Shipping Zebrafish Internationally
Some Updates:
Shipping zebrafish abroad for research purposes is complex because import requirements differ from country to country and can frequently change. Zoltan Varga and David Lains at the Zebrafish International Resource Center (ZIRC) in Eugene, Oregon, have provided an update on the current situation regarding shipping zebrafish internationally from the United States.
Export Requirements
In general, export rules from the U.S. are determined by the importing country. For most countries (see below), a health certificate from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is required. If this is the case, the importer must first obtain an import license in English from their national animal health authority (the USDA’s counterpart). This import license specifies the requirements and serves as the reciprocal document to the health certificate. Rules for specific countries are detailed below.
Clarification on Shipping Gametes and Embryos at Room temperature
Recently many labs have started sharing zebrafish lines within countries by shipping sperm in a preservative that maintains fertility at room temperature (See Takemoto et al., 2023, PMC11075172). Unfortunately, under USDA rules for international shipments, gametes and embryos are treated the same as adult animals when a health certificate is required. They may not legally be shipped under any other category. This also means international shipments of sperm in culture medium, including at room temperature, must be handled by certified animal couriers.
Rules for exporting fish from the U.S. to some specific countries
Current known requirements are listed on the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) IRegs page: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/live-animal-export. We summarize for some countries below:
China, Sweden, and the United Kingdom
Zebrafish are considered susceptible to two diseases: Spring Viremia of Carp and Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66e02646d65d5c23df08671e/GB_susceptible_and_vector_species_lists_-_V1.2_issued_10_September_2024.pdf). Because of this, these countries only allow imports from facilities that are certified to hold “premises freedom status” by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). In practice, this designation is nearly impossible for ZIRC and most research facilities to maintain, since the facility would have to be re‑certified every time a new fish line is acquired. As a result, zebrafish exports from the U.S. to China, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are currently not possible.
Other European Union (E.U.) Countries
According to a USDA directive issued August 8, 2025, zebrafish can still be sent from the U.S. to most E.U. countries (except Sweden). No prior USDA certification of the U.S. facility is required, but the receiving facility must be designated as a “confined establishment”. To qualify, the importing laboratory must apply to its national authority for the confined establishment designation and obtain an import license. If the destination country also requires a health certificate, the import license must be secured first so that USDA authorities can certify animal health based on the importing country’s import regulations. Some countries may also require a recent health report from the veterinarian of the exporting facility to be endorsed by the USDA. This is typically done by a USDA staff veterinarian endorsing the Diagnostic Health Report of a USDA-accredited veterinarian working at the exporting facility. Animal courier fees for door‑to‑door service are currently about $4,500. A flow chart of the steps involved for shipping to most countries in Europe is shown below.
Japan:
No special requirements for zebrafish; only standard customs documents are needed.
Australia:
The export facility must normally be a USDA‑certified “Registered Aquaculture Export Facility” (RAEF), which requires an inspection by a USDA agent. Zebrafish imported to Australia strictly for laboratory use fall under rigorous “Biosecurity Import Conditions” that are confirmed in a veterinary certificate. This certificate must include a range of attestations about the exporting facility, its oversight, its disease status during the past six months, and the condition of the fish being shipped.
What ZIRC is doing to facilitate international exchange of zebrafish lines
To facilitate the exchange of valuable zebrafish lines between the U.S. and Europe, ZIRC and the European Zebrafish Resource Center (EZRC) in Germany have made large‑scale line exchanges in the past and are currently planning another one for 2026. Once acquired, lines can then be distributed more easily within the E.U. by EZRC and within the U.S. and internationally by ZIRC. Researchers interested in including specific lines in this exchange should contact Zoltan Varga at ZIRC (zoltan@zebrafish.org). For questions about domestic or international shipping, please contact David Lains at ZIRC (david@zebrafish.org).
Further reading:
Key Federal Regulations
- Title 9, Chapter I, Subchapter D, Part 91, Subpart A, 2:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-9/part-91/section-91.3#p-91.3(a)(2) - Title 9, Chapter I, Subchapter D, Part 91, Subpart E, 2:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-9/part-91/section-91.3#p-91.3(e)