United States of America (US)
U.S. Customs Licensing Enforcement Inspection
Please note that a license from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is mandatory for importing infectious substances into the United States.
Such goods imported into the country without the required documentation may be subject to customs delays, scrapping or return to the country of origin.
Biological samples:
Request:
Human-related
Non-infectious:
- Fast customs clearance without import license.
However, the CDC Non-Communicable Material Information Letter or the USDA No Jurisdiction Letter must be included on the packaging and together with the image file.
- In order to claim non-contagiousness, CDC will require the signing of an importer certification statement on the official letterheadhead, including the following:
Detailed description of the material: Describe how you do not know or suspect that the material contains infectious biologics, and how you know that the sample does not contain infectious biological agents, or based on the belief that there is no reason to suspect that the sample does not contain infectious biological agents, or describe in detail how the material is considered non-infectious.
Contagious and possibly contagious:
- License required.
- According to DG shipping guidelines.
- The packaging must be affixed with the Generic Biohazard Mark, importer's name and address, license number and expiry date.
- For more details, see https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/ipp/docs/doyouneedanimportpermitfactsheetfinal.pdf
Animal-related
- All animal biological products, including samples, require a license and image files.
- See https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/veterinary-biologics/ct_vb_import_export_products for more details
Brazil (BR)
Labor action by Brazilian Customs
Brazilian customs agents have upgraded their labor actions, and the customs clearance process for import and export goods at Brazilian customs may be delayed by 7 days for a specific period.
