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Importing animal by-products like bully sticks (beef pizzle) into the United States is highly regulated. A single missing document can result in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) destroying an entire shipping container at your expense. Here is the exact roadmap to ensure your pet treats clear customs flawlessly.
Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), any facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds animal food for consumption in the U.S. must be registered with the FDA.
Before you wire any money to an overseas supplier, ask for their FDA Facility Registration Number. If they don't have one, their goods will not legally enter the United States.
You (or your customs broker) must file a "Prior Notice" with the FDA before your shipment arrives at the U.S. port of entry. This notice alerts the FDA of the incoming food shipment so they can decide if they need to inspect it.
Failing to file Prior Notice will result in immediate detention of your goods.
Al Moin Exports offers DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping. We manufacture the treats, handle all FDA/USDA paperwork, act as the customs broker, and deliver the goods directly to your US warehouse door.
Request DDP PricingBecause bully sticks are an animal product, they fall under the jurisdiction of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS restricts the importation of animal products from countries with known livestock diseases (like Foot-and-Mouth Disease).
To clear APHIS, your supplier must provide an original, government-issued Veterinary Health Certificate from their country of origin. This document proves the raw material was sourced from healthy animals and underwent a thermal dehydration process sufficient to destroy pathogens (typically a core temperature of 90°C).
Even with government certificates, the FDA frequently targets pet treats for random sampling to check for Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae.
To expedite clearance and prevent FDA holds, ensure your supplier attaches an independent, third-party lab test certifying that your specific batch is Salmonella-free.
Your shipping documents must be flawless. Ensure your commercial invoice clearly states the product description, weight, and the correct Harmonized System (HS) Code. For beef pizzle/bully sticks, the standard HS Code used globally is generally 0511.99 (Animal products not elsewhere specified or included).
Importing bully sticks into the US is highly lucrative but requires a manufacturer who acts as a true compliance partner. Ensure you are working with an FDA-registered facility that understands APHIS requirements, and consider using DDP freight terms to shift the customs liability off your plate entirely.
