USDA Restricts Sheep, Goats Interstate Movement

December 1, 1999

USDA proposes to restrict further the interstate movement of sheep and goats from states that allow unrestricted intrastate movement of animals that pose a high risk of spreading scrapie, a serious neurological disease.

The proposed rule would restrict the interstate movement of sheep and goats from states that do not consider scrapie a reportable disease or do not quarantine infected flocks or source flocks. It also would add identification requirements for the interstate movement of sheep and goats to allow a more effective national scrapie surveillance program and trace-back of disease-positive animals. Thirdly, it would reinstate a scrapie indemnification program for sheep and goats that are euthanized to prevent further spread of the disease.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regulations apply only to flock owners who wish to move sheep or goats interstate. Intrastate movement of animals from infected flocks is not restricted in some states and poses a risk of transmitting scrapie to other animals within a state, says APHIS.

APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

The proposed rule was published in the Nov. 30 Federal Register.