Chapter 570 of the Florida Statues gives the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) the authority to regulate the transportation of agricultural products, food, and livestock into the state of Florida.  FDACS’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) has the primary responsibility to enforce laws involving livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and other animals and animal products; farms and farm equipment; citrus, horticultural and other agricultural goods.

For many years, OALE’s enforcement has focused on Peninsular Florida with inspection stations at key points positioned for incoming traffic from Georgia but soon will be ramped up to inspect incoming traffic from Alabama in the Panhandle.  A new inspection station is under construction on Highway 231 just north of Campbellton, Florida at the Florida/Alabama state line.  Construction is also underway for a small pull-off inspection station on Highway 2 just west of the Georgia state line near the Chattahoochee River.  Under Section 570.15 of the Florida Statues, OALE has the authority to inspect vehicles that are or could be used in the production, storage, sale or transportation of food, agricultural, horticultural, or livestock products.

With the new inspection stations and the OALE officers that were hired to patrol the Panhandle region, many local farmers and ranchers have asked questions about expectations and requirements for OALE inspections.  The purpose of this article is to answer some common questions that have arisen based on the extensive information provided on ton the FDACS Agriculture Inspections  and the Animal Movement Requirements websites.  The main point is that there are things you should, “Know Before You Go” when it comes to transporting agricultural plants, produce, or livestock into Florida. Use the links provided throughout this article to go directly to the FDACS websites for specific regulations, as these are updated on a regular basis.

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Who has to stop at an Ag Inspection Station?

• All vehicles transporting agricultural, horticultural, aquacultural, or livestock products
• Commercial trucks, vans, trailers, and rental trucks

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Who does not have to stop an Ag Inspection Station?

• Private passenger vehicles or pickup trucks that are not carrying agricultural products
• Camping vehicles, such as motor homes, travel trailers, or conversion vans

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What are the ag inspectors looking for?

• Agricultural pests or diseases on plants or animals
  • Samples of insects, nematodes, snails, plant diseases, are collected and submitted for identification by the FDACS Division of Plant Industry (DPI).
  • If live insects, snails, or plant diseases are detected at inspection stations, actions will be taken to reduce their impact to safeguard Florida agriculture.
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• Agricultural products that have not been inspected or are not in compliance with federal or state quarantine regulations.
  • Unsafe, or improperly stored food products

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Transporting Livestock into Florida

Livestock have a range of requirements that vary somewhat by species.  In general, food animals all have a similar requirement of official USDA identification and an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI), what most producers call “Health Papers or a Health Certificate,” not more than 30 days prior to inspection.  There are exceptions for animals being hauled directly to a slaughter facility.  There are also some very specific disease testing requirements for different species.

Horses, however, are special because the annual negative Coggins (EIA) test serves as their identification, but they also must have health papers from a veterinarian signifying they are healthy.  Since horses travel more regularly to shows, trail rides, rodeos, and sales, they have a unique set of guidelines and practices to allow interstate (from state to state) movement.

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What is required for horses being hauled into Florida?

• An Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) aka “health paper” dated within 30 days of entry or a Digital EECVI and movement permit within 6 months of inspection.
• All horses imported into the state must have an official report of a negative Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) test dated not more than 12 months after the blood sample being taken. Foals under 6 months of age accompanied by their dam that has proof of an official, negative EIA test are exempted from test requirements. An official EIA test must be conducted at a state and federally approved laboratory.
  • FDACS offers Florida horse owners a laminated Negative EIA Verification Card ($5/horse), as proof of the required negative equine infectious anemia (EIA) test. This card is convenient for equine movement within the state and can easily fit in a wallet or pocket.
  • Global Vet Link (GVL) provides digital Equine Extended Certificate of Veterinary Inspections (EECVI) within 6 months of entry with a specific movement permit for each horse for each activity.

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What is required for cattle being hauled into Florida?

• All beef cattle ≥ 18 months (no age exception for show cattle) must have:
  • Official USDA identification with 840 prefix, or registered brands or tattoos + registration papers.
    • Premises registration is required before ordering USDA EID identification tags.
  • An Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) aka “health paper” dated within 30 days of entry. Specific disease testing required varies by state of origin.
    • All bulls 18 months of age and older are also required to have an official negative trichomoniasis test within 60 days prior to entry.
  • Exceptions
    • Cattle (including bulls) being shipped directly to slaughter or approved tagging sites (livestock markets).
    • Cattle being moved from one premise to another under a signed commuter herd agreement form with the cattle remaining under common ownership as part of normal farm or ranching operations.
    • Rodeo bulls moving into Florida for exhibition and rodeo are exempt from Trich testing, provided that they are not allowed to commingle with female cattle and that they return to their state of origin immediately after exhibition.

• All dairy cattle (no age exception) must have USDA identification and an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) aka “health paper” dated within 30 days of entry.
  • Imported lactating dairy cattle must also have a negative PCR for highly pathogenic avian influenza within seven days of importation per the Federal Order
  • Exceptions similar to beef cattle with movement directly for slaughter or approved tagging sites (livestock markets).

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What is required for sheep & goats being hauled into Florida?

• All sheep & goats must have official USDA identified to their flock/herd of birth. These include USDA tags, tattoos + registration certificate, or microchips.
  • Premises registration is required before ordering USDA EID identification tags.
• All sheep & goats imported into Florida, except those consigned to slaughter, must be accompanied by a health certificate dated not more than 30 days before import.
  • The health certificate must include the official individual identification of each animal and the following statement: Each goat or sheep is free of the clinical signs of the diseases: caseous lymphadenitis, contagious ecthyma (Orf), chlamydial keratoconjunctivitis, scabies, scrapie, and contagious foot rot.

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What is required for hogs being hauled into Florida?

• Domestic swine must also have official USDA identification and an OCVI (health papers) not more than 30 days old, just like other livestock species, but also require prior permission before entering the state. The prior permission number must be included on your health papers from the veterinarian.
  • If you are bringing swine into Florida for any reason, you must obtain a prior permission number from the State Veterinarian’s Office before you travel. If you do not have a prior permission number, you may be denied entry into the state with your animals. Swine Prior Permission Online Application
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  • Swine ≥ 6 months of age or older must test negative for brucellosis and pseudorabies within 30 days prior to importation or originate directly from a Validated Brucellosis-Free and a Qualified Pseudorabies-Negative Herd. The Validated and Qualified Herd numbers and the dates of the last certification tests within the past 12 months must be included on the prior permission application and the health certificate (OCVI).
• Feral swine (wild hogs) cannot be imported into Florida.

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Transporting Plants or Produce into Florida

What are the regulations for transporting plants into Florida?

Anyone who desires to ship into Florida nursery stock from any state, territory or district of the United States, shall comply with the following regulations:

• The nurseryman, stock dealer, agent or plant broker must be listed in the latest directory of registered or certified nurseries, agents, stock dealers and plant brokers of the state where such nursery stock originated.
• A valid certificate of inspection must be attached to each separate package, bundle, box or shipment of nursery stock shipped into Florida. In club orders, one tag must be attached to each individual order and another to the package containing the individual orders.
• Non-native aquatic plants, citrus trees, oak and dogwood trees, may require permits prior to entry, depending upon the point of origin.
• All shipments of nursery stock entering Florida by road are required to stop at an agricultural inspection station where they will be screened for proper certification and subject to cargo inspection by the Department. Each shipment shall be accompanied with a bill of lading, or other valid documentation which contains the following information:
  • A Bill of Lading issued by the shipper to the carrier must include:
    • From: Name and address of the shipper/consignor
    • To: Name and address of the receiver or consignor
    • Origin:  place, state, or country
    • Ultimate destination if different from receiver/consignor
    • Load: Description of the type and quantity of plants or agricultural products
    • Must be written in English

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What are the regulations for transporting produce into Florida?

• Bill of lading requirements must be met (see above list for plants).
• Commercial shipments of non-organic fruits and vegetables are not required to be accompanied by a certificate for freedom from plant-feeding snails. However, all products are subject to additional inspection on arrival and, if found to be infested, the shipment must be fumigated, destroyed, or returned out of state at the shipper’s expense.
  • All Organic and Noncommercial Produce from Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Texas, New Mexico and Washington require certifications of inspection for freedom from plant-feeding (phytophagous) snails: Certificate of Quarantine Compliance (California) or other certificate of inspection.
    • Exemptions to this rule include round or hard fruit and vegetables that do not have the leaves attached; celery that has been cleaned, processed and packaged; and fruit or vegetables that have been chopped and packaged or that are in vacuum-sealed containers. If in doubt, request certification from your State Department of Agriculture to avoid costly delays.

  • Green Onions, Sugar Snap Peas, Snow Peas, and English Peas from California, Mexico, or Guatemala require inspection certification for freedom from pea leaf miner or a certificate of Quarantine Compliance.  Host material for pea leaf miner is subject to additional inspection on arrival and, if found to be infested, the shipment must be fumigated, destroyed, or returned out of state at the shipper’s expense.

  • Organic lettuce from California requires certificates of inspection for lettuce aphids.  Organically grown lettuce is subject to additional inspection on arrival and, if found to be infested, the shipment must be fumigated, destroyed, or returned out of state at the shipper’s expense.

    • Organically grown lettuce that has been chopped or packaged is exempt from the aphid inspection requirements.

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This article provided a basic overview of the most common questions asked about Florida Agricultural Inspections.  Complete details and the most current information can be found by visiting the Florida Agricultural Inspections, Animal Movement Requirements, or the Summary of Florida Plant Import Regulations websites.  Veterinarians responsible for the health certificates, or livestock owners planning interstate travel with livestock can see every requirement based on the state an animal is coming from and the specific state where it is going by using the InterstateLivestock.com website.

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Specific questions about livestock importation into Florida can be directed to:

Dr. Michael Short, State Veterinarian and Director of the FDACS Division of Animal Industry Department
407 South Calhoun St. Mayo Building, RM 300 Tallahassee, FL 32312
Office Telephone: (850) 410-0900 8:00 to 5:00 PM eastern time weekdays
E-mail: Michael.Short@FDACS.gov
 Health Certificate Email: FlaOCVI@FDACS.gov

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Specific questions about plant and produce importation into Florida should be directed to:

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Plant Industry
Doyle Conner Building 1911 SW 34 St. Gainesville, FL 32608
1-888-397-1517 Helpline
DPIimports@FDACS.gov

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