While there are no licensing or certification requirements for animal breeders, their products may be certified or registered in different ways.

The import or export of livestock is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS insures that foreign agricultural pests and diseases are not imported and certify that exported livestock is disease free. APHIS also regulates the care of animals used in research, exhibition, and the wholesale pet trade. For more information contact:

All states regulate the movement of animals across their borders. For more information contact the department of agriculture in your state. You can view the import/export requlations for each state at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/animal_imports_states.shtml

There are many national associations concerned with the breeding of livestock and pets. One is the National Association of Animal Breeders. This association is involved with the breeding of agricultural animals. For more information, contact:

Animal breeders often belong to organizations which promote or certify breeds of animals. Organizations such as the American Angus Association (a breed of beef cattle) or the American Kennel Club. These groups have information on care and breeding as well as registering animals and certifying herds. One way to locate the group you wish is to search the Internet using the breed's name as the key word.