Horses entering into the United States from International destinations must meet two separate import criteria:
  
1. US Customs
2. US Department of Agriculture. 

IMPORT HORSE SHIPMENTS : THE PROCESS

*	Pre-Import Blood Testing for Equine Infectious Anemia (Coggins Test), Dourine, Glanders, and Equine Piroplasmosis (equi and caballi).
*	International Health Certificate endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture of Country of Origin of the Animal.
*	Arrival to the USA, re-testing for Equine Infectious Anemia (Coggins Test), Dourine, Glanders, and Equine Piroplasmosis (equi and caballi) by the USDA.
*	In countries affected by Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), horses over the age of 2 years require CEM testing.
*	The horse is quarantined upon arrival; normal quarantine period is between 24 and 72 hours pending the result of the blood tests.
*	From certain countries an Import Permit is required prior to arrival of the animal. The permit is issued and obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services upon written request. Document for Importation #01DTT38112-1.  Declaration of Importation form # VS FORM 17-29 (JUL 95).
*	A U.S. Customs Bond must be posted upon entry.
*	A US Health Certificate can be obtained at: http://cofcs66.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals/ee_eq_perm.pdf
*	US Import Document request can be obtained at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/pdf/vs17-129.pdf
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
*	The horse must exhibit no visible signs of communicable disease, skin rashes, or infections of any kind upon arrival to the US.
*	Any horse testing positive after arrival to any one of the above diseases will be REFUSED ENTRY into the USA. The owner, at his expense, will have to immediately make arrangements to export the horse back to the country of origin, or agree to have the USDA euthanize the animal.
*	The USDA charges a minimum of $792.00 for a three day stay regardless of whether the horses stay one, two or three days. After the minimum three-day stay, should horses be held in quarantine, the charge is $191.00 per day from days 4 through 7 and $162.00 per day from days 8 and over. Facilities are located in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. To reserve space at an USDA-operated quarantine facility, the importer or his agent should contact the port veterinarian at one of the locations.
*	In addition to the charge for board, there is an additional USDA User Fee for Blood tests that currently amounts to $41.00 per horse thereby making the complete quarantine charges for a minimum stay per horse $833.00.
*	State Requirements - The owner should check with the State of destination veterinary officials as to any additional State health requirements that must be met after the horses arrive in the State.
*	A broker or shipping agent is strongly recommended to handle the shipping of the horse. The broker is familiar with the latest requirements and can facilitate submission of laboratory samples as well as ensure the proper documentation is completed prior to shipment and accompanies the horse upon arrival. The broker will ensure that the proper import permit accompanies the serum samples and that payment is made at the time of shipment. An account number must also be assigned prior to shipment for billing purposes. A current list of approved brokers can be obtained from the National Center for Import and Export.
*	The Department of Treasury currently does not assess any duties on horses being imported into the country; however, they do assess a U.S. Customs User Fee on all non-American goods entering the country, including horses. This fee is based on the value of the horse and is calculated at a rate of .0021%, the minimum being $25.00, and the maximum, per entry, $485.
There are three levels of USDA Entry Quarantine:
1.	Three days, for horses entering from any country not infected with either VEE (Venezuelan Equine Encephomyilitis) or AHS (African Horse Sickness)
2.	Seven days, for horses entering from countries reporting VEE within last year. Cost of Quarantine $1556.00 plus blood tests.
3.	Sixty days for horses entering from a region where African Horse Sickness has been reported during the last 12 months. Cost of Quarantine is $10,142.00 plus blood tests. (Only permitted at Newburg Quarantine).
4.	If horses, with the exception of Thoroughbred Horses in Training, from the countries of England, Ireland, France, and Germany, are arriving from a Country currently on the list in Washington for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), an additional quarantine period will be required after the USDA quarantine has been completed.
NOTE WELL :
To Reserve Space at the Quarantine Stations, a check in full payment of the minimum stay must be presented to the USDA in order to guarantee your arrival date. Please note the USDA has recently established a new policy with regards to the cancellation of a reservation. It now states:
1.	Cancellation of a reservation 30 Business days from the reservation date is subject to a 25% forfeiture of a per horse stall rate.
2.	Cancellation of a reservation between 15-29 business days from reservation is subject to a 50% loss of 792.
3.	Cancellation of a reservation inside of 15 Business Days will result in the lose of 100% of the deposit.

Click the link for a list of International Horse Transportation Companies.

Canada's policy for international import of horses is very similar to that of the United States with the following exceptions:

LAB SERVICES AND QUARANTINE FACILITIES

USDA Laboratory for blood testing:

National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL)

1800 Dayton Road

Ames, IA 50010 U.S.A.

To obtain a current a price list of tests contact the User Fee Help Line at

telephone (612) 370-2291.

List of Approved Brokers and Import/Export Information:

National Center for Import and Export

Veterinary Service/APHIS

U.S. Department of Agriculture

4700 River Road Unit 39

Riverdale, MD 20737-1231

Telephone: (301) 734-8170

Website: www.aphis.usda.gov

Vet: Dr. Freda Asaac

Tel: (301) 734-8364

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/

Quaratine Facilities:

USDA VETERINARY SERVICES REGIONAL OFFICES

CFIA Animal Health
Dr. Ed Creighton

Kelly Brown - Animal Products or By-Products
Chris Paolini - Live Animals & Germplasm

174 Stone Road West
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 4S9
Tel: (519) 837-9400
Fax: (519) 837-9771