USDA APHIS Import Permit for Pet Treats: What US Importers Need
Animal-origin dog chews from many countries need a USDA APHIS permit and a veterinary health certificate before they can enter the US. Here is how the permit side works.
A USDA APHIS import permit is the federal authorization that allows animal-origin pet food, treats and chews to enter the United States from countries where livestock diseases exotic to the US are present. For natural dog chews made from beef, lamb or goat, it is usually the first document a US importer has to line up, and it has to be in place before the goods ship.
What APHIS regulates and why
The FDA looks at pet treats as animal food. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) looks at something different: whether the animal material in the product could carry a livestock disease into the US. That is why the permit question depends on the raw material and the country of origin, not on the brand or the retailer.
According to the FDA’s own import guidance, a USDA APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) permit is required for animal food that contains animal-origin material from countries with livestock diseases exotic to the United States. Most single-ingredient chews, such as bully sticks, trachea, ears and cheek rolls, fall into this group.
The two documents that travel together
In practice, importers deal with a pair of documents:
- USDA APHIS VS import permit, issued to the US importer, which states the product, origin and the conditions the shipment must meet.
- Veterinary health certificate, issued by the veterinary authority of the exporting country, which confirms the product was produced and treated under those conditions.
The permit sets the conditions; the certificate proves each shipment meets them. One without the other is not enough at the border.
| Import permit | Veterinary health certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds or issues it | Issued by APHIS to the US importer | Issued by the exporting country’s veterinary authority |
| How often | Valid for a period and the products it lists | One for each shipment |
| What it says | Products, origin and import conditions | That this shipment meets those conditions |
| Who checks it | Reviewed at entry against the goods | Reviewed at entry against the permit and invoice |
Who applies, and when
The permit is held by the US importer of record, not by the foreign producer. The application is filed with APHIS online, and the importer describes the product, its processing and the origin country. Because processing review can take time, the permit should be requested well before the first production run, not after the goods are ready.
A good supplier helps here by providing an accurate product description, processing details and the facility information APHIS asks for. That information also needs to match what the veterinary certificate will later state.
How the application usually runs, step by step
- Confirm with your supplier the exact products, species and origin you plan to import.
- Collect a written process description for each product: raw material, treatment, drying or cooking, and packing.
- Create or use your account in APHIS’s online permitting system and start a Veterinary Services import application.
- Describe each product clearly and attach the supporting information APHIS requests.
- Answer any follow-up questions from APHIS reviewers promptly and consistently.
- Once the permit is issued, send a copy to your supplier so the health certificate wording can be prepared to match.
- Keep the permit on file with your customs broker and check its validity before each order.
Forms, systems and review practices can change, so check the current instructions on the APHIS website or with a customs broker who handles animal products before you apply.
Processing details matter
APHIS decisions often turn on how the product was made: the raw material, the treatment it went through and how it was packed. Ask your supplier for a clear process description for each SKU. Vague descriptions slow down permit reviews and lead to questions at entry.
A useful process description names the species and body part, the country of origin of the raw material, each processing step with its purpose, how the finished product is protected from recontamination, and how it is packed. Keep the same wording in the application, the invoice and the health certificate.
What the health certificate usually covers
The exact wording depends on the permit conditions, but a veterinary health certificate for pet chews commonly identifies the exporter and consignee, describes the product and quantity, references the producing facility, and includes statements about the origin of the raw material and the treatment applied. The certificate is signed and stamped by an official veterinarian in the exporting country.
Ask your supplier for a draft before the shipment is loaded and have your customs broker compare it with the permit. Small wording differences are much easier to fix before the goods leave than at a US port.
Keep a copy of every certificate with the related invoice and permit. If a later shipment raises a question, a consistent record of earlier entries makes it easier to show that the same product has cleared before under the same conditions.
Common mistakes
- Shipping before the permit is issued.
- A health certificate that does not match the permit conditions or the product description.
- Changing the product, for example adding flavoring or basting, without checking whether the permit still covers it.
- Assuming a permit for one origin or one product covers another.
- Letting the permit lapse between orders without noticing.
- Using different product names on the invoice, the certificate and the packaging.
How the APHIS permit fits with FDA and customs
The APHIS permit is one part of a wider entry. The producing facility also needs FDA food facility registration, each shipment needs FDA Prior Notice before arrival, and the customs broker files the entry with CBP. Our FDA requirements guide for dog treats covers the FDA side, and the importer’s compliance guide shows how all the pieces line up for one shipment.
How Chewport handles the APHIS side
Chewport works with partner facilities in Turkiye that produce for the US market. We prepare the product and process information for your permit application and coordinate the veterinary health certificate on the supplier side, so the paperwork matches before the container is loaded. Our compliance and logistics page explains how the tasks are split between us and the importer.
Frequently asked questions
Do all dog treats need a USDA permit?
No. The requirement depends on whether the product contains animal-origin material and on the country it comes from. Natural chews made from beef, lamb or goat from countries with exotic livestock diseases generally need one.
Who holds the APHIS permit, the supplier or the importer?
The US importer. The supplier provides the product and process information and the veterinary health certificate for each shipment.
Can I use one permit for several products?
Only if the permit covers them. Check the permit conditions before adding new products or a new origin.
How long does it take to get an APHIS import permit?
Review times vary with the product, the completeness of the application and APHIS workload. Apply well before your first production run and check current processing information with APHIS.
Is there a fee for the permit?
APHIS may charge user fees for import permits. Check the current fee schedule on the APHIS website or with your customs broker before applying.
What happens if a shipment arrives without the right documents?
The shipment can be held, refused entry or required to be re-exported or destroyed, depending on the case. That is why the permit and the health certificate should be confirmed before the goods are loaded.
Planning your first import?
Tell us the products and origin you are considering, and we will map the permit and certificate steps that apply.
Request a quoteThe US-facing pet line of Export Partners LLC. Wholesale and private-label functional chews, natural dog chews and freeze-dried treats, sourced in Turkiye with FDA and USDA compliance handled on the supplier side.
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