If you are exporting plant products or animal byproducts to the United States, USDA does not provide a company-name import document for your business. For many regulated products, the federal import document is an APHIS PPQ or APHIS VS permit that accompanies the shipment.
The permit you need depends on the product category. Plant products such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants may fall under APHIS PPQ. Animal byproducts and animal-derived materials may fall under APHIS VS. Meat and poultry for human consumption follow a different USDA pathway through FSIS country-equivalence rules.
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PPQ vs VS — Which USDA Permit Applies to Your Product?
USDA import requirements are not the same for every agricultural product. The first step is to identify whether your product is plant-based, animal-derived, or a meat or poultry product for human consumption.
APHIS PPQ permit
PPQ stands for Plant Protection and Quarantine. It applies to many products that may carry plant pest or plant health risks.
Products that may require PPQ review include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Flowers
- Plants
- Seeds
- Fresh plant materials
- Certain processed or dried plant materials
- Other agricultural plant products entering the United States
A PPQ permit is used when APHIS needs to control how a plant product enters the United States, from which country it comes, and under what conditions it may be shipped.
APHIS VS permit
VS stands for Veterinary Services. It applies to many animal byproducts and animal-derived materials.
Products that may require VS review include:
- Animal byproducts
- Animal-derived ingredients
- Pet product ingredients of animal origin
- Hides and skins
- Feathers
- Wool
- Bones
- Rendered materials
- Derivatives from animal origin
A VS permit is based on the product category, source species, country of origin, processing method, and intended use in the United States.
The most important point: do not assume that all agricultural products use the same USDA pathway. Plant products and animal byproducts are reviewed differently.
The Common Import Document Myth
Many exporters ask USDA for a company-name import document, but that is not how the process works.
For plant products and animal byproducts, the APHIS PPQ or APHIS VS permit is the federal document that accompanies the shipment. It is tied to the regulated product pathway, not to a general company registration.
If an export health document is required, that document is handled by the authority in the exporting country. It is not prepared by USDA.
This matters because exporters can lose time preparing the wrong request. Before shipping, the company should confirm:
- What the product is
- Where it comes from
- Whether it is plant-based or animal-derived
- Whether it is for human consumption, animal use, processing, resale, or another purpose
- Whether FDA requirements also apply
- Whether a U.S. representative is needed for the permit process
FSIS for Meat and Poultry — A Different USDA Pathway
Meat and poultry for human consumption do not follow the same permit model as PPQ or VS.
These products are handled by FSIS, another USDA agency. FSIS import eligibility is connected to the country-equivalence system. This means the question is not simply whether a company can file one document. The key issue is whether the exporting country and the specific product category are eligible under the applicable U.S. import framework.
For example, a processed animal byproduct may fall under APHIS VS, while meat or poultry for human consumption may require FSIS review under country-equivalence rules.
That is why exporters should not treat all animal-origin products the same. The intended use of the product is critical.
USDA vs FDA — Which Agency Regulates What?
USDA and FDA both regulate products entering the United States, but they do not cover the same categories.
USDA APHIS PPQ — Covers many plant products, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, seeds, and plant materials.
USDA APHIS VS — Covers many animal byproducts and animal-derived materials, depending on product category, origin, processing, and intended use.
USDA FSIS — Covers meat and poultry for human consumption through country-equivalence rules and related import controls.
FDA — Regulates most other food products, many cosmetic products, dietary supplements, drugs, medical devices, and other categories that are separate from USDA.
For food exporters, FDA food facility registration is often the first requirement to review before moving forward with a USDA permit pathway. Some products may involve both FDA and USDA, while others may only fall under one agency.
How a U.S. Representative Works for USDA Permit Filings
Some APHIS permit filings require a U.S. address and a designated person connected to the permit process.
A U.S. representative helps foreign companies complete the filing pathway when they do not have a U.S. office, local address, or designated person available for the permit process.
The representative role may include:
- Providing the U.S. address connected to the permit process
- Serving as the designated person for the filing
- Helping prepare the permit request
- Coordinating communication during the process
- Supporting the document pathway for the product category
The U.S. representative role does not replace the exporter, consignee, customs broker, carrier, or any other party responsible for the shipment. It is a support role connected to the permit filing and communication process.
How to Manage the USDA Import Permit Process With Help
The safest way to approach USDA import requirements is to classify the product first, then decide which pathway applies.
Before filing, an exporter should review:
- Product type
- Country of origin
- Species or botanical source, when applicable
- Processing method
- Intended use in the United States
- Shipment format
- Supporting export documents
- Whether FDA registration is also required
- Whether a U.S. representative is needed
REGISTRO-FDA.US helps companies review the product category, prepare and file the correct APHIS permit when applicable, coordinate the process, and guide the client when FDA food registration or FSIS orientation may also be relevant. You can learn more about our USDA import permit support service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USDA issue a certificate to import?
No. For many plant products and animal byproducts, the federal import document is the APHIS PPQ or APHIS VS permit that accompanies the shipment. Export health documents are handled by the authority in the exporting country.
What is the difference between a PPQ permit and a VS permit?
A PPQ permit applies to many plant products, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, seeds, and plant materials. A VS permit applies to many animal byproducts and animal-derived materials, depending on product category and intended use.
Do meat and poultry products use the same USDA permit process?
No. Meat and poultry for human consumption are handled by FSIS through a country-equivalence system. This is different from the APHIS PPQ or APHIS VS permit process.
Do I need FDA registration if I already need a USDA permit?
Many food exporters may need FDA food facility registration in addition to USDA review. FDA and USDA requirements are separate, and some products may involve both agencies.
Why would a foreign company need a U.S. representative?
A foreign company may need a U.S. representative when the permit process requires a U.S. address and designated person. This helps connect the foreign exporter to the APHIS filing process.
How do I know which USDA pathway applies to my product?
You need to review the product type, origin, composition, processing method, intended use, and whether it is plant-based, animal-derived, or meat or poultry for human consumption. The correct pathway depends on those details.
Final Note
USDA import requirements depend on the product, origin, processing method, and intended use. Before shipping to the United States, exporters should confirm whether their product falls under APHIS PPQ, APHIS VS, FSIS, FDA, or a combination of agencies.
Disclaimer: REGISTRO-FDA.US is a private consulting firm and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the FDA.