unique identification for the individual animal. These must bear the U.S. Shield, be tamper-resistant, have a high retention rate, and conform to one of the following numbering systems:
    1. Flock ID tags (flock ID with Individual Animal ID on tag),
    2. Scrapie program tags [Please call USDA Toll-free number 1-866-USDA TAG (873-2824) for further details],
    3. Serial ID tags (State code with serial numbers and letters), or
    4. Animal Identification Number (AIN) (RFID or visual).
  • USDA-compliant microchips
  • Official tattoos:
    1. Flock ID with Individual Animal ID, or
    2. Registration tattoo, IF recorded in a Purebred Registry Association Book WITH documentation attached to the CVI

Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued by an accredited veterinarian 30 days or less prior to entry, with official identification recorded on the CVI.

  • No susceptible species as determined by the state veterinarian may enter Tennessee from a premises or area that has been quarantined for vesicular stomatitis.
  • Animal(s) being imported from a state with a Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 72 hours of entering the state, with the following statement written by the accredited veterinarian on the certificate: “The animals represented on this health certificate have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis and are not exhibiting clinical signs of the virus.”

Official Identification Required:

  • Official ear tags that provide unique identification for the individual animal. These must bear the U.S. Shield, be tamper-resistant, have a high retention rate, and conform to one of the following numbering systems:
    1. Flock ID tags (flock ID with Individual Animal ID on tag),
    2. Scrapie program tags [Please call USDA Toll-free number 1-866-USDA TAG (873-2824) for further details],
    3. Serial ID tags (State code with serial numbers and letters), or
    4. Animal Identification Number (AIN) (RFID or visual).
  • USDA-compliant microchips
  • Official tattoos:
    1. Flock ID with Individual Animal ID, or
    2. Registration tattoo, IF recorded in a Purebred Registry Association Book WITH documentation attached to the CVI

Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued by an accredited veterinarian 30 days or less prior to entry, with official identification recorded on the CVI.

  • No susceptible species as determined by the state veterinarian may enter Tennessee from a premises or area that has been quarantined for vesicular stomatitis.
  • Animal(s) being imported from a state with a Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 72 hours of entering the state, with the following statement written by the accredited veterinarian on the certificate: “The animals represented on this health certificate have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis and are not exhibiting clinical signs of the virus.”

Definition per CHAPTER-0080-02-01 of Animal Health Rules

  • Commercial Production Swine - Those swine that are continuously managed and have adequate facilities and practices to prevent exposure to either transitional production or feral swine.
  • Animals that do not originate from a herd that meets the commercial definition may NOT be considered “breeder” or “feeder” swine, and therefore must fulfill the import requirements that apply to transitional swine, as defined below. Any swine with outdoor access are considered to be non-commercial.
  • Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (valid for 30 days).
  • Official individual identification.
  • No susceptible species as determined by the state veterinarian may enter Tennessee from a premises or area that has been quarantined for vesicular stomatitis.
  • Animal(s) being imported from a state with a Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 72 hours of entering the state, with the following statement written by the accredited veterinarian on the certificate: “The animals represented on this health certificate have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis and are not exhibiting clinical signs of the virus.”

Definition per CHAPTER-0080-02-01 of Animal Health Rules

  • Transitional Production Swine - Swine that have had reasonable opportunities to be exposed to feral or wild swine.
  • This definition includes any swine with outdoor access.
  • Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (valid for 30 days)
  • Entry Permit
  • Official Individual Identification
  • Brucellosis and Pseudorabies tested within 30 days of entry or originated from a Validated-Brucellosis-Free and Qualified Pseudorabies-Negative herd
  • No susceptible species as determined by the state veterinarian may enter Tennessee from a premises or area that has been quarantined for vesicular stomatitis.
  • Animal(s) being imported from a state with a Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 72 hours of entering the state, with the following statement written by the accredited veterinarian on the certificate: “The animals represented on this health certificate have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis and are not exhibiting clinical signs of the virus.”
  • Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (valid for 30 days)
  • Two forms of identification (one must be USDA official)
  • Entry permit
  • Proof showing each cervid is negative for tuberculosis and brucellosis, by either: 
    1. One USDA-approved tuberculosis and brucellosis test within 90 days prior to import, and proof the cervid originated from a herd that tested negative on a whole herd test for tuberculosis within 12 months prior to import; or 
    2. Two USDA-approved tuberculosis and brucellosis tests conducted at least 90 days apart and the second conducted within 90 days prior to import
  • Proof of participation in an approved CWD surveillance program for at least 5 years prior to shipment
  • The herd of origin must be located more than 50 miles from any area where CWD has ever been diagnosed
  • No importation of White-tailed deer is allowed in Tennessee
  • No susceptible species as determined by the state veterinarian may enter Tennessee from a premises or area that has been quarantined for vesicular stomatitis.
  • Animal(s) being imported from a state with a Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 72 hours of entering the state, with the following statement written by the accredited veterinarian on the certificate: “The animals represented on this health certificate have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis and are not exhibiting clinical signs of the virus.”
  • All poultry must originate from a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) certified flock with both proof of classification as Pullorum-Typhoid (PT) Clean AND Avian Influenza (AI) Clean or AI Monitored.
  • All poultry not originating from NPIP certified flock require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and both proof of negative PT testing with 90 days prior to import AND AI testing within 21 days prior to import.
  • All ratites must originate from a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) certified flock with both proof of classification as Pullorum-Typhoid (PT) Clean AND Avian Influenza (AI) Clean or AI Monitored.
  • All ratites not originating from NPIP certified flock require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and both proof of negative PT testing with 90 days prior to import AND AI testing within 21 days prior to import.
  • Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (valid for 30 days) if animal is entering Tennessee for more than 15 days.
  • Current rabies vaccination for dogs 3 months of age and cats 6 months of age.
  • CVI - Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (valid for 30 days).
  • A statement on the CVI by the issuing veterinarian, indicating the veterinarian carefully examined the oral mucosa of the primate and found no evidence of disease lesions or inflammatory processes.
  • Negative tuberculosis testing conducted within 30 days prior to import or movement.
  • Individual identification by microchip implantation.
  • Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (valid for 30 day) from state of origin.