Live sheep imported into the United States — whether for breeding, feeding, or slaughter — are subject to USDA APHIS health certification and country-of-origin disease-status requirements, with scrapie status a particular concern for regulatory clearance. The commercial significance of this heading is concentrated in breeding stock and specialty meat production, including lamb supply chains serving ethnic and specialty retail markets. Import volumes are shaped heavily by APHIS-approved country lists, which restrict eligible origins based on disease surveillance programs. Admissibility is complex — consult a licensed customs broker or USDA APHIS before importing.

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