ADVISORY: Until further notice, returning U.S. origin pet birds from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, People's Republic of China, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam must go into 30-day quarantine in a USDA animal import quarantine facility. The USDA defines pet birds as those that are imported for personal pleasure of their individual owners and are not intended for resale.   Document and Quarantine Requirements: US Origin Pet Birds Gone more than 60 days USDA import permit required form National Center for Import and Export (VS Form 17-129) 30-day home quarantine or USDA Animal Import Quarantine Facility *see advisory Current health certificate issued by a full-time salaried veterinarian of the agency responsible for animal health of the national government in the exporting/foreign country of origin Health certificate (APHIS Form 7001) issued by a US veterinarian prior to departing the United States U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Certification (if necessary)   Import Process The bird must be accompanied by a U.S. origin veterinary health certificate(APHIS Form 7001) issued prior to departure from the United States. The leg band identification number, tattoo number, or microchip number affixed to the bird prior to departure must be recorded on the health certificate. The bird must be inspected by a USDA veterinarian at the first U.S. port of entry. The bird owner must contact the USDA port veterinarian (link to list) at least 72 hours in advance of arrival to make arrangements for a veterinary inspection of the bird. The bird will be swabbed for exotic Newcastle disease (END) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) by the USDA port veterinarian at the port of entry or at the owner's home.   30-Day Home Quarantine Requirements The owner must sign a statement in the presence of the USDA port veterinarian declaring that the bird has not been in contact with poultry or other birds while out of the United States. The owner must also sign the "Agreement of Pet Bird Owner" (VS Form 17-8) obtained from the USDA port veterinarian at the port of entry. By signing the form, the owner agrees to: maintain the bird in his or her personal possession, separate and apart from all poultry and other birds, for a minimum of 30 days, make the bird available for inspection by the USDA upon request until the end of the quarantine period, and notify the USDA immediately if any signs of disease are noted in the bird or if the bird dies during the quarantine period. In addition, the bird may not be transported within the United States during the quarantine period. Veterinary Inspection Fee During regular working hours (approximately 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday), there is a user fee of $257.00 for this service. Overtime charges apply if the bird arrives before or after these hours. The laboratory fee for the swab is $45.00. The import permit (VS Form17-129) fee is $94.00. In addition, USDA port veterinarians are not stationed full-time at each port of entry. Therefore, depending on the port of entry, there may be additional fees for the veterinarian to travel to and from the port of entry to inspect the bird.   Special Circumstances Returning U.S. Origin pet birds that have been out of the United States for 60 days or less require USDA veterinary inspection at the port of entry but are not required to be quarantined. The fee for this service is $108.00. Overtime charges apply if the bird arrives before or after these hours. The laboratory fee for the swab is $45.00. The import permit (VS Form17-129) fee is $94.00. In addition, USDA port veterinarians are not stationed full-time at each port of entry. Therefore, depending on the port of entry, there may be additional fees for the veterinarian to travel to and from the port of entry to inspect the bird.   Fish and Wildlife Service Permit Information In the United States, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) regulates the importation of birds protected by the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (WBCA). These regulations are part of international conservation effort to protect exotic wild birds subject to trade. Most exotic pet birds including parrots, parakeets, macaws, lories, and cockatoos are affected by CITES and the WBCA. However, the budgerigar, cockatiel, and rose-ringed parakeet are exempt.   According to the WBCA, in order to import a pet bird of non-U.S. origin into the United States, you must have continuously resided outside of the United States for at least one year. In addition, the WBCA limits the number of pet birds that can be imported to two birds per person, per year. All required WBCA and CITES permits must accompany the bird while in transit.   Please visit the FWS web site at: http://permits.fws.gov/ to obtain more information and the permit application. If you have questions you can contact the FWS at (800) 358-2104. Overseas calls should be placed to (703) 358-2104.   How to Contact Us If you need additional information about importing pet birds into the United States, please contact us at: USDA, APHIS, VS National Center for Import and Export 4700 River Road, Unit 39 Riverdale, MD 20737 (301) 734-8364 telephone (301) 734-6402 fax