Effective Date: April 1, 2024

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is pleased to announce the new health certificate for exporting research fish and their eggs (specifically zebrafish and killifish) from the United States to China, effective April 1, 2024. More information regarding the export requirements and associated health certificate are on the APHIS International Regulations (IRegs) web page for China – Export Live Animals to China | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (usda.gov).

Please note that this certificate can be created in APHIS’ online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS), and China accepts electronic issuance by your Accredited Veterinarian, but requires a wet ink signature and endorsement by APHIS. For more information on VEHCS visit USDA APHIS | Country Acceptance List for VEHCS.

Visit the IRegs Live Animal Export History Page for a quick summary about all new/updated live animal export requirements and negotiated health certificates. Aquatic animal specific updates can be viewed by typing “aqua” in the History Page search box, or by selecting “Aquaculture/ Aquatic Animals” from the commodity drop-down list. You can register to receive automatic email notifications when History Page Update are made by signing up for the “VS - IREGS Live Animals” topic within the APHIS Stakeholder Registry.

For more information on certificate endorsement or facility inspection requests, please contact the APHIS Endorsement Office for your State or U.S. Territory (USDA APHIS | VS Contacts: Live Animal and Animal Product Exports).