Florida’s Scrapie Eradication Program: What Sheep and Goat Owners Need to Know
August 24, 2026
If you raise sheep or goats in Florida, understanding the state’s scrapie regulations is not optional — it is a legal requirement that affects how you identify, move, sell, and manage your animals every single day.
Scrapie is a fatal neurological disease that has shaped federal and state livestock policy for decades, and Florida has built a detailed regulatory framework around the national eradication effort. This guide walks you through every major requirement under Florida’s program, from official ear tags and flock registration to interstate movement rules, quarantine procedures, and voluntary certification.
What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Florida
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It was first recognized as a disease of sheep in Great Britain and other countries of Western Europe more than 250 years ago and has since been reported throughout the world.
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, and most are infected as young lambs or kids, though adult animals can contract it as well.
Apparently healthy animals infected with the disease agent can spread it, which is precisely why traceability and identification are so critical. Information about the flock or herd of origin is necessary because an infected animal may not show clinical symptoms for up to five years, making it more difficult to diagnose and trace back to the original herd.
Infected flocks typically experience significant production losses, and the U.S. sheep and goat industry continues to face export losses and increased production and disposal costs because the United States has not yet achieved full scrapie-free status. Florida’s regulatory involvement is a direct response to these economic and animal health realities.
There is no evidence that people who consume sheep or goat meat or milk or who work with sheep and goats are at risk of contracting scrapie, but it is recommended that meat from positive animals not be used for human consumption.
Florida’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. Florida participates as a partner state within this structure.
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. To date, the program has eliminated scrapie in 99 percent of U.S. sheep and goats, and is now 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 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).
Florida’s own regulatory chapter — Florida Administrative Code Chapter 5C-29 — establishes the state-level rules that mirror and, in some cases, exceed federal standards. The purpose of Florida’s Chapter 5C-29 rules is to specify, detail, and clarify a Scrapie Control and Eradication Program in Florida, adopting standards established by USDA APHIS under its Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules and Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program Standards, placing Florida in a “Consistent State Status” regarding the control and eradication of scrapie in the U.S.
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, along with more consistent animal identification and recordkeeping requirements for sheep and goats.
Official Animal Identification Requirements in Florida
Official identification is the backbone of Florida’s scrapie program. All sheep and goats moved intrastate for any reason, or when there is a change of ownership, must be identified by their flock or herd of birth, or if that information is unknown, by the flock or herd from which they originated.
Only APHIS-approved identification methods may be used. Such identification methods must be permanent or tamper-evident, secure, carry a unique premises and individual animal number, and be traceable to the flock or herd of birth or flock or herd of origin.
Florida’s approved identification methods under Chapter 5C-29 include the following options:
- Official USDA ear tags — The most common method; tags display a unique premises and individual animal number.
- Premises identification tattoos — Must be legible and contain the flock or herd number and unique animal number.
- Official registry tattoos — Must be accompanied by either an official breed registration certificate or an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) that includes the corresponding official registration number.
- Electronic microchip or implant — Must be accompanied by an owner statement of ID numbers and chip manufacturer, and the agent should have a chip reader for verification of placement.
The National Scrapie Eradication Program provides 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. No-cost metal tags for producers were discontinued on August 31, 2019.
Tattoos may be used as the sole form of official ID for sheep or goats as long as they are accompanied by registration papers from a USDA-approved breed registry and the animals are not moving to slaughter or through a livestock market. Both the registry flock ID and the letter for the birth year with individual ID must be printed on the registration paper.
840 RFID microchip implants can be used as the sole form of official ID for sheep or goats that are not moving to slaughter or through a livestock market, if the implant is located in the lower ear or web of the tail. When properly applied in either of these locations, the implants do not move.
Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Florida
Before you can obtain official identification tags, you must have a registered flock or premises ID number. A flock or premises ID is required to order tags from approved sources. A national premises ID is also required to purchase official 840 RFID tags or implantable devices.
Florida’s Chapter 5C-29.003 specifically addresses recordkeeping requirements for identification in the state. Producers are expected to maintain accurate, up-to-date records that allow officials to trace any animal back to its flock of origin. A flock or herd is defined as all animals maintained on a single premises and all animals under common ownership or supervision on two or more premises with animal interchange between the premises.
The flock or herd of origin means the flock or herd in which an animal most recently resided in which it either was born, gave birth, or resided during lambing or kidding. This definition is important because it determines which producer bears responsibility in a traceback investigation.
| Recordkeeping Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Animal inventory | Species, breed or type, sex, age, and official ID for each animal |
| Tag assignment records | Link each tag number to the individual animal and flock of origin |
| Lost tag documentation | Record replacement tag number alongside original; note date of replacement |
| Acquisition and disposition records | Document all animals entering or leaving the premises, including buyer/seller ID |
| Annual flock inspection records (SFCP participants) | Maintain records supporting annual flock inspection and inventory reconciliation |
If a sheep or goat loses a tag and you know who the animal is, apply a new tag and record that number with the original record. If you do not know who the animal is, create a new record, note that the tag replaces a lost one, and record the date and number of the tag you apply.
Flock ID tag numbers consist of the producer’s flock ID assigned by APHIS or the State, followed by an individual animal number. Keeping these numbers organized and accessible is essential for passing any state or federal inspection.
Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Florida
Florida enforces movement requirements for sheep and goats traveling both within the state and across state lines. Understanding the distinction between these two categories is essential for any producer who sells, transports, or exhibits animals.
Intrastate Movement (Within Florida)
Florida implemented rules requiring that all sheep and goats moved intrastate for any reason, or when there is a change of ownership, must be identified by their flock or herd of birth. The rule was designed to prevent the spread of scrapie, a fatal, degenerative disease of the nervous system. Only identification methods approved by USDA can be used, including official USDA ear tags, identification tattoos, or implanted electronic microchips.
Florida rules 5C-3 (Importation of Animals), 5C-4 (Admission of Animals for Exhibition), and 5C-29 (Scrapie) require that before animals leave the premises, they must be officially identified with a scrapie identification number — whether that is a tag, tattoo, or microchip.
Interstate Movement (Into Florida)
When bringing sheep or goats into Florida from another state, additional requirements apply. The health certificate must include the official individual identification of each animal and a statement that each goat or sheep is free of the clinical signs of the diseases: caseous lymphadenitis, contagious ecthyma (Orf), chlamydial keratoconjunctivitis, scabies, scrapie, and contagious foot rot.
A Prior Permission Number is required for all sheep or goats originating from states under state or USDA APHIS quarantine. The Prior Permission Number must be written on the OCVI. The prior permission number can be obtained by calling the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at (850) 410-0900.
If you are crossing state lines, you also need an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) for your animals. The ICVI must be issued by an accredited veterinarian and must include the animal’s tag number.
Slaughter Shipments
Goats or sheep consigned directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment are not required to have an OCVI but do require an Owner-Shipper Statement as evidence of ownership or authority to transport the animals, as well as official identification. All goats or sheep entering Florida for slaughter purposes must be individually identified.
Sheep and goats must conform to the identification guidelines of the USDA APHIS Scrapie Program Standards Volume 1: National Scrapie Eradication Program (APHIS 91-55-079, April 2019) and must also conform to the identification guidelines of USDA APHIS Scrapie Program Standards Volume 2: Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP), May 2016.
Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Florida
Florida producers are required to participate in the disease surveillance infrastructure that makes the national eradication program function. This includes reporting suspect animals, submitting samples for testing, and complying with quarantine orders if scrapie is detected.
Surveillance and Reporting
The USDA’s accelerated Scrapie Eradication Program is based on three principles: identification of preclinical animals by testing live animals and surveillance and slaughter of those that test positive; tracing infected animals to their herd of origin; and herd cleanup through the use of genetic-based strategies.
The NSEP surveys for scrapie throughout the United States. Since 2002, the prevalence of scrapie has decreased significantly through existing eradication efforts, largely due to effective slaughter surveillance of geographically distributed sampling based on annual population estimates.
Testing Procedures
APHIS 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. APHIS provides shipping boxes and pre-printed, postage-paid labels at no cost to producers and accredited veterinarians.
If you have a sheep or goat that dies showing neurological signs — including incoordination, muscle weakness, stumbling, or difficulty rising — you are strongly encouraged to submit the animal for testing. A scrapie-positive animal is one for which an approved test has been conducted with positive results by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) or another laboratory authorized by the Administrator to conduct tests.
Quarantine and Flock Cleanup
When a flock is identified as infected or exposed, Florida’s Chapter 5C-29.006 governs flock and herd cleanup plans. At the federal level, removal of genetically susceptible exposed sheep and exposed goats is required, and if all susceptible exposed animals are not removed, live-animal testing and removal of test-positive animals must occur.
Improved management of animals at lambing time is also required, with particular attention to segregating them into small groups, maintaining the risk classification of animals in each group at the same level, and removing and burying, landfilling, or incinerating placenta and soiled bedding immediately following lambing.
Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Florida
Beyond the mandatory baseline requirements, Florida producers can participate in the voluntary Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP), which offers significant benefits for marketability and export eligibility.
The SFCP is a voluntary program open to all sheep and goat producers in the United States. The overall objective 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 Scrapie Flock Certification Program is a cooperative effort between APHIS; members of the sheep and goat industry, including owners of flocks, slaughtering and rendering establishments, and breed associations and registries; accredited veterinarians; and State governments.
Florida’s SFCP Categories
Under Florida Administrative Code 5C-29.004, the state recognizes three categories of participation:
- Complete Monitored (Export Monitored) — Producers enroll their flock or herd in the APHIS-sponsored program to certify it free of scrapie under the USDA Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program Standards. This program requires 5 years of active participation in the SFCP with annual records review.
- Export Monitored — Producers enroll to certify their flock or herd free of scrapie and eligible for export, as determined by the USDA Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program Standards. This program requires 7 years of participation in the SFCP and specified testing within the herd or flock.
- Selective Monitored — Slaughter lamb or kid producers who wish to have an additional method of surveillance in large production flocks or herds may enroll in the APHIS-sponsored program as determined by the USDA Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program Standards.
What SFCP Participation Requires
The voluntary Scrapie-Free Certification Program officially identifies all sheep and goats over 1 year of age; after initial inspection and testing, the enrolled flock is inspected annually; SFCP-enrolled herd owners must purchase approved identification tags that provide permanent, unique, tamper-evident identification for each animal, or a microchip, or tattoo.
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.
Any owner of a sheep or goat flock may apply to enter the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program by sending a written request to a State scrapie certification board or to the Veterinary Services Field Operations AVIC responsible for the State involved.
SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. Regular program tags may be purchased by any producer who has a flock or premises ID.
Florida’s petting zoos in Florida and other animal exhibition venues that keep sheep or goats are also subject to scrapie identification requirements under Florida Rule 5C-4, which governs the admission of animals for exhibition. Whether you operate a commercial farm, a small hobby flock, or a public-facing animal attraction, the rules apply equally.
For additional information about Florida’s wildlife and animal regulations, you may also find these resources useful: venomous snakes in Florida, types of hawks in Florida, and types of owls in Florida.
Conclusion
Florida’s participation in the National Scrapie Eradication Program means that sheep and goat producers across the state are held to a clear, enforceable set of standards — from the moment an animal is born on your property to every time it changes hands or crosses a state line.
Your core obligations come down to four areas: officially identifying every animal with an approved tag, tattoo, or microchip before any movement or sale; registering your flock or premises to obtain a valid ID number; maintaining accurate records that allow traceback to the flock of origin; and complying with movement certificates and prior permission requirements when bringing animals into Florida from other states.
If you want to go further, enrolling in the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program through APHIS gives your operation a documented, verifiable disease-free status that opens doors in both domestic and export markets. Reach out to the FDACS State Veterinarian’s Office at (850) 410-0900 or contact USDA APHIS at 1-866-USDA-TAG to get your flock registered and your identification tags ordered today.