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Scrapie Federal
Regulations Compliance
by Ray Hoyt, NPGA Vice
President
The information in this article was
obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and
Plant Inspection Service, Veterinary Services (hereinafter
referred to USDA/APHIS/VS). They have area offices across the
United States that house, among other people, an Area
Veterinarian in Charge and an Area Epidemiologist. For area
office and contact persons information, go to:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/area_offices.htm.
There are three main areas of concern
which must be attended to when pygmy goat breeders and owners
move their “sexually-intact” goats interstate for either sale
or exhibition:
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Federally-approved identification of
all goats transported interstate;
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Certification of Veterinary Inspection,
commonly known as a health certificate; and
-
Possession of a Premise Identification
Number
Readers should keep in mind that many
states enact additional regulations which may apply when goats
are moved to or through those states. Additionally, there may
be a different level of enforcement of federal regulations from
state to state. To determine if any state regulations might
apply, the State Veterinarian should be contacted. All State
Veterinarians are listed at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/sregs/official.html.
Federally-approved Identification
Under the Scrapie Eradication Program
regulations of 11/19/01, sexually-intact goats must have one of
the following forms of identification to be moved interstate
for sale or exhibition:
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APHIS Identification Eartags; or
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Registry tattoo or electronic
identification accompanied by registration papers which
include the tattoo number or electronic ID number as
appropriate; or
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Approved Premises ID Tattoos; or
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Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification
Identification Eartags, Tattoos or Electronic ID.
Option 2 above is met if the
NPGA-registered pygmy goat is tattooed with an NPGA tattoo
and/or microchipped as shown on the registration papers. The
registration papers must accompany the goats when moved
interstate.
It should be noted here that enrollment
in the voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program is a whole
separate issue, and enrollment is not necessary to move
sexually-intact pygmy goats interstate for sale or exhibition.
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection
This inspection form, commonly known as a
health certificate, must have been completed within the past 30
days when the interstate movement occurs, and must be carried
with the goats and their registration papers. Licensed
veterinarians carry a supply of these forms.
Premise Identification Number
A Premise Identification Number, also
known as a “Flock ID Number,” is obtained from an area office
of USDA/APHIS/VS (see the first paragraph for information on
locating the nearest area office). There is no charge to obtain
this number. The area office will furnish an application form
which doubles as a request form for APHIS Identification
Eartags. If just a Premise Identification Number is being
requested, and eartags are not desired, the eartag order may be
declined. When sending in the request, be sure to ask USDA to
provide notification of the Premise Identification Number
assigned. When goats are moved interstate, some evidence that
this requirement has been complied with should be carried.
Approval of Microchips by USDA
The USDA/APHIS/VS in Washington, D.C. has
circulated an internal memo to all Veterinary Services Regions,
Area Veterinarians in Charge, Veterinary Medical Officers and
State Veterinarians regarding the approval of Electronic
Implant Devices (EIDs) for use as official identification in
the Scrapie Eradication Program. The text of that memo is
quoted here:
“Goats registered with national
associations that allow the use of electronic implants for
official registry identification may use EID as official
identification as defined in 9 Code of Federal Regulations
Parts 54 and 79 if the following conditions are met:
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The goats are registered with a
national goat registry association;
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The electronic implant number is
recorded on the registration certificate accompanying the
animal; and either the animal is accompanied by an implant
reader that can read the implant in the animal or a
certificate of veterinary inspection that lists the implant
numbers and a statement that they were read and checked
against the registration certificates by the accredited
veterinarian signing the certificate of veterinary
inspection;
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An implant reader that can read the
implant in the animal is available at the exhibition for use
by Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or State
authorities; and
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The movement is either for exhibition
purposes or sale with transfer of the registration papers to
a new owner who has a reader that can read the implant in the
animal.
Such goats moved in interstate commerce
to a market or for sale without registration papers must be
identified with visible official identification such as an
official ear tag or tattoo.”
This document is for
informational purposes only and is in no way intended to be a
substitute for medical consultation with a qualified veterinary
professional. The information provided through this document is
not meant to be used in the diagnosis or treatment of a health
problem or disease, nor should it be construed as such.
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