Importation requirements for beef cattle include:

1. Prior import permit; issued by telephone; call (602) 542-4293 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST Monday through Friday. After hours, permits are available until 10 p.m. by leaving a message and marking the message urgent.
2. An original health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days prior to entry. Photocopies of health certificates must have an original veterinarian signature.
3. A complete description of breeding cattle (cows, heifers, bulls), including identification by USDA metal eartag, must be listed on the health certificate. Steers are exempt from the individual metal eartag identification requirement but must be identified by breed, brands, color, and/or other distinctive markings.
4. If originating from a Brucellosis Class A state, breeding cattle (cows, heifers, and bulls) 18 months of age and older must be tested negative for brucellosis within 30 days prior to entry. Steers are exempt from this testing requirement. Breeding cattle assembled in a Brucellosis Class A state may only be shipped to a licensed Designated Arizona Feedlot.
5. Breeding cattle (cows, heifers, and bulls) from Class A states are subject to a brucellosis retest 45 to 180 days after arrival.
6. If NOT originating from a Tuberculosis Free state, all breeding cattle (cows, heifers, bulls) 6 months of age and older must be tested negative for tuberculosis within 60 days prior to entry. If originating from a Modified Accredited State or area, breeding cattle must not only be tested negative within 60 days prior to entry, but also must originate from a herd that has been tested negative within one year prior to entry.
7. Effective May 3, 2008, breeding bulls must be tested negative for Trichomoniasis within 30 days prior to shipment using a PCR test or three negative cultures collected at intervals of no less than seven days apart. Bulls tested for Trichomoniasis shall have no breeding activity during the interval between the collection of a sample and the date of shipment. Only accredited veterinarians approved by the State Veterinarian in the state of origin may collect samples; and samples must be conducted in laboratories approved by the State Veterinarian in the state of origin. Exceptions to the Trichomoniasis test requirement are for bulls:
   a) Less than one year of age;
   b) Consigned directly to a state or federal licensed slaughter facility;
   c) Consigned directly to a dairy;
   d) Consigned directly to an exhibition or rodeo;
   e) Consigned directly to a licensed feedlot for castration on arrival;
   f) Consigned directly to a designated feedlot for feeding and later movement directly to slaughter providing they are branded with an “F” prior to shipment into Arizona.