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, or if assembled from multiple sources in a Brucellosis Class Free 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. Trichomoniasis requirements for bulls imported into Arizona from other states.

   A. Test negative for Tritrichomonas foetus within 30 days prior to shipment using a polymerase chain reaction test or three cultures collected at intervals of no less than seven days apart, except for bulls:

   i. Less than one year of age;

   ii. Consigned directly to a state or federal licensed slaughter facility;

   iii. Consigned directly to a dairy;

   iv. Consigned directly to an exhibition or rodeo;

   v. Consigned directly to a licensed feedlot for castration on arrival;

   vi. Branded with an “F” adjacent to the tailhead and consigned directly to a designated feedlot for feeding and later movement directly to slaughter.

   B. Statement on CVI – “Bulls have had no breeding activity during the interval between the collection of a sample and the date of shipment.”

If NOT originating from a Tuberculosis Free state, all purebred breeding cattle (cows, heifers, bulls) 6 months of age and older must be tested negative for tuberculosis within 60 days prior to entry. Steers are exempt from this testing requirement.