What's New?

If you have any questions, ideas or additions for the Scrapie program up to now or for the coming future please contact the Scrapie program co—ordinator. The Scrapie committee meets annually or upon any specific requests.

August 2007 Scrapie Canada Update

Since 1952, the US sheep industry has had numerous programs in place to identify and eradicate Scrapie. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the approach to these Scrapie programs has evolved over time, especially with the development and implementation of the US Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program in 1992. Similar to Canada, the US certification program is voluntary. It is a cooperative effort among producers, allied industry representatives, accredited veterinarians, State animal health officials, and the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Designed to monitor flocks and certify the Scrapie status of enrolled animals, the US program is open to any owner/manager of sheep or goats in the country. The program provides participants with the opportunity to protect their sheep from Scrapie and to enhance the marketability of their animals.

In June 2007, APHIS released new program standards developed to reduce the incidence and control the spread of Scrapie through certification of flocks and herds. Below is a breakdown of the general regulations and requirements of the US program.

  • The intent of the program is to monitor flocks over a period of five years or more to identify flocks that are free of Scrapie.
  • Any US sheep or goat owner/ manager are eligible to enroll.

When participating in the program, US flock owners must:

  • Agree to immediately report Scrapie-suspect animals to the proper animal health officials.
  • Officially identify all animals within a flock that are 1 year of age or older.
  • Animals less than 1 year old must be identified whenever a change of ownership occurs, except for those in slaughter channels.
  • Owners must account for all acquisitions, departures, births, and deaths on the farm.
  • Submit to an official laboratory tissues from Scrapie-suspect animals and from animals suspected of having other neurologic or chronic, debilitating illnesses.
  • Acquire rams from any flock (other than source or infected flocks), including those not enrolled on the program.
  • Obtain ewes only from other enrolled flocks with an equal or older status date.
  • Test for scrapie, at least 30 animals (over 14 months of age) born on the premises with at least 5 in each 2-year period and an additional 2 animals for each animal over 14 months of age lost to inventory.

A flock can become certified after it has participated in the program for more than 5 years and has met the necessary requirements. A flock can become export certified after it has participated in the program for more than 7 years and has met the necessary requirements.

It is important to understand the rules and regulations of the US program, for any Canadian producer who wishes to import US sheep must do so from a US flock that is enrolled on the program. The Canadian producer must be enrolled on the Canadian Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program as well.

For the full rules and regulations of the US program (updated June 2007), check out the following link: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/downloads/vsfcp.pdf

For the full rules and regulations of the Canadian program (updated June 2007), check out the following link: http://www.scrapiecanada.ca/VSFCPrules-regs.html

For more information, please call Scrapie Canada at 1-866-534-1302 or e-mail admin@scrapiecanada.ca.

Two Sheep

Scrapie Information & Facts

CFIA LOCATIONS

CFIA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0Y9
PHONE: (613) 225-2342 / 1-800-442-2342
Fax: (613) 228-6601

 

ATLANTIC HEADQUARTERS

1081 Main St, PO Box 6088
Moncton, New Brunswick, E1C 8R2
PHONE: (506) 851-7400
Fax: Fax: (506) 851-2689

 

ONTARIO HEADQUARTERS

174 Stone Rd W
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 4S9
PHONE: (519) 837-9400
Fax: (519) 837-9766

 

QUEBEC HEADQUARTERS

Room 746-C - 2001 University St,
Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3N2
PHONE: (514) 283-8888
Fax: (514) 283-3143

 

WESTERN HEADQUARTERS

Room 654 - 220 4th Ave SE
Calgary, Alberta, T2G 4X3
PHONE: (403) 292-4301
Fax: (403) 292-5707

 

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