Biological Imports
Certain biological materials are regulated by federal agencies for international importation and interstate transfer. Permits may be required from these agencies. Exempt materials must meet specific criteria and be accompanied by shipping documentation for US Customs and Border Protection review to avoid confiscation or delays.
The Office of Sponsored Programs requests ancillary review of Material Transfer Agreements of biological materials, which includes animals, viruses and vectors, cell lines, plasmids, and bacterial agents.
If an MTA is not necessary, import review is still required to determine necessary permitting requirements. Email kmc35@pitt.edu before shipment.
Import Review will determine the permits required and guide the investigator to the appropriate permitting tools. As the permits are done through online systems, the investigator must apply for the permits themselves.
Please note that all permits MUST be under the receiving investigators name and should match the MTA, if applicable.
The following is not an exhaustive list of materials that may require documentation or permits. If you have any questions please contact kmc35@pitt.edu.
If you are exporting biological materials to another country, export regulations may apply. https://www.tradecompliance.pitt.edu/procedures/shipments
Permitting Agencies
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
International Movement
Oversight: Materials that are or may be infectious to humans
Examples : Human samples (blood, tissues, body fluids)
Vectors of human disease (bats, arthropods, snails)
Human or non-human primate remains
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
International and Interstate Movement
APHIS Veterinary Services (VS)
Oversight: animals or animal products
Examples: Animals (transgenic animals, tissues, embryos or sperm)
Animal Products (FBS, albumin)
Cell Lines (including Monoclonal antibodies, cell culture supernatants, ascitic fluid, cell extracts, hybridomas)
Recombinant Materials (bacteria, viruses, yeasts/fungi, proteins, hormones, extracts, plasmids, DNA, RNA)
APHIS Organisms and Vectors (OV)
Oversight: Livestock and Poultry Pathogens
Examples: Some avian influenzas, Candida albicans, Enterococcus spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae
APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS)
Oversight: GMO plant pathogens
Examples: any organisms developed using genetic engineering that may pose a risk to plant health
APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
Oversight: Plants and Plant Products
Examples: Plant Pathogens or Pests (plant feeding insects, mites, snails, slugs, and plant pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi)
Soil
Seeds
Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP)
International and Interstate Movement
Oversight: possession, use and transfer of biological select agents and toxins, which have the potential to pose a severe threat to public, animal or plant health or to animal or plant products
Examples: Botulinum neurotoxins, Marburg virus, Rift Valley Fever virus
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
International Movement
Oversight: all materials covered by FDA in the US are also subject to FDA import review
Examples: Medical products (drugs, vaccines, devices, and biological products)
Radiation emitting devices
Tobacco products
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
International and Interstate Movement
Oversight: conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats
Examples: wild mammals, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod
Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
International Movement
Oversight: International trade in specimens of endangered or threatened wild animals and plants
Examples: Endangered species and their materials (animals and plants)
Helpful Office of Trade Compliance Links:
Be sure to check out the 2 short and informative videos about the Import Permitting Process on our Training page.
Helpful YouTube Links:
CDC Importing Biologics and Vectors (5 min)
CDC Biological Imports Webinar (32 min)
USDA eFILE Permitting Assistant Tutorial (4 min)
USDA Organisms and Vectors Webinar (14 min)
FDA Import Process (11 min)
