The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued an official permit to a Mr. S. Claus of the North Pole, allowing Santa's reindeer special access for entry into United States territory for their annual Christmas run. 

APHIS regulates the movement of cervids, which are members of the Cervidae family that includes reindeer, to protect the health of America's livestock population. The permitting process provides assurance that only healthy animals enter the United States.

Dr. Peter Merrill, director of APHIS, announced that his department had issued a special movement permit on Dec. 23. It allows the reindeer to enter and exit the United States between the hours of 6:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 24, 2013 and 6:00 a.m. EST on Dec. 25, 2013, through or over any northern border port in the country.

"During this season of giving, USDA wants to do everything in its power to help Santa," said Dr. John Clifford, USDA's Chief Veterinary Officer.

As such, the USDA says it has waived the normal application fees and entry inspection/overtime costs. The Department has also waived the normally applicable disease testing requirements because "the North Pole is recognized by APHIS as negligible risk for all livestock diseases" and upon recent inspection all of the reindeer were found to be "healthy and able to prance and paw with each hoof."

The reindeer are expected to arrive through a border port pulling a wooden sleigh affixed with jingle bells and loaded with gifts. Port personnel will clean and disinfect the runners and underside of the sleigh at the time of entry, according to Merrill.

There are, however, some strings attached.

As a first condition of entry, "the reindeer must be certified by Santa Claus as never having been fed anything other than hay, sugar plums, and gingerbread."

"The reindeer must also be individually identified with microchips or official eartag identification" and "must respond to the names 'Dasher', 'Dancer', 'Prancer', 'Vixen', 'Comet', 'Cupid', 'Donner', 'Blitzen', and 'Rudolph' when interacting with port personnel."

Lastly, "no more than one reindeer in the group may be visibly affected by 'Rednose Syndrome' and upon entry, port personnel will visually inspect the reindeer to ensure they are healthy and fit for continued travel."

"With these steps completed, the reindeer will continue their journey across the country and around the world, spreading holiday cheer as they go," Clifford said.