Peru Tightens Equine Animal Sanitary Requirements for Imports

Peru has implemented stricter animal health standards for equine animals entering the country, including those for breeding, competition, and exhibitions, through three new regulatory directives.

PERU – EQUINE ANIMALS

Peru Tightens Health Rules for Imported Horses

Importers must meet new sanitary standards for horses from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil.

2026 New rules take effect

0101 HS Code for live horses

What changed

Stricter sanitary requirements now apply to all imported equines for breeding, sport, or work.

Specific health protocols are required for horses temporarily entering for the Gran Premio Latinoamericano Perú 2026.

Separate sanitary rules govern temporary entry of horses from Brazil for competitions.

Who it affects

Importers of live horses from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil must comply with the new standards.

Equestrian event participants bringing horses for temporary entry must follow specific event protocols.

Peru — equine animal sanitary import requirements

Compliance Answer: Stricter Animal Health Standards for Equine Animals Entering Peru

Peru has recently strengthened its animal health standards for the temporary importation of equines (horses) for breeding, competition, and exhibitions through three new regulatory directives issued by the Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agraria (SENASA). These directives establish uniform sanitary requirements for equines entering Peru from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay for equestrian events, including the Gran Premio Latinoamericano Perú 2026. The regulations align with Andean Community (CAN) Decision 515 and national legislation, ensuring compliance with international sanitary standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OMSA).

Regulation Analysis

1. Legal Framework and Authority

The new requirements are grounded in the following Peruvian regulations:

Decreto Legislativo N° 1059 (General Law on Agricultural Health)^{1, 2}
Decreto Legislativo N° 1387 (Strengthening SENASA’s competencies in supervision, oversight, and rectorship)^{1, 2}
Decreto Supremo N° 018-2008-AG (Regulations for phytosanitary and zoosanitary measures)^{1, 3, 2}
Decreto Supremo N° 008-2005-AG (SENASA’s Organizational and Functional Regulations)^{1, 3, 2}
Andean Community Decision 515 (Andean System of Agricultural Health)^{1, 3, 2}

SENASA, as the National Authority for Agricultural Health, is empowered to establish, enforce, and modify zoosanitary requirements for equine imports¹. The regulations apply to temporary imports for events such as competitions, exhibitions, and breeding, with a maximum stay of 30 days^{3, 2}.

2. Key Sanitary Requirements for Equine Imports

The following table summarizes the core requirements applicable to equines entering Peru from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay for temporary events:

Requirement	Details	Applicable Countries	Citation
Certification by Exporting Country’s Authority	Equines must be accompanied by an official export health certificate issued by the competent authority (e.g., SENASA Argentina, SAG Chile, MAPA Brazil).	Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay	^{3, 2}
Freedom from OMSA-Listed Diseases	Exporting country must be free of peste equina (recognized by OMSA), and equines must not have transited through infected zones 40 days prior to shipment³.	Chile, Argentina, Uruguay	³
Pre-Export Isolation and Biosecurity	Equines must be kept in approved biosecure facilities under veterinary supervision for ≥30 days prior to shipment, with no contact with lower-sanitary-status animals.	All	^{3, 2}
Clinical Examination	Equines must be examined by an official veterinarian within 48 hours of shipment, confirming absence of clinical signs of infectious diseases, ectoparasites, or travel unfitness^{3, 2}.	All	^{3, 2}
Parasite Treatment	Internal and external antiparasitic treatment must be administered within 7 days of shipment².	All	²
Negative Test for Infectious Anemia (EIA)	Equines must test negative for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) via ELISA or AGID test within 90 days of shipment. Test type, results, and date must be documented².	All	²
No Reproductive Use	Equines must not be used for natural or artificial reproduction during the 30 days prior to shipment or during their stay in Peru^{3, 2}.	All	^{3, 2}
Transport and Biosecurity Upon Arrival	– Equines must be transported in disinfected, vector-protected vehicles directly to the event venue^{3, 2}. – Event venues must comply with SENASA biosecurity measures³. – Declaration of transit countries must be submitted upon arrival³.	All	^{3, 2}
Maximum Stay Duration	Equines must leave Peru within 30 calendar days of arrival^{3, 2}.	All	^{3, 2}
SENASA Oversight	SENASA may impose additional sanitary measures during the equines’ stay in Peru^{3, 2}.	All	^{3, 2}

3. Country-Specific Requirements

While the above requirements are harmonized across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, some country-specific provisions apply:

Argentina

Modification of Requirement 18 (Resolución Directoral N° 0015-2021-MIDAGRI-SENASA-DSA):

Equines must be microchipped and examined by a SENASA Argentina veterinarian at the quarantine facility prior to shipment, who must verify the animal’s identity and confirm the absence of wounds with eggs/larvae of screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax)¹.

Brazil

Resolución Directoral N° D000015-2026-MIDAGRI-SENASA-DSA approves sanitary requirements for equines participating in equestrian events or competitions².
Notifiable Diseases: Brazil must report cases of equine encephalomyelitis (Venezuelan, Eastern, Western), Japanese encephalitis, durina, equine influenza, glanders, and rabies².

Chile

Resolución Directoral (Anexo 2) specifies that Chile is OMSA-recognized as free of peste equina, and equines must not have transited through infected zones in the 40 days prior to shipment³.

Uruguay

Resolución Directoral (Anexo 1) aligns with the harmonized requirements for temporary imports³.

4. Enforcement and Compliance

Permits: SENASA must authorize sanitary import permits for equines entering Peru³.
Inspections: Equines are subject to SENASA inspections upon arrival at designated control points^{3, 2}.
Penalties: Non-compliance with sanitary requirements may result in quarantine, re-exportation, or other measures under Decreto Legislativo N° 1059 and Decreto Legislativo N° 1387^{1, 2}.

Summary Answer

Peru has implemented stricter zoosanitary requirements for the temporary importation of equines for breeding, competition, and exhibitions through three new SENASA directives^{1, 3, 2}. These regulations mandate:

Pre-export isolation, clinical examinations, and disease testing (e.g., EIA)^{3, 2}.
Biosecurity measures during transport and at event venues^{3, 2}.
Country-specific adaptations (e.g., Argentina’s microchipping requirement¹, Chile’s OMSA-recognized disease-free status³).
SENASA oversight for permits, inspections, and enforcement^{1, 3, 2}.

The requirements align with Andean Community Decision 515 and national legislation, ensuring harmonization with international standards while mitigating risks to Peru’s equine population. Equines must leave Peru within 30 days of arrival^{3, 2}.

Sources

↩ WTO SPS notification 26-02871 — Peru https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/PER/26_02871_00_s.pdf
↩ WTO SPS notification 26-02023 — Peru https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/PER/26_02023_00_s.pdf
↩ WTO SPS notification 26-02032 — Peru https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/PER/26_02032_00_s.pdf