Animal Industry Division

ADVISORY Due to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak occurring in the US Mainland, Poultry and Bird Import Permits (PBIP) may be denied for shipments of hatching eggs, day-old-chicks, poultry and other birds originating within avian influenza control zones or from states involved with significant outbreaks.  Call (808) 837-8092 with PBIP requests. To view the USDA list of HPAI outbreak areas, go to: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza If you are importing birds from foreign countries, view USDA requirements at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/birds

Importing poultry and birds from the US Mainland to Hawai`i:

Most birds species, except certain poultry, require two (2) permits (Plant Quarantine Import Permit AND a Poultry and Bird Permit from the Livestock Disease Control Branch. Birds from foreign countries must also comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations, which may be found at:  https://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/nonus_pet_bird.shtml

To import a bird from the U.S. Mainland, an Import Permit is required in advance of entry through the:

Plant Quarantine Branch
Department of Agriculture
1849 Auiki Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96819
E-mail: [email protected]
or go to the Permit Application webpage
The import permit application must be accompanied by a $20 fee (one-time entry) or $100 (multiple entries within 1 year)

Many bird species are either prohibited entry into Hawaii or may only enter under specific conditions.  List of the prohibited and restricted species to make sure that the animal you wish to import into Hawaii can be brought into the State.

Although sometimes considered poultry in other parts of the United States, guinea fowl, pea fowl, pheasants and certain species of ducks and geese require a Plant Quarantine Import Permit.  Contact the Plant Quarantine Office at (808) 832-0566 for more information.  In addition to the Plant Quarantine import permit, the Livestock Disease Control program requires a Poultry and Bird Import Permit (see below).

LIVESTOCK DISEASE CONTROL BRANCH REQUIREMENTS

General Entry Requirements

As of October 2002, all poultry, birds, day-old chicks and hatching eggs require a Poultry and Bird Import Permit (West Nile Virus Import Permit), through the Livestock Disease Control Branch, Department of Agriculture, to address the West Nile virus epidemic in the continental United States.  Most types of birds entering the State must complete a pre-arrival isolation requirement of seven days (168 hours), within 36 hours of entry, to reduce the chances that a West Nile virus infected bird will be transported to Hawaii.  The exceptions to the seven days pre-arrival isolation requirement are:  hatching eggs and day-old birds, and chickens, pheasants, quail, chuckers, rock doves (domestic pigeons), and budgerigars, that are older than four weeks.

Accredited veterinarians issuing Certificates of Veterinary Inspection or hatchery agents (for hatching eggs and day-old chicks) needing import requirements can contact the Livestock Disease Control Branch, Import and Compliance Section at 808-837-8092 or FAX 808-837-8094 or click here to email for specific entry requirements and to request a Poultry and Bird Import Permit at least ten days prior to the scheduled shipping date of poultry or birds.

Poultry

For the purposes of entry, “Poultry” means ducks, geese, pigeons, and birds of the order Galliformes such as chickens, turkeys, guinea fowls, peafowl, pheasants, grouse, partridges, and quail, including their eggs for hatching.

In summary, poultry except chicken hatching eggs and day-old birds, and chickens, pheasants, quail, chuckers, and rock doves (domestic pigeons) that are older than four weeks, require a pre-arrival seven-day (168 hours) isolation from mosquitoes under the supervision of an accredited veterinarian and must enter the State within 36 hours of completing isolation.

In addition, poultry must originate from a flock having a Pullorum-Typhoid clean rating in a state or national plan, or have been tested for Pullorum-Typhoid disease with negative results within 30 days of entry. The poultry cannot be vaccinated for any disease with a vaccine containing a live agent within 60 days of shipment.

An individual identification device (leg or wing band) must be on each bird and numbers listed on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI); however, individual identification does not apply to day-old birds.  The CVI must also contain a Statement that the poultry are “Free of external parasites.”  All poultry entering the State must be kept in isolation from other resident birds for a period of 7 days at the importer’s premises.

Non-commercial chickens are required to be test-negative for Newcastle’s disease virus by the hemagglutination inhibition assay within 14 days of entry.

Other Birds

Other birds, except budgerigars, require a pre-arrival seven-day (168 hours) isolation from mosquitoes under the supervision of an accredited veterinarian and must enter the State within 36 hours of completing isolation.

In addition, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) must state that birds were not vaccinated for any disease with a vaccine containing a live agent within 60 days of shipment.

The CVI must also list individual bird identification numbers (leg band, wing band, or electronic microchip) and contain a statement that the birds are “Free of external parasites.”  Canaries, finches, budgerigars, lovebirds, cockatiels and doves are exempt from the individual identification requirement.  All birds entering the State must be kept in isolation from other resident birds for a period of 30 days at the importer’s premises.

All shipments shall be in mosquito-proof containers that are either new or those thoroughly cleaned to the satisfaction of the accredited veterinarian issuing the CVI.

Importation of animals through the U.S. Postal Service is not allowed except for chicken hatching eggs and day-old chickens.

The Honolulu International Airport is the only entry port for birds and all shipments are subject to inspection at the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility prior to release.  An agent of the airline will submit the birds or poultry for inspection.  Hours of inspection are 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Birds not meeting entry requirements will be returned to a port of entry in the continental U.S. or a foreign port in the case of international movement.