General Requirements

Importing Animals into Michigan General Requirements

1. All animals, including poultry, imported into Michigan must meet the state requirements in addition to Federal interstate requirements and must originate from a herd or flock that is apparently free from and has not been exposed to contagious, infectious, toxicological, or communicable disease. The herd or flock must not be under quarantine for any reason.
   
   
2. All animal imports except livestock consigned to immediate slaughter (or where otherwise noted in the species specific page) must be accompanied by one copy of the official interstate health certificate or official certificate of veterinary inspection (herein certificate) prepared by an accredited veterinarian of the state of origin (except poultry and hatching eggs - please see those sections). This certificate shall be in the possession of the driver of the vehicle or person accompanying the shipment of animals. An approved copy of the health certificate shall be forwarded to the office of the Michigan State Veterinarian within ten days after the date of issuance.
   
   
1. There shall be no diversion of animals to premises other than the destination site named on the certificate, owner-shipper statement, or sale invoice.
2. An accredited veterinarian shall inspect the herd or flock of origin and the animal(s) in the shipment. The accredited veterinarian shall prepare and sign the certificate, which is valid for 30 days after examination of the animal(s).
3. The certificate shall be prepared on official forms of the state of origin and state the date of inspection.
4. The certificate shall describe the animals by species, breed, sex, and age. For livestock, the certificate shall include a signed certification by the consignor that the animals in the shipment are those described in the certificate. Individual identification such as ear tag numbers, tattoos, brands, or registration numbers are required to be recorded.
5. The certificate shall record all data necessary to report results of required tests and vaccinations.
6. The certificate shall have complete names and addresses of the consignor and consignee and the destination address if different from the consignee address.
7. The accredited veterinarian preparing the certificate shall certify that the livestock are free of clinical signs of infectious, contagious, or toxicological disease.
8. For livestock, the certificate shall state the intended purpose for which the animals are to be used, i.e.:
   
   
1. Dairy or breeding
2. Feeding or grazing
3. Immediate slaughter
4. Other purposes (exhibition, etc.)
   
   
3. In lieu of an official interstate health certificate or official certificate of veterinary inspection, an owner-shipper statement or an invoice that shows the origin, number and type of livestock in the shipment and the destination of the livestock may accompany livestock imported for immediate slaughter purposes. The livestock may only be transported to the destination stated on the official interstate health certificate, official certificate of veterinary inspection, owner-shipper statement, or invoice. Cattle delivered directly to a slaughter plant shall be slaughtered within 5 days. Swine delivered directly to a slaughter plant must be slaughtered within 48 hours of importation. Livestock for slaughter purposes delivered to a livestock auction market as defined in Public Act 284 of 1937, as amended, shall be slaughtered within ten days.
   
   
4. Livestock being imported for exhibition shall meet the requirements for importation of breeding animals of that species and shall be accompanied by a copy of an official interstate health certificate or certificate of veterinary inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian from the state of origin. Livestock shall not be diverted to a premises other than the destination site named on the official interstate health certificate.