HR3349-119

What This Bill Does

The Healthy Dog Importation Act adds a new Animal Health Protection Act section 10404A governing live dog imports. Importers must provide electronic documentation before transport showing that each dog is in good health, has required vaccinations, internal and external parasite treatment, negative tests, a certificate from an accredited veterinarian endorsed by a recognized veterinary authority, and permanent identification. Dogs imported for transfer generally must be at least 6 months old and have a USDA import permit. USDA must create exceptions for U.S.-origin pets returning home, U.S. military working dogs and contracted working dogs supporting missions, research dogs, dogs imported for paid veterinary treatment with quarantine and re-export, and certain Hawaii imports from the British Isles, Australia, Guam, or New Zealand. Within 18 months, USDA must issue regulations in consultation with HHS, Commerce, Homeland Security, and Transportation to allow electronic submissions, interagency sharing, post-arrival verification, denial of unlawful entries, a centralized certificate database shared with state veterinarians within three days on request, annual aggregate reporting by country of origin and purpose, and fees to fund permits and verification. Noncomplying importers or transporters face Animal Health Protection Act penalties and must pay for care, veterinary care, quarantine, forfeiture, removal, or return of affected dogs.

Who Benefits and How

U.S. dog owners benefit from reduced disease and parasite risk tied to imported dogs entering the domestic pet population. State veterinarians benefit from access to a centralized USDA database and three-day sharing requirement for certificate information. Responsible dog breeders benefit competitively if imported dogs for transfer must be older, documented, identified, and permitted. Animal shelters receiving lawful imports benefit from clearer federal rules and exceptions for legitimate transfers.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Dog importers must document health, vaccination, parasite treatment, testing, permanent identification, age, and permits before transport. Import transporters must submit veterinary inspection certificates and can be liable for care, quarantine, forfeiture, removal, or return costs. USDA APHIS staff must write rules, process electronic documentation, run databases, verify arrivals, issue permits, set fees, and enforce penalties. Foreign breeders shipping dogs to the United States face stricter health documentation, age, testing, identification, and permit requirements.

Key Provisions

• Requires pre-transport electronic documentation that imported dogs are healthy, vaccinated, parasite-treated, tested, certified, and permanently identified.
• Requires dogs imported for transfer to be at least 6 months old and accompanied by a USDA import permit.
• Creates exceptions for returning U.S. pets, military working dogs, research dogs, veterinary-treatment imports, and certain Hawaii imports.
• Directs USDA to issue regulations within 18 months for electronic submissions, interagency sharing, post-arrival checks, denial of unlawful entries, databases, reports, and fees.
• Authorizes penalties and importer-paid care, quarantine, forfeiture, removal, or return for noncompliant dogs.