Transporting Drosophila melanogaster into Hawaii and U.S. territories

Hawaii import permits

Special laws exist to protect the indigenous flora and fauna of the Hawaiian islands. An import permit from the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture is required to import any Drosophila melanogaster strain from other U.S. states or from foreign countries. Import permits are issued with special shipping labels, which must be affixed to shipments. A Hawaiian import permit application may be obtained here.

Shipments into Hawaii from other U.S. states also require USDA documentation. Routine transgenic strains require a Letter of No Permit Required. Nonroutine transgenic strains require an Interstate Movement Permit from BRS. Nontransgenic strains require an Interstate Movement Permit from PPQ (PPQ Permit 526). (The PPQ application process is identical to that described for Applying for a permit to import nontransgenic Drosophila melanogaster except "Interstate Movement" is chosen in step 15, "Multiple States" is chosen in step 16 and "Continental U.S." is chosen in step 17.) Single shipments with different kinds of strains require all applicable documentation.

In addition to Hawaii import permits, shipments from foreign countries into Hawaii require the same USDA documentation required for import into other U.S. states, but do not require an Interstate Movement Permit even if they transit through the continental U.S.

Hawaiian residents should apply for the relevant documents and provide them to colleagues wishing to ship flies.

Transporting Drosophila to U.S. territories

Shipments of Drosophila melanogaster into U.S. territories from U.S. states may require USDA documentation depending on the nature of the strains. Routine transgenic strains require no BRS documentation, but a Letter of No Permit Required may help prevent delays. Nonroutine transgenic strains require an Interstate Movement Permit from BRS. Nontransgenic strains require an Interstate Movement Permit from PPQ (PPQ Permit 526). (The PPQ application process is identical to that described for Applying for a permit to import nontransgenic Drosophila melanogaster except "Interstate Movement" is chosen in step 15, "Multiple States" is chosen in step 16 and "Continental U.S." is chosen in step 17.) Single shipments with different kinds of strains require all applicable documentation.

Shipments from foreign countries into U.S. territories require the same USDA documentation required for import into U.S. states, but do not require an Interstate Movement Permit even if they transit through the continental U.S.

Territory residents should apply for the relevant documents and provide them to colleagues wishing to ship flies.