Back to Front Page... -- - Horse Council British Columbia International Issues   Crossing the Canada / USA Border with Horses There are regulations that govern the movement of horses in both directions across the Canadian - United States border. This brochure provides a brief outline of the regulations and the preparations horse owners can make to prevent delays when crossing the border with horses. Health Certificate - this is an official Agriculture and Agri Food Canada or a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)document. The document is to be completed and signed by a private veterinarian and then endorsed by either an Agriculture and Agri Food Canada or a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) veterinarian depending upon the country it is complete in. The certificate must state that the horse is free of contagious disease and that a negative Coggins test has been done within six (6) months. Health Certificates are currently valid for 30 days. A horse may enter into either the United States or Canada and have the Health Certificate expire while temporarily residing in that country. It is the owners responsibility to ensure that a new valid certificate is purchased prior to trying to cross the border back into the country of origin. Proof of ownership: Bill of sale and/or registration papers. Ensure that the registration papers correctly identify the horse being transported. ( i.e. gelding, brands) Coggins Certificate - This is an official Agriculture and Agri Food Canada or a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) document that the horse has been tested for Equine Infectious Anemia and has a negative result. The documentation is to be completed and signed by a private veterinarian and accompanied by a blood sample to a federally approved veterinary laboratory. Once a negative result is confirmed the document is then endorsed by either an Agriculture and Agri Food Canada or a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) veterinarian depending upon the country it has been performed in. Coggins Certificates are currently valid for 6 months. A horse may enter into either the United States or Canada and have the Coggins Certificate expire while temporarily residing in that country. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that a new valid certificate is purchased prior to trying to cross the border back into the country of origin. Temporary Importation into Canada As of January 1, 1998, no documentation and no security deposit are required for horses and other equines imported into Canada on a temporary basis for pasturage, competition, training and breeding, unless the inspecting customs officer has reasonable cause to suspect that the conditions of temporary importation will not be met. There are no requirements at this time for a horse being temporarily imported to under go a Federal Veterinary inspection. Please check with the border crossing of your choice prior to your date of entry to ensure that there are not any temporary sanctions in place. For further information please contact: Trade Policy & Interpretation Directorate Revenue Canada Mr David Hotchkiss (613) 954-6878 (EST) Permanent Importation into Canada A Canadian who purchases an American horse and intends to import the horse to Canada must be able to supply the inspecting customs officer current Health and Coggins papers, a bill of sale and registration papers where applicable. The horse must have a veterinary inspection at the port of entry, contact the crossing of your choice to ensure that a Federal Veterinarian will be there when you arrive. There will be GST payable on the full purchase price at the time of importation. Border crossing regulations do change periodically, so always check well in advance with the crossing that you are planning to use so that you will have all of the necessary certificates, forms and information required upon arrival at a border crossing. Only a few of the border crossings have veterinarians on duty on a regular basis. The days and hours of inspection at ?ports of entry? do vary, so it is very important that if you require this service to make an appointment with the port entry veterinarian prior to arrival . *When permanently importing horses from Alaska, the importer may be asked to present the horse for veterinary inspection in Dawson Creek, BC as there are no veterinarian services at the Canada/Alaska border. For further information on health requirements contact: Agriculture Canada Dr. Don Olson 620 Royal Avenue PO Box 2523 New Westminster BC V3L 5A8 Phone: (604) 666-7500 HORSE COUNCIL BC 5746B 176A Street Cloverdale, BC V3S 4C7 (604) 576-2722 Fax: (604) 576-0401 E-mail hcbc@uniserve.com Ports of Entry - Canadian Pacific Highway, Surrey BC - (604) 541-3364 Abbotsford, BC - (604) 854-8034 Osoyoos, BC - (250) 495-6574 Kingsgate, BC - (250) 489-3710 Dawson Creek, BC - (250) 782-5682 North Portal, SK - (306) 927-2024 Boissevain, MB - (204) 534-6288 Emerson, MB - (204) 373-2346 Ports of Entry - United States Sumas, WA - (360) 988-5715 Oroville, WA - (509) 476-2635 Sweetgrass, Montana - (406) 335-2142 Eastport, Idaho - (208) 267-2396 Portal, North Dakota - (701) 926-4281 Dunseith, North Dakota - (701) 263-3364 Pembina, North Dakota - (701) 825-6262 Border crossing regulations do change periodically, so always check well in advance so that you will have all of the necessary certificates, forms and information required by the customs officials. revised 03/23/98

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