Importation of live dogs

(a) In general The Animal Health Protection Act is amended by inserting after section 10404 (7 U.S.C. 8303) the following: 10404A. Importation of live dogs (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Compensation The term compensation means any act, consideration, or thing of value received by a person directly, including cash or noncash benefits, cost-avoidance, obtaining positive or avoiding negative publicity, an exchange of services, or maintaining a license issued under any local, State, or Federal government authority. (2) Import transporter The term import transporter means any person or entity who— (A) receives an imported dog from any importer, dealer, research facility, exhibitor, operator of an auction sale, or department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or of any State or local government; and (B) receives compensation for moving that imported dog in commerce. (3) Importer The term importer means any person who transports or causes the transportation of a dog into the United States from a foreign country. (4) Transfer The term transfer means a change of ownership or control of an imported dog to another person, including by sale, adoption, exchange, or donation. (b) Requirements (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), no person shall import a dog into the United States unless, prior to transport to the United States, the Secretary receives electronic documentation demonstrating, as determined by the Secretary, that the dog— (A) is in good health; (B) has received all necessary vaccinations and internal and external parasite treatment and demonstrated negative test results, as required by the Secretary and evidenced by a certificate that— (i) is issued by a licensed veterinarian accredited by a competent veterinary authority recognized by the Secretary; and (ii) is endorsed by that authority in a manner representing that the veterinarian issuing the certificate was authorized to do so; (C) is officially identified by a permanent method approved by the Secretary; and (D) if intended for transfer— (i) is at least 6 months old; and (ii) is accompanied by an import permit issued by the Secretary under this Act. (2) Exceptions The Secretary, by regulation, shall provide an exception to any requirement under this Act in any case in which a dog is imported— (A) as a personal pet of United States origin returning to the United States; (B) as a United States military working dog or contracted working dog supporting a military mission or tasking; or (C) for purposes of transfer for— (i) research purposes; (ii) veterinary treatment, paid for by the importer, subject to the condition that the dog— (I) is taken directly to a veterinary facility for treatment with appropriate quarantine until the dog meets the criteria described in paragraph (1); and (II) is then exported to its country of origin; or (iii) in the case of a dog that is less than 6 months old, lawful importation into the State of Hawaii from the British Isles, Australia, Guam, or New Zealand, in compliance with the regulations of the State of Hawaii and the other requirements of this section, if the dog is not transported out of the State of Hawaii for transfer at less than 6 months of age. (c) Implementation and regulations Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2026, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Transportation, shall promulgate such regulations as the Secretary determines to be necessary to implement and enforce this section, including regulations that— (1) facilitate electronic submission and interagency sharing of all documentation required under subsection (b)(1) prior to the arrival of a dog into the United States; (2) establish any necessary post-arrival verification processes for imported dogs; (3) ensure the denial of entry into the United States of any dog that fails to meet the requirements of subsection (b)(1); (4) require each importer, import transporter, intermediate handler, or carrier receiving a certificate described in subsection (b)(1)(B) to submit a copy of the certificate to the Secretary; (5) require the Secretary to maintain the information submitted under paragraph (4) in a centralized database and, on request by a State veterinarian, promptly share the information with the State veterinarian not later than 3 days after such request is received by the Secretary; (6) require the Secretary to annually submit to Congress and make publicly available a report that describes the aggregated data maintained under paragraph (5), including information on the country of origin and purpose of the import; and (7) determine and establish such fees for the verification of documentation and issuance of permits with respect to dog importation as are necessary to fund the implementation and enforcement of this section. (d) Rule of construction Nothing in subsection (c)(7) limits the availability of funding made available under section 10417 to carry out this section. (e) Enforcement (1) Authority The Secretary shall have the authority granted under section 10414 to enforce this section. (2) Penalties An importer or import transporter that fails to comply with this section shall— (A) be subject to penalties under section 10414; and (B) provide, as the Secretary may determine, at the expense of the importer or import transporter, for— (i) the care (including appropriate veterinary care), forfeiture, quarantine, and removal from the United States of each applicable dog; and (ii) the return of each applicable dog to its place of export, with due care for the welfare of each applicable dog.. (b) Conforming amendment Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2148) is repealed. (c) Transition period Until the date on which final regulations are issued under section 10404A(c) of the Animal Health Protection Act (as added by subsection (a)), the importation of live dogs shall be regulated in accordance with the regulations promulgated under section 18 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2148) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act), but only to the extent that those regulations are not in conflict with section 10404A of that Act.