Healthy Dog Importation Act: A New Standard for Canine Travel
The Healthy Dog Importation Act (HDI) aims to improve the importation of live dogs into the United States, ensuring their health and safety while protecting American public health.
Section 1: Short Title
This Act may be cited as the ‘Healthy Dog Importation Act’.
Section 2: Importation of Live Dogs
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 10404 (7 U.S.C. 8303) the following:
‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:…
- (1) COMPENSATION.—The term ‘compensation’ means any act, consideration, or thing of value received by a person directly, including cash or noncash benefits,…
- (2) IMPORTER.—The term ‘importer’ means any person who transports or causes the transportation of a dog into the United States from a foreign country.
- (3) IMPORT TRANSPORTER.—The term ‘import transporter’ means any person or entity that receives an imported dog from any importer, dealer, research facility, exhibitor,…
‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), no person shall import a dog into the United States unless prior to transport to the United States, the Secretary receives electronic documentation necessary, as determined by the Secretary,…
Section 10404A: Importation of Live Dogs
- (1) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:…
- (a) IMPORTATION.—(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), no person shall import a dog into the United States unless prior to transport to the United States,…
Implementation and Regulations
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Healthy Dog Importation Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Transportation, shall promulgate such regulations as the Secretary of Agriculture determines necessary to implement and enforce this section,…
- to facilitate electronic submission and interagency sharing of all documentation required prior to the importation of a dog into the United States under subsection (b)(1);
- to establish any necessary post-arrival verification processes for imported dogs;
- to ensure the denial of entry into the United States of any dog attempted to be imported into the United States in violation of subsection (b)(1);
Transition Period
The term ‘‘transition period’’ means the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which final regulations are promulgated under section 10404A. (c)
Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act
Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2148) is repealed.
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