Rule 901:1-17-12 | Non-domestic animals.
(A) No non-domestic animal shall be imported into the state of Ohio unless:
(1) Accompanied by a permit issued prior to entering the state of Ohio and an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection, as defined in rule 901:1-17-02 of the Administrative Code, issued within thirty days prior to entry and be identified with official individual identification or are destined for immediate slaughter and comply with rule 901:1-17-10 of the Administrative Code;
(2) The non-domestic animal is free of evidence of any dangerously contagious or infectious diseases, pests, or parasites harmful to humans or animals;
(3) The non-domestic animal is in full compliance with all state and federal agencies rules and regulations; and
(4) In compliance with the species-specific requirements outlined in this rule.
(B) Animals which are destined for immediate slaughter do not need to comply with paragraph (A) of this rule so long as they are in full compliance with rule 901:1-17-10 of the Administrative Code.
(C) Animals which are defined as dangerous wild animals or restricted snakes in Chapter 935. of the Revised Code must be in compliance with:
(1) All of the rules and requirements of Chapter 935. of the Revised Code;
(2) Be accompanied by an entry permit issued prior to entry;
(3) Have an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection issued within thirty days prior to entering the state of Ohio; and
(4) Be officially identified with a microchip placed in the animal in order to be imported into the state of Ohio.
(D) Non-captive bovinae shall:
(1) Be officially identified as required in paragraph (C)(1) of rule 901:1-17-03 of the Administrative Code.
(2) Meet the following brucellosis requirements:
(a) Originate from a brucellosis certified free herd; or
(b) If six months of age or older, have a negative individual test within thirty days prior to entry conducted at a state or federally approved laboratory.
(3) Meet the following tuberculosis requirements:
(a) Originate from an accredited free state or zone;
(b) Originate from a modified accredited advanced state or zone and meet the following:
(i) Originate from an accredited herd; or
(ii) Have an individual negative official tuberculosis test conducted within ninety days prior to entry.
(c) Originate from a modified accredited state or zone and meet the following:
(i) Originate from an accredited herd;
(ii) Originate from a herd that has completed a whole herd negative tuberculosis test within twelve months prior to entry; and
(iii) Have an individual negative tuberculosis test within sixty days prior to entry.
(d) Originate from an accreditation preparatory state or zone:
(i) Originate from an accredited herd; and either
(ii) Have an individual negative tuberculosis test within sixty days prior to entry; or
(iii) Originate from a herd that has completed a whole herd negative tuberculosis test within twelve months prior to entry and two additional individual tests conducted at least sixty days and no more than six months apart with the second negative test being within sixty days prior to entry. The second negative test is not required if the movement occurs within six months of the whole herd test.
(e) The animals listed in this rule may only be imported into Ohio for slaughter purposes in compliance with rule 901:1-17-10 of the Administrative Code if the animals originated from a non-accredited state or zone;
(f) All tuberculosis tests must be conducted by an approved veterinarian.
(E) Cervidae including elk, caribou, moose, and deer (including but not limited to fallow, roe, axis, sika, red and white tail) shall:
(1) Meet the following brucellosis requirements:
(a) Originate from a certified brucellosis free herd; or
(b) If six months of age or older, have a negative individual test within thirty days prior to entry conducted at state or federally approved laboratory.
(2) Meet the following tuberculosis requirements:
(a) Originate from an accredited free state or zone; or
(b) Originate from a modified accredited advanced state or zone:
(i) Originate from a tuberculosis accredited free herd;
(ii) Originate from a qualified or monitored herd; or
(iii) Have an individual negative official tuberculosis test conducted within ninety days prior to entry.
(c) Originate from a modified accredited state or zone:
(i) Originate from a tuberculosis free herd; or
(ii) Originate from a qualified herd or a herd that has a negative whole herd tuberculosis test within twelve months prior to entry; and
(iii) Have an individual negative tuberculosis test within ninety days prior to entry.
(d) Originate from an accreditation preparatory state or zone:
(i) Originate from an accredited herd; and
(ii) Have an individual negative tuberculosis test within ninety days prior to entry; or
(iii) Originate from a qualified herd or a herd that has completed a whole herd negative tuberculosis test within twelve months prior to entry and two additional individual tests conducted at least ninety days and no more than six months apart with the second negative test being within ninety days prior to entry. The second negative test is not required if the movement occurs within six months of the whole herd test.
(e) The animals listed above may only be imported into Ohio for slaughter in compliance with rule 901:1-17-10 of the Administrative Code if they originate from a non-accredited state or zone.
(f) All tuberculosis tests must be conducted by an approved veterinarian.
(3) Animals which travel out of Ohio for exhibition purposes in a modified accredited, accreditation preparatory or non-accredited state or zone must meet the requirements set forth in paragraphs (C)(1) and (C)(2) of this rule in order to return to or be imported into Ohio.
(4) Meet the following chronic wasting disease requirements:
All cervidae entering the state of Ohio shall have five years of chronic wasting disease monitoring status as recognized by the animal health official in the state of origin prior to entry.
(5) All cervidae entering the state of Ohio must be identified with two forms of identification, one of which must be official identification. Official individual identification is defined as the following:
(a) An official eartag bearing the U.S. shield includes either of the following:
(i) An animal identification number (AIN); or
(ii) A national uniform ear tag system (NUES) number.
(b) A microchip placed at the base of the animal's ear.
(F) Suidae and tayassuidae including peccary shall:
(1) Meet the following brucellosis requirements:
If four months of age or older, have a negative individual test within thirty days prior to entry conducted at a state or federally approved laboratory.
(2) Meet the following pseudorabies requirements:
(a) If four months of age or older, have a negative individual pseudorabies test within thirty days prior to entry conducted at a state or federally approved laboratory.
(b) Have not been members of a herd of swine known to be infected with pseudorabies within the previous twelve months.
(3) Have not been fed garbage within their lifetime.
(4) Have not originated from a feral swine population or been exposed to swine captured from a feral swine population within the previous twelve months.
(5) Be imported to a zoo, rescue facility, or other facility approved by the chief.
(6) Be officially identified by one of the following methods:
(a) Ear notch or tattoo recognized by a breed association in purebred registered swine; or
(b) An ear tag firmly affixed with one of the following:
(i) Animal identification number (AIN);
(ii) A national uniform ear tag system (NUES) number; or
(iii) A premises based system number.
(c) A USDA approved electronic identification device that is both visually and electronically readable.
Section 1533.75 of the Revised Code states prohibitions regarding feral swine as defined in section 1531.01 of the Revised Code.
(G) Equidae including all wild horses, wild donkeys, and zebra shall meet the following testing requirements regarding equine infectious anemia:
(1) Have a negative individual test if twelve months of age or older conducted within twelve months prior to entry.
(2) All testing must be conducted at a state or federally approved laboratory.
(H) Prairie dogs imported into the state must:
(1) Be sterilized or incapable of producing offspring, prior to entry, and accompanied by a veterinary affidavit attesting to the reproductive status;
(2) Be imported directly to an accredited zoo, sanctuary, or other facility approved by the chief, where the animal will not pose risk of escape or procreation; and
(3) Be officially identified by a microchip placed in the animal.
(I) All other non-domestic animals not listed in this rule must be accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection issued within thirty days prior to entry.
Last updated September 11, 2026 at 9:17 AM
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