U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Diego Field Office is informing the public about the upcoming changes to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements for dogs entering the United States. Effective August 1, these new regulations aim to safeguard public health and streamline the entry process for travelers with pets.
Sidney K. Aki, CBP Director of Field Operations for the San Diego Field Office, emphasized the importance of these changes while assuring the public that wait times at ports of entry will not be affected. “Effective August 1st, the CDC’s new dog importation requirements will be implemented to safeguard public health,” said Aki. “While these changes are essential, travelers can rest assured that wait times at the ports of entry will not be impacted. We urge everyone to familiarize themselves with the new requirements to ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience.”
The CDC published the new dog importation regulations on May 13, which will come into effect on August 1, following the end of the temporary suspension on July 31. Detailed information about these regulations can be found on the Federal Register and the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/dogtravel. Travelers are encouraged to use the CDC’s new DogBot tool to determine the specific rules applicable to their dogs based on travel dates and origins.
For example, a dog originating from Mexico that has not visited a rabies high-risk country in the last six months will need to meet several requirements:
– The dog must be at least six months old.
– The dog must have an International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-compatible microchip at the time of travel.
– A CDC Dog Import Form receipt is required.
Additionally, one of the following documents must be presented, and any documentation not from the United States must be completed in the country where the dog’s travel originates:
- Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form endorsed by an official veterinarian from the dog’s rabies-free or low-risk country, along with either a valid rabies serology titer or veterinary records for the past six months.
- Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form endorsed by USDA before the dog departed the United States.
- Valid USDA-endorsed export health certificate from the rabies-free or low-risk country where the dog’s return itinerary originated or documenting a valid rabies vaccination administered in the United States.
- Certification of Dog Arriving from DMRVV-free or Low-Risk Country form endorsed by an official veterinarian from the exporting country, along with a valid rabies serology titer or veterinary records for the past six months.
- Foreign export certificate that documents the dog is at least six months old, has an ISO-compatible microchip number, and includes veterinary records from the exporting rabies-free or low-risk country for the past six months.
The new regulation aims to expedite and standardize the process at arrival by ensuring that all required documentation is gathered beforehand. Travelers can utilize the CBP One mobile application, when available, to declare their pets before arriving at the port of entry. Providing advance information and scheduling appointments may expedite the CBP clearance process upon arrival.
