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

If you raise sheep or goats in Georgia, one federal and state regulatory program directly affects how you identify, move, and manage your animals: the National Scrapie Eradication Program. Whether you keep a small hobby flock or operate a commercial operation, understanding your obligations under this program is not optional — it is the law.

This guide walks you through every key requirement of the Scrapie Eradication Program in Georgia, from official animal identification and flock registration to interstate movement rules, quarantine procedures, and the voluntary Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program. Knowing these rules keeps your operation compliant and helps protect Georgia’s sheep and goat industry from a disease that has no cure.

What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Georgia

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats, and it is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). You may recognize the TSE category from related diseases like mad cow disease — bovine spongiform encephalopathy is probably the most familiar prion disease in public awareness, and scrapie belongs to the same family.

Scrapie is caused by a transmissible prion, or abnormal protein, which is very stable in the environment. That environmental stability is part of what makes the disease so difficult to eliminate. Traditional blood tests are not reliable to diagnose scrapie, so a tissue sample is needed, and no treatment exists for the disease.

Scrapie is difficult to detect. It can take 2 to 5 years for an animal to show signs of disease, and current diagnostic tests require brain or lymphoid tissue. Animals typically live 1 to 6 months after they begin to show signs. This long incubation window means infected animals can spread the disease silently through your flock and to neighboring operations before any symptoms appear.

The economic stakes for Georgia producers are real. Infected flocks typically experience significant production losses, and the U.S. sheep and goat industry continues to experience export losses and increased production and disposal costs because the United States is not free of scrapie. The presence of scrapie in the United States also prevents the export of breeding stock, semen, and embryos to many other countries.

Common clinical signs to watch for include signs of central nervous system problems, most commonly incoordination or poor muscle control (ataxia), and weakness of any kind, including stumbling, falling down, or having difficulty rising. While animals of any age may be exposed to scrapie, lambs and kids are at the greatest risk of contracting the disease and are often infected by their dams shortly after birth. Typically, infected animals do not show signs until they are two years of age or older.

Georgia’s Role in the National Scrapie Eradication Program

The National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) is a cooperative State-Federal-industry program working to eradicate classical scrapie from the United States and meet World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) criteria for disease freedom. Georgia participates in this program through the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), which works alongside USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to enforce identification, movement, and recordkeeping requirements at the state level.

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). As a Georgia producer, both components can apply to you depending on how you manage and market your animals.

The NSEP, coordinated by USDA APHIS, has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep sampled at slaughter by more than 99 percent. Despite this progress, the United States is nearing the goal line after a 70-year battle against scrapie, but the current program has not yet eliminated all positive animals. In order to declare the U.S. “scrapie free,” authorities must be able to prove to the world that testing has been conducted in all sheep and goat populations, which is why submission of samples from sheep and goats over 18 months of age found dead or euthanized on your farm is extremely important.

APHIS published a final rule in the Federal Register in 2019, updating scrapie program regulations under 9 CFR 79. The rule established a more flexible approach to disease investigations and affected flock management, and more consistent animal identification and recordkeeping requirements for sheep and goats. These 2019 updates form the current regulatory baseline that Georgia producers must follow today.

The NSEP has a three-stage eradication pathway. Stage 1 focuses on eradicating scrapie in the U.S. sheep and goat population by finding remaining cases; Stage 2 continues high-level surveillance to ensure no cases remain; and Stage 3 maintains sufficient ongoing monitoring to meet WOAH requirements. Georgia’s surveillance activities, including slaughter sampling and on-farm testing, directly contribute to national progress through these stages. You can learn more about other Georgia wildlife and animal health topics relevant to the state’s agricultural landscape.

Official Animal Identification Requirements in Georgia

Federal and state regulations require producers to officially identify their sheep and goats under the NSEP. This includes using official ear tags or implants and maintaining herd records that track animal movement — animals added or removed from the flock. In Georgia, you can obtain your Flock ID (Scrapie ID) and National Premises ID Number (NPIN) by submitting a registration form through the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website, and you will receive both numbers via email.

All sheep and goats must have official ID when moving off their premises of origin, with limited exceptions. Some states have identification requirements that are stricter than federal requirements, so the exceptions listed below do not apply in all states. For information on each state’s ID and movement requirements, contact the State Veterinarian’s office.

The following types of official identification are accepted under the NSEP:

• Visual Tags — These tags must be read visually by handlers or inspectors. They display your flock ID number followed by an individual animal number.
• Electronic Tags (RFID) — These tags contain electronic chips that can be scanned to quickly access the animal’s identification data. While electronic identification is not currently mandatory, its use is strongly encouraged. Electronic tags improve the nation’s ability to quickly trace exposed and diseased animals in the event of a disease outbreak.
• Registry Tattoos — Registered animals may be identified with a registration tattoo instead of a tag, as long as the animal is accompanied by a copy of the registration certificate issued by an APHIS-approved registry listing the current owner, or the registration certificate and a completed transfer of ownership form dated within 60 days that lists the current owner.
• Implantable Devices (Microchips) — There are restrictions on the use of implantable devices; refer to the National Scrapie Eradication Program Standards for details.

Flock ID tag numbers are the producer’s flock ID assigned by APHIS or the State, followed by an individual animal number. The preferred placement for eartags is in the left ear to aid in shearing. Official tags may not be sold or given to another person.

A flock or premises ID is required to order tags from approved manufacturers. A national premises ID is also required to purchase official 840 RFID tags or implantable devices. 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 RFID tags directly from approved tag manufacturers, but a flock or premises ID is required to order tags from these sources.

Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Georgia

Registering your flock is the foundation of compliance with the Scrapie Eradication Program in Georgia. To obtain your Flock ID (Scrapie ID) and NPIN (National Premises ID Number), you fill out and submit the required form through the GDA, and you will receive your Flock ID and NPIN via email. This registration links your animals to a specific premises in the National Scrapie Database, making it possible to trace animals in the event of a positive diagnosis.

The success of the Scrapie Eradication Program is tied to producers keeping good records of animal sales and purchases. Under 9 CFR 79 and NSEP Standards, your recordkeeping obligations include:

• Recording every animal added to your flock, including the official ID number, date of acquisition, and source premises
• Recording every animal that leaves your flock, including the official ID number, date of removal, and destination
• Maintaining records of any deaths, including animals submitted for scrapie testing
• Retaining all flock records for a minimum of five years and making them available for inspection by APHIS or GDA representatives

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

The 2019 final rule amended the scrapie regulations by simplifying, reducing, or removing certain recordkeeping requirements compared to older rules, but the core obligation to document animal movement into and out of your flock remains in full effect. The scrapie eradication program pre-dates the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Program, and as a result there have been changes in the premises ID numbers that may be assigned by the states and APHIS for sheep and goat premises, which now include PINs and LIDs. If you received an older-style premises number, confirm with the GDA that your records reflect any updated identifiers.

Georgia producers who also raise other animals on their property may find it useful to understand how state and federal agencies approach wildlife and domestic animal health more broadly. Resources on popular cat breeds in Georgia and other domestic animals are available for general reference, while the GDA focuses specifically on livestock regulation.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Georgia

Movement rules are among the most operationally important aspects of the Scrapie Eradication Program for Georgia producers. Whether you are selling breeding stock, sending animals to a market, or moving animals between your own properties, specific identification and documentation requirements apply.

Interstate Movement

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. Before you move sheep or goats across Georgia’s state lines, every animal must carry a valid official ID device that links back to your registered flock premises.

Animals moving interstate for breeding, show, or other non-slaughter purposes require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued by an accredited veterinarian. 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.

Intrastate Movement

The 2001 revision required states 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. This means that even within Georgia, if ownership of your animals changes hands, official ID is required. If you are selling or buying breeding animals, they need to be officially identified prior to or at the time of sale.

Intrastate sheep and goat identification requirements vary from state to state. Some states require additional animals to be officially identified. Contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture to confirm current intrastate movement rules that may exceed the federal baseline.

Movement Exceptions

Federal regulations provide limited exceptions to the individual ID requirement. These include:

• Sheep or goats moving with a group ID and owner/hauler statement, including sheep and goats under 18 months of age in slaughter channels, or sheep and goats of any age shipped directly to a slaughter establishment or a federally approved market that has agreed to act as an agent for the owner to apply official ID when all the animals in a section of a truck are from the same flock of origin.
• Sheep or goats moved for grazing or similar management reasons without a change of ownership, when the animals are moved from a premises owned or leased by the owner to another premises owned or leased by the owner. The premises must be recorded in the National Scrapie Database as additional flock premises, and commingling must not occur with unidentified animals born in another flock.
• Castrated sheep or goats under 18 months of age.

Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Georgia

Surveillance and timely reporting are critical to the NSEP’s mission of finding and eliminating the remaining cases of scrapie in the United States. As a Georgia sheep or goat producer, you have affirmative obligations to report suspect animals and cooperate with testing.

Reporting Suspect Animals

If any of your sheep or goats shows signs consistent with scrapie — including progressive neurological symptoms, incoordination, weight loss, or behavioral changes — you are required to report the animal to your accredited veterinarian or directly to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The accreditation standards require reporting of live or dead scrapie suspects to state and federal authorities.

If you have an animal showing possible signs of scrapie, or you have an adult sheep or goat that dies or is euthanized from these signs or unknown causes, contact your veterinarian. Prompt reporting is not just a regulatory obligation — it is the primary mechanism by which the program identifies remaining cases in the national flock.

Scrapie Testing

Producers, accredited veterinarians, APHIS representatives, and state animal health employees may collect and submit samples from adult sheep or goats. APHIS provides shipping boxes and pre-printed, postage-paid labels at no cost to producers and accredited veterinarians, and will pay for scrapie testing of up to 30 animals per flock per year.

Producers may remove and submit whole heads or report deceased sheep or goats and ask for help with submitting samples. If you are unsure how to collect or submit a sample, contact the GDA or your local APHIS Veterinary Services office for guidance. Testing is free for qualifying animals, and submitting samples from animals that die on your farm is one of the most valuable contributions you can make to the eradication effort.

Quarantine Procedures

When a flock in Georgia is found to have a scrapie-positive or suspect animal, APHIS and the GDA will place the flock under a quarantine order. Under the quarantine:

• No sheep or goats may leave the premises without written authorization from APHIS or the State Veterinarian
• A designated scrapie epidemiologist (DSE) will be assigned to conduct an investigation, trace exposed animals, and develop a cleanup plan
• Removal of genetically susceptible exposed sheep and exposed goats is required; if all susceptible exposed animals are not removed, live-animal testing and removal of test-positive animals is required.
• APHIS provides assistance to owners of exposed and infected flocks or herds, including indemnity for high-risk, suspect, and scrapie-positive sheep and exposed goats that owners agree to destroy, and genetic testing of sheep for scrapie susceptibility.

Until a more sensitive, cost-effective live-animal test is available, the risk of scrapie introduction can be substantially reduced by maintaining a closed ewe flock, by acquiring female animals only from certified free flocks, zones, or countries, and/or by acquiring ewes that are genetically resistant or less susceptible. These preventive practices are your best defense against ever facing a quarantine in the first place. For context on other regulated animals in Georgia’s environment, you may find resources on venomous snakes in Georgia or hawks in Georgia helpful for understanding the broader state wildlife regulatory landscape.

Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Georgia

Beyond the mandatory compliance requirements of the NSEP, Georgia sheep and goat producers have access to a voluntary program that can significantly increase the marketability of their animals: the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP).

The National Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) increases the marketability of sheep and goats from flocks that have demonstrated freedom of scrapie disease by adhering to program standards over an extended monitoring period. The SFCP identifies scrapie-free flocks by monitoring them over a 5 to 7 year period.

Program Categories and Statuses

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 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.

Enrollment and Ongoing Obligations

The SFCP is a voluntary program 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.

To enroll your Georgia flock in the SFCP, contact USDA APHIS at scrapie@usda.gov or reach the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health division at 404-656-3667. Once enrolled, your flock will be subject to annual veterinary inspections, inventory reconciliation, and ongoing animal sampling to maintain your certification status.

SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. These distinctive tags signal to buyers that your animals come from a certified-status flock, which can command premium prices in both domestic and export markets.

The SFCP 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. The revised program additionally enhances scrapie surveillance strategy, contributing to the final push to eradicate this disease from the United States.

For complete SFCP program standards, visit the USDA APHIS National Scrapie Eradication Program page or contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture. You can also find state-specific animal resources — from owls in Georgia to bees in Georgia — at Animal of Things for a broader look at Georgia’s animal landscape.

Key Contacts and Next Steps for Georgia Producers

Compliance with the Scrapie Eradication Program in Georgia starts with two actions: registering your flock to obtain a Flock ID and NPIN, and making sure every animal that must be identified carries a valid official tag before it leaves your premises. From there, consistent recordkeeping and prompt reporting of suspect animals keep your operation in good standing with both the GDA and USDA APHIS.

Here are the primary contacts you need:

• Georgia Department of Agriculture — Animal Health: 404-656-3667 (for Georgia-specific Flock ID registration, free tags, and state movement questions)
• USDA APHIS — 1-866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824): To request official sheep and goat tags, a flock or premises ID, or both. This line has a telephone tree that will gather information to route you to the correct APHIS Veterinary Services or State office.
• USDA APHIS Scrapie Program Email: scrapie@usda.gov (for SFCP enrollment and general program questions)
• APHIS NSEP Program Page: aphis.usda.gov — Scrapie (for official standards, approved tag manufacturers, and regulatory documents)

Staying current with program requirements is an ongoing responsibility. Regulations under 9 CFR 79 and the NSEP Standards are updated periodically, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture may issue state-level guidance that supplements federal rules. Bookmark the GDA Scrapie Tag Information page and check it regularly to stay informed. The effort you put into compliance today protects your flock, your neighbors’ flocks, and Georgia’s long-term standing in domestic and international livestock markets. For more on Georgia’s animal world, explore guides on beetles in Georgia, frogs in Georgia, and other native species at Animal of Things.