Scrapie Eradication Program in California: What Every Sheep and Goat Producer Needs to Know

If you raise sheep or goats in California, scrapie compliance is not optional — it is a legal obligation that follows your animals from birth to sale, from your pasture to the auction yard, and across every state line they cross. Scrapie is a fatal, untreatable neurological disease, and California participates fully in the federal effort to wipe it out for good.

This guide walks you through every layer of the Scrapie Eradication Program as it applies to California producers — from official animal identification and flock recordkeeping to interstate movement permits, mandatory reporting, and the voluntary Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP). Whether you run a small hobby flock or a large commercial operation, understanding these rules protects your animals, your business, and the broader industry.

What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in California

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It is among a number of diseases classified as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). The name itself comes from one of its most visible symptoms: affected animals will compulsively scrape off their fleeces against rocks, trees, or fences because the disease apparently causes an intense itching sensation.

Clinical signs of classical scrapie typically appear between 2 to 5 years after infection; therefore, infected animals rarely show signs of infection before the age of 2 years, with the average age of clinical onset being 3 to 4 years. That long silent period is what makes the disease so dangerous — animals that appear healthy can be infected with the disease agent and can spread it.

Due to damage to the nervous system, affected animals often show behavior changes such as nervousness or aggression, intense rubbing, and locomotor incoordination that progresses to recumbency and death. There is no cure or treatment for scrapie once an animal is infected.

The economic stakes are significant. Infected flocks that contain a high percentage of susceptible animals can experience significant production losses. Over a period of several years the number of infected animals increases, and the age at onset of clinical signs decreases, making these flocks economically unviable. Beyond the farm level, the presence of scrapie in the United States also prevents the export of breeding stock, semen, and embryos to many other countries.

TSEs are the subject of increased attention and concern because of the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle, the link between BSE and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in people, and feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) in cats in Europe. While scrapie itself has not been shown to transmit to humans, its classification as a TSE keeps it firmly on regulators’ radar. California’s participation in the national eradication program reflects both the animal health and trade-protection dimensions of this disease.

Just as California’s diverse wildlife — from venomous snakes to owls — requires careful monitoring and management, so too do the state’s domestic livestock populations, where disease surveillance is a cornerstone of agricultural health policy.

California’s Role in the National Scrapie Eradication Program

Scrapie was first reported in the United States in 1947. In 1952, the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) was established. The NSEP is a mandatory program that applies to all sheep and goat producers in the United States.

The NSEP was revised in 2001 to accelerate the eradication of scrapie from the United States. The revised program requires the official identification of most sexually intact sheep and goats in commerce; additionally, it identifies scrapie-infected animals through surveillance of mature cull sheep and goats at slaughter as well as suspects reported by veterinarians and producers.

California is classified as a Consistent State within the NSEP. A new National Scrapie Eradication Program was initiated by the USDA in 2001, in which California is classified as a Consistent State. This designation means California meets the federal standards for running a state scrapie program that is fully aligned with USDA/APHIS requirements — a status that directly affects what documentation is required when animals move in or out of the state.

There are different types of programs that the Animal Health Branch (AHB) manages or participates in. Programs labeled Cooperative Federal/State are generally disease control or eradication programs that combine the efforts of the USDA Veterinary Services and the FDA (Federal), AHB (State), and producers and veterinarians (private industry) to manage specific animal diseases. Generally, USDA provides funding and often rules for the program.

The results of this cooperative effort have been substantial. The National Scrapie Eradication Program, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep sampled at slaughter by over 99 percent. However, the program is conducting targeted sampling of subpopulations that have a higher prevalence of scrapie than the general sheep and goat population to find the remaining cases.

The NSEP has two major components. The National Scrapie Eradication Program has two major components: a regulatory eradication program called the Accelerated Scrapie Eradication Program (ASEP) and a voluntary certification program called the Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP). Both apply to California producers, and both are covered in detail in the sections below.

Official Animal Identification Requirements in California

Everyone raising sheep and goats in California requires official identification issued by the USDA. This is not limited to large commercial operations — it applies to every producer regardless of flock size.

Official Identification (official eartags, official tattoos, official electronic identification, or official premises identification numbers) are required when sheep and goats change ownership, except: lambs and kids less than 18 months of age in slaughter channels that have not lambed, kidded, aborted, or are pregnant; low-risk goats (those not exposed to scrapie or to any sheep, unless low-risk commercial sheep); and castrated animals less than 18 months of age that are not for exhibition.

Understanding your acceptable ID options is important. The table below summarizes the main forms of official identification recognized under the program:

To obtain your official tags in California, you may obtain official tags from the USDA/APHIS VS office at (916) 854-3900. The National Scrapie Eradication Program is providing up to 100 plastic flock ID tags free of charge to first-time participants in the sheep and goat identification program until available funds are expended. APHIS discontinued the availability of no-cost metal tags for producers on August 31, 2019. If you need additional tags beyond what APHIS provides, producers and others who handle sheep or goats in commerce who need additional tags or want a different type or color of tag may purchase official plastic, metal, or radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags directly from approved tag manufacturers.

When requested by the producer, accredited veterinarians can apply official eartags, collect and submit samples for official genotype testing, scrapie testing on obex, lymph node, third-eyelid lymphoid tissue, or rectal lymphoid tissue; and issue Certificates of Veterinary Inspection for interstate movement. This means your local accredited vet is a key resource for both ID compliance and disease testing.

Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in California

Official identification is only part of the compliance picture. Alongside tagging your animals, you must also maintain accurate flock records — and keep them for a specific minimum period.

If you apply official ID, you must retain records on those animals for 5 years, including the date you identified the animals and the identification numbers applied, such that animals may be traced back to their flock or herd of origin. This traceability requirement is central to the program’s ability to contain outbreaks quickly.

Since the incubation period for scrapie is typically two to five years, producers should record individual identification numbers and the seller’s premises identification number on purchase and sales records. These records must be maintained for a minimum of five years.

Your recordkeeping system should capture the following for each animal:

• The official identification number applied to the animal
• The date the ID was applied
• The seller’s premises identification number for any purchased animal
• The buyer’s information when the animal leaves your operation
• Records of any animals that die, are euthanized, or are sent to slaughter

Records must be kept for 5 years after the animal is sold or otherwise disposed of. Ideally, producers should keep records in an electronic format, such as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. An electronic system makes it far easier to respond quickly if CDFA or USDA contacts you during a traceback investigation.

Producers are required to follow federal and state regulations for officially identifying their sheep and goats. Producers must also keep herd records, showing what new animals were added and what animals left the herd or flock.

To register your flock or premises and obtain a flock ID, call 1-866-USDA-Tag (866-873-2824). This telephone tree will gather information to route you to the correct APHIS Veterinary Services or state office to answer your questions about sheep and goat identification. A flock or premises ID is a prerequisite for ordering tags from approved manufacturers.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in California

California’s movement rules for sheep and goats are among the most detailed in the NSEP framework. Interstate and intrastate movement of sheep and goats scrapie regulations may be found under Title 3, Division 2, Chapter 2, Article 3, Sections 760–760.9, California Code of Regulations.

Bringing animals into California from another state triggers a specific set of documentation requirements. California requires an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) for sheep within thirty (30) days before moving into the state with the statement: “The animals are not scrapie-positive or suspect or from a scrapie non-compliant flock.”

In addition to the ICVI, an Interstate Livestock Entry Permit is required for all animals imported into California with limited exceptions. To obtain an Interstate Livestock Entry Permit, call the CDFA Animal Health Branch Permit Line at (916) 900-5052 before moving sheep into the state. Permits are valid for fifteen (15) days after issue.

For exhibition animals specifically, the requirements are even more explicit. All exhibition sheep and goats entering California require individual official scrapie identification issued by the USDA, an Interstate Livestock Entry Permit issued within 15 days prior to entry, and an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) with an inspection date within 30 days before movement into the state with the scrapie statement: “The animals are not scrapie positive or suspect or from a scrapie non-compliant flock.”

For goats specifically, goats must be inspected within 30 days of movement into the state and the CVI must include the statement that the animals are not scrapie positive, suspect, or from a non-compliant flock.

Any animal that is scrapie positive, suspect, or may have been exposed to scrapie, or from a scrapie infected, source, or non-compliant flock, shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may only be allowed entry into California with the approval of the designated scrapie epidemiologist.

Intrastate movement — moving animals within California — is also regulated. The scrapie regulations require the official identification of sheep and goats not in slaughter channels (except low-risk commercial goats) and any sheep over 18 months of age in interstate commerce with some exceptions. In addition, states are required to implement and enforce official identification of most sheep and goats on change of ownership intrastate in order to move sheep and goats interstate with minimal restrictions.

California’s movement rules connect directly to the broader goal of disease traceability. The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a mandatory federal identification program to establish a tracking system for the movements of these animals. This system provides a means to trace the spread of scrapie from site to site. Every permit and certificate you file is a data point in that national traceback network. You can learn more about APHIS animal movement requirements at the APHIS Scrapie Tag resource page.

Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in California

Surveillance is the engine of the eradication program. California producers, veterinarians, and animal health officials all have roles to play in detecting and reporting potential scrapie cases.

When to report a suspect animal: Contact your State Veterinarian (California Department of Food and Agriculture, 916-900-5002) or the USDA Veterinary Services Office for your state if your sheep or goat, older than 12 months, exhibits clinical signs of scrapie. Do not wait for a confirmed diagnosis — reporting a suspect is the correct action.

Signs that should prompt an immediate call include:

• Progressive incoordination or stumbling (ataxia)
• Unexplained weight loss despite continued eating
• Compulsive rubbing against fences, posts, or other surfaces
• Behavioral changes such as nervousness, aggression, or withdrawal
• Weakness, difficulty rising, or recumbency
• Tremors or convulsive collapse

Submitting samples for testing: Submit samples or whole heads from sheep and goats over 18 months of age that die or are euthanized on your premises. Producers, accredited veterinarians, APHIS representatives, and state animal health employees may collect and submit samples from adult sheep or goats. Producers may remove and submit whole heads or report deceased sheep or goats and ask for help with submitting samples.

Testing clinical suspects is the most cost-effective way to find scrapie-infected animals. APHIS provides shipping boxes and pre-printed, postage-paid labels at no cost to producers and accredited veterinarians. APHIS will pay for scrapie testing of up to 30 animals per flock per year.

Confirmatory testing methods: Confirmatory testing for scrapie can only be achieved by applying immunohistochemistry of disease-associated prion protein (PrPSc) to tissues collected post mortem, including obex (a brainstem structure), retropharyngeal lymph node, and palatine tonsil. A live-animal diagnostic test is also available: a live animal diagnostic, not confirmatory, test was approved in 2008 for immunochemistry testing on rectal biopsy-derived lymphoid tissue by USDA.

Quarantine procedures: When a flock is placed under quarantine, movement of all sheep and goats off the premises is restricted until CDFA and USDA officials authorize otherwise. If scrapie develops in a flock, the risk of further spread or reintroduction of the disease can be minimized through removal of genetically susceptible exposed sheep and exposed goats, and if all susceptible exposed animals are not removed, live-animal testing and removal of test-positive animals.

The accreditation standards require reporting of live or dead scrapie suspects to state and federal authorities. This applies to all accredited veterinarians practicing in California. In addition to this critical role, accredited veterinarians are the producers’ primary source of education about all aspects of the program, including identification, recordkeeping, and movement requirements.

For more information on disease reporting and testing procedures, visit the CDFA Scrapie Information page or the USDA APHIS Scrapie Disease Alert page.

Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in California

Beyond the mandatory baseline requirements of the NSEP, California producers have the option to pursue a higher level of disease assurance through the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP). This voluntary program can open doors to premium markets and simplified interstate movement.

The Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP) was added in 1992 and is a voluntary certification program within the NSEP. The SFCP identifies scrapie-free flocks by monitoring them over a 5–7 year period.

The SFCP is a voluntary program that is open to all sheep and goat producers in the United States. The overall objective of the SFCP is to minimize the scrapie risk of participating flocks and herds, thereby improving the marketability of animals from participating flocks and herds and contributing to the national scrapie eradication program.

The SFCP has two categories: Export and Select. The Export category has two statuses (Export Monitored and Export Certified), and the Select category has one status (Select Monitored). The table below outlines the key differences:

The objective of the Export category is to certify participating flocks and herds as scrapie-free establishments through limiting the acquisition of does and ewes from flocks of the same or higher status, annual inspections including reconciliation of the animal inventory, official individual animal identification requirements, recordkeeping requirements, and animal sampling requirements.

The program provides sheep and goat producers the opportunity to increase the marketability of their animals through demonstrating a negligible scrapie risk in their flock or herd. For producers who sell breeding stock or export animals internationally, SFCP certification is a meaningful competitive advantage.

The SFCP standards provide guidelines for reducing the risk of scrapie exposure while animals are at shows or in transport. Guidelines include separating enrolled animals from non-enrolled animals by a vacant pen, barn alley, or a solid barrier sufficient to prevent physical contact. Limited contact in show rings minimizes the risk of disease transmission.

SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. These tags are distinct from standard program tags and signal to buyers and inspectors that the animal comes from a certified operation.

To enroll your California flock in the SFCP, producers interested in receiving official sheep or goat ear tags or in participating in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program should call the USDA office in Sacramento at 916–854–3900 or 1–866–USDA–TAG (873–2824). You can also review the full program standards through the APHIS NVAP Reference Guide on Scrapie.

Prevention strategies that complement SFCP enrollment include maintaining a closed flock wherever possible. The most effective method of scrapie prevention is to maintain a closed flock. Raising replacement ewes, purchasing genetically resistant (RR) rams, or buying from a certified-free scrapie flock are other options to reduce the risk of scrapie. Genotyping is a practical tool to support this: genotyping is a DNA test that identifies the genes for susceptibility or resistance. This tool measures vulnerability, not infection.

California’s commitment to scrapie eradication reflects the same attention to biological risk management that shapes the state’s approach to its broader wildlife and animal populations — from bats that serve as disease-surveillance indicators to the many raptors that depend on healthy prey ecosystems. Protecting livestock health is part of that same broader picture.

For the most current SFCP standards and enrollment requirements, visit the official CDFA Scrapie page or contact the CDFA Animal Health Branch directly at 916-900-5002. The California Wool Growers Association also maintains scrapie resources specifically tailored for California sheep producers.