When do cattle and bison need an ICVI for interstate movement?

Short answer

The people responsible for animals leaving a premises must ensure the required document accompanies them.

Section 86.5(a) assigns that responsibility to the persons responsible for animals leaving a premises for interstate movement. For cattle and bison, § 86.5(c) says the animals must be accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection—an ICVI—unless a listed exception applies.

An ICVI is an official document issued by a Federal, State, or Tribal government, or an accredited veterinarian, certifying inspection of animals in preparation for interstate movement.

9 CFR 86.2

Check the part-wide scope before applying the document rules

Part 86 does not apply when covered livestock move entirely within Tribal land that straddles a State line and the Tribe has a traceability system separate from the surrounding States. It also does not apply to movement to a custom slaughter facility when the movement complies with Federal and State rules for preparation of meat.

When Part 86 does apply, § 86.2(d) separately requires covered livestock moved interstate to comply with applicable APHIS program-disease regulations. An ICVI or an exception under § 86.5 therefore does not displace disease-specific movement duties.

9 CFR 86.1

What the federal ICVI definition requires

The ICVI must show:

• the species and number of animals;
• the purpose of the movement;
• the loading address and destination address; and
• the consignor and consignee names and, when different, their addresses.

Unless a species-specific exception applies, it must also list the official identification number of each animal—or group—required to be officially identified, or record an alternative identification agreed to by the shipping and receiving States. When animals moving under a group/lot identification number also have individual official identification, only the group/lot number must be listed.

If identification is not federally required, the ICVI must state the applicable exemption. If identification is required but individual numbers need not be recorded on the ICVI, the document must state that all animals are officially identified. With receiving-jurisdiction agreement, an allowed State or APHIS form or identification-number printout may be attached under the detailed conditions in the definition.

9 CFR 86.5(c)

Listed cattle-and-bison exceptions to the ICVI default

An ICVI is not required under this federal section when cattle or bison are:

• moved directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment, or through an approved livestock facility and then directly to slaughter, with an owner-shipper statement;
• moved directly to an approved livestock facility with an owner-shipper statement and not moved interstate from that facility without an ICVI;
• moved from the farm of origin for veterinary examination or treatment and returned to that farm without a change of ownership;
• moved from one State, through another State, and back to the original State;
• moved as a commuter herd with the commuter-herd agreement or another agreed document; or
• moved between shipping and receiving States or Tribes with another document, such as a brand-inspection certificate, agreed to by both animal-health authorities.

An exception to the federal ICVI requirement is not proof that no movement paper, State entry requirement, or disease document is needed.

Identification on the document

Part 86 separately addresses whether individual numbers must be recorded

The official identification number generally must appear on the ICVI or alternate documentation. Section 86.5(c)(7) makes exceptions for animals moved from an approved livestock facility directly to slaughter and for sexually intact cattle or bison under 18 months, steers, or spayed heifers. The latter recording exception does not apply to dairy cattle of any age or cattle or bison used for rodeo, exhibition, or recreational purposes.

Do not confuse “the number need not be recorded on this document” with “the animal need not be officially identified.” Identification and documentation are related but distinct requirements.

Forwarding and retention

The regulation assigns deadlines to issuers and animal-health officials

The APHIS, State, or Tribal representative—or accredited veterinarian—issuing an ICVI or other required movement document must forward a copy to the origin State or Tribal animal-health official within seven calendar days after issuance. That origin official must forward a copy to the destination official within seven calendar days after receiving it.

The issuing or receiving animal-health official or accredited veterinarian must retain a copy. For cattle and bison, sheep and goats, cervids, and equine species, the retention period is five years. These forwarding and retention duties are assigned to the listed issuers and officials; the provision does not state a universal five-year farm record rule for every person involved.

9 CFR 86.3

Approved livestock facilities and record holders have separate duties

An approved livestock facility must keep required ICVIs or alternate documentation for covered livestock entering the facility on or after March 11, 2013. For cattle and bison, the facility’s retention period is five years.

Records required by § 86.3(a) through (c) must be accurate, complete, and sufficient to demonstrate compliance. During normal business hours APHIS must be allowed access for inspection and reproduction. The responsible person or entity must submit requested reports and notices containing the specified information within 48 hours after a request—or earlier when an emergency disease response warrants it.

Official authority

Read the current movement-document rules

9 CFR 86.2 — scope and general requirements ↗

9 CFR 86.3 — recordkeeping ↗

9 CFR 86.5 — interstate movement documents ↗

9 CFR 86.8 — preemption ↗

9 CFR 86.1 — ICVI and related definitions ↗

The retained official Part 86 XML has SHA-256 e3ac2b7d024d6d015a468d0187e2205a38de75087722f26bd3c5313d3ce175af.