Fertilized Chicken Eggs for Incubation

USDA APHIS requires an import permit for fertilized poultry hatching eggs, and the exporting country must be recognized as free of — or have an approved regionalization plan for — highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and other listed diseases. Shipments must be accompanied by a health certificate from the exporting country's competent authority. Permit conditions and eligible countries can change quickly with disease outbreaks, so importers should verify current APHIS requirements before each shipment. Consulting a licensed customs broker or APHIS-accredited veterinarian is advisable.

Both the United Kingdom and France have experienced HPAI outbreaks in recent years, which can trigger USDA APHIS import suspensions on a country- or region-specific basis. When a suspension is in place, importers relying on these sources for proprietary poultry genetics must either source from unaffected regions or delay hatchery programs. Diversifying supplier relationships across multiple approved countries is a common risk-management strategy in the commercial poultry breeding sector.