Pennsylvania Scrapie Eradication Program: What Sheep and Goat Producers Need to Know
June 26, 2026
If you raise sheep or goats in Pennsylvania, scrapie compliance is not optional — it is a legal obligation backed by both state and federal authority. Scrapie is an infectious and progressive disease affecting the central nervous system of ovine and caprine animals and belongs to a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) enforces its own quarantine orders on top of federal rules, which means your responsibilities as a producer go further than what many neighboring states require.
This guide walks you through every layer of the Scrapie Eradication Program as it applies to Pennsylvania — from understanding the disease itself to enrolling in the voluntary Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program. Whether you run a small hobby flock or a large commercial operation, the rules covered here apply to you.
What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Pennsylvania
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. The disease belongs to the same family of prion diseases that includes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle, making it a subject of significant regulatory concern both domestically and internationally.
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. Most are infected as young lambs or kids, but adult animals can get it, too.
Common clinical signs you should watch for include:
- Incoordination or poor muscle control (ataxia)
- Weakness, stumbling, falling down, or difficulty rising
- Nervousness or aggression
- Intense rubbing or scratching against fences and structures
- Weight loss despite normal appetite
Apparently healthy animals infected with the disease agent can spread it. Scrapie can be transmitted between sheep and goats in a flock or herd. One of the most common modes of transmission appears to be through the placenta and placental fluids. Another method of transmission is through infected feed.
Scrapie is specifically designated a “dangerous transmissible disease” of animals under Pennsylvania law (3 Pa.C.S. § 2321(a)(40)). The Department of Agriculture has broad authority under 3 Pa.C.S. §§ 2301–2389 (relating to the Domestic Animal Law) to regulate the keeping and handling of domestic animals to exclude, contain, or eliminate dangerous transmissible diseases such as scrapie. This legal foundation is why Pennsylvania’s scrapie rules carry real enforcement teeth. Pennsylvania is also home to a diverse agricultural community, and producers who raise other livestock or keep animals on mixed-use properties — alongside the many wildlife species found across the Commonwealth — still must comply with all scrapie regulations that apply to their sheep and goats.
Pennsylvania’s Role in the National Scrapie Eradication Program
The National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP), a cooperative State-Federal-industry program, is working to eradicate classical scrapie from the United States and meet World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) criteria for disease freedom. Pennsylvania participates as a “Consistent State,” meaning it meets the federal standards required to allow sheep and goats to move interstate with fewer restrictions.
As a condition of maintaining the Commonwealth’s “Scrapie Consistent State Status” under the USDA’s ongoing scrapie eradication effort, it is critical that the Department is able to promptly and accurately identify the source of a scrapie-infected ovine or caprine animal originating or residing within this Commonwealth.
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). Pennsylvania operates under both components, with the PDA working alongside USDA APHIS Veterinary Services to carry out surveillance, tracing, and enforcement activities statewide.
The National Scrapie Eradication Program, coordinated by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep sampled at slaughter by over 99 percent. Despite this progress, 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 accreditation standards require reporting of live or dead scrapie suspects to state and federal authorities. 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. If you are unsure about any requirement, your accredited veterinarian is your first point of contact. You can also learn about other aspects of Pennsylvania’s animal landscape by exploring hawks in Pennsylvania and other wildlife that share the Commonwealth’s rural environment.
Official Animal Identification Requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s identification rules are stricter than the federal baseline. In Pennsylvania, producers are required to identify their sheep and goats with an official scrapie identification method before moving them off their farms. That is important when lambing and kidding season is in full swing. This includes animals transported within the state as well as those transported across state lines. “The Pennsylvania law regarding scrapie identification is more stringent than the U.S. Department of Agriculture national requirement that sheep 18 months and older must have a scrapie ID if they leave the farm of origin.”
As of January 1, 2009, all sheep and goats raised in Pennsylvania must be identified with official scrapie ID if they leave the farm property or properties where they are housed. This applies regardless of the animal’s age, sex, or purpose of movement.
The following forms of identification are accepted under Pennsylvania’s quarantine orders:
- USDA official National Scrapie Eradication Program tag or official Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program tag.
- USDA official Animal Identification Number (AIN) ear tag approved for sheep and goats.
- A registration certificate or a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection listing the tattoo and registry, which must accompany the tattooed animal at all times from transport from the premises of birth.
| ID Type | Accepted For Movement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USDA Scrapie Eartag (plastic or metal) | All movement, intrastate and interstate | Most common method; flock ID + individual number |
| USDA AIN Eartag (840 RFID) | All movement, intrastate and interstate | National premises ID required to purchase |
| Registration Tattoo | Breeding stock movement (with certificate) | Cannot be sole ID for slaughter or livestock market movement |
| USDA-Registered Scrapie Tattoo | With matching registration certificate | Must be readable; owner must assist with legibility at inspection |
| SFCP Tag | All movement; enhanced market access | Only available to enrolled SFCP flocks |
Tattoos may not be used as the sole form of official ID for animals moving to slaughter or through a livestock market. For animals without identification arriving at a livestock market, upon transfer of any ovine or caprine animal with an unknown source of origin to a person licensed or required to be licensed as a dealer or livestock market, the animal shall be immediately tagged with an official USDA “slaughter-only/meat” scrapie tag, and such animals shall be designated slaughter-only and must either be sold to a terminal feedlot or sent directly to slaughter.
To obtain free tags as a first-time participant, 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. New producers in Pennsylvania can obtain tags or a premises ID by calling 717-540-2278 or 866-873-2824.
Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Pennsylvania
Before you can obtain official identification tags, your farm needs a registered flock or premises ID. Regular program tags may be purchased by any producer who has a flock or premises ID. Each farm is assigned its own individual premises ID. This ID links every animal you tag to your specific location in the National Scrapie Database, enabling traceback if a positive case is ever identified.
Recordkeeping is equally important. 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.
Your records must include the following for each animal:
- Official identification number (tag or tattoo number)
- Breed, sex, and date of birth
- Date the animal entered or left your flock
- Name and address of the seller (for animals purchased) or buyer (for animals sold)
- Premises ID of the source flock or destination flock
Records must be kept for 5 years after the animal is sold or otherwise disposed of. 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. This five-year window is not arbitrary — it aligns directly with the disease’s incubation timeline.
Producers who market animals without official identification can expect their contact information to be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Follow-up from the department will remind producers to tag animals. Repeatedly sending animals to market without official identification could lead to expensive fines. Those fines are authorized under the Domestic Animal Law and can reach civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and injunctive relief.
Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania enforces movement rules for both intrastate (within Pennsylvania) and interstate (crossing state lines) transport of sheep and goats. Understanding the distinction — and where Pennsylvania’s rules exceed federal minimums — is essential to staying compliant.
Intrastate Movement
As of January 1, 2009, all sheep and goats raised in Pennsylvania must be identified with official scrapie ID if they leave the farm property or properties where they are housed. This applies to all ages and both sexes. There is no age exemption for lambs or kids moving within the state on a change of ownership, unlike the federal rule.
Interstate Movement
As a condition of maintaining the Commonwealth’s “Scrapie Consistent State Status” under the USDA’s ongoing scrapie eradication effort, it is critical that the Department is able to promptly and accurately identify the source of a scrapie-infected ovine or caprine animal originating outside of the Commonwealth and now residing within the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has established an Interstate and International Order of Quarantine related to the dangerous transmissible disease scrapie and the importation or shipment of ovine and caprine animals into and through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This means animals entering Pennsylvania from other states must carry proper official identification and, in most cases, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI).
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.
For animals found in commerce without proper identification:
- Upon transfer of any ovine or caprine animal without official identification to a person licensed or required to be licensed as a dealer or livestock market, an official USDA “slaughter-only/meat” scrapie tag shall be applied by the licensed entity and a record made of each animal.
- Such animals shall be designated slaughter-only and must either be sold to a terminal feedlot or sent directly to slaughter, or prior to unloading and transfer, the animal shall be returned to the farm of origin and a department-approved form of identification applied.
Pennsylvania’s agricultural regions attract producers from across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. If you are purchasing animals from out-of-state sellers, confirm that those animals carry valid official ID before they leave the seller’s premises. Just as Pennsylvania monitors the health of its domestic animals, it also tracks other species that share the landscape — you can explore more about the Commonwealth’s wildlife, including owls in Pennsylvania and eagles in Pennsylvania, on related resources.
Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Pennsylvania
Scrapie is a reportable disease in Pennsylvania. If you suspect an animal in your flock may be showing clinical signs consistent with scrapie, you are required to report it. The accreditation standards require reporting of live or dead scrapie suspects to state and federal authorities. Do not wait for a confirmed diagnosis — report your suspicion immediately to the PDA or your accredited veterinarian.
Surveillance and Testing
To declare the United States “scrapie-free,” we must prove to the world that we have conducted testing in all sheep and goat populations. That is why owner submission of samples from sheep and goats over 18 months of age found dead or euthanized on farm is extremely important. In Pennsylvania, the PDA coordinates with USDA APHIS to collect samples at slaughter facilities and from on-farm deaths as part of ongoing surveillance.
In March 2019, USDA updated its scrapie surveillance plan. USDA routinely takes samples from animals to monitor the level of scrapie incidence in the country. The updated order now includes routine testing for goats as well as sheep. The number of samples each state takes is based on the National Agricultural Statistics Service data for the population of mature sheep and goats in that state.
Quarantine Designations
When a scrapie case is detected, the regulatory response follows a structured classification system:
| Flock Designation | Definition | Regulatory Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Infected Flock | Flock of origin of a confirmed scrapie-positive female animal | Quarantine order issued; flock plan required |
| Source Flock | A flock in which a USDA or Department representative has determined that at least two animals diagnosed as scrapie-positive at an age of 54 months or less were born | Quarantine; epidemiologic investigation; cleanup plan |
| Trace Flock | A flock in which a USDA or Department representative has determined that one animal was born that was diagnosed as a scrapie-positive animal at an age of 54 months or less | Quarantine; individual animal monitoring |
| Noncompliant Flock | Flock that has failed to meet identification or recordkeeping requirements | Movement restrictions; potential civil penalties |
Any flock designated an infected flock, a trace flock, or a source flock will be quarantined under an Order of Special Quarantine. All sheep and goats within a quarantined flock will be inventoried and individually identified.
Flock Plans
A Flock Plan is a written flock management agreement designed by the owner of the flock, an accredited veterinarian, and a USDA Veterinary Services representative or Department representative in which each participant agrees to undertake actions specified in the flock plan to control the spread of scrapie from, and eradicate scrapie in, an infected flock, a source flock, or a trace flock.
The flock plan shall require an epidemiologic investigation to identify high-risk animals that must be removed from the flock, and shall include other requirements found necessary by the USDA or Department representative to control scrapie in the flock. These other requirements may include, but are not limited to, cleaning and disinfection of flock premises, education of the owner and personnel working with the flock to recognize clinical signs of scrapie and control the spread of scrapie, and maintaining records of animals in the flock.
Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Pennsylvania
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. Participation is voluntary and open to all Pennsylvania sheep and goat producers.
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.
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). Each status reflects a different level of monitoring intensity and carries different benefits for animal marketing.
| SFCP Category | Status | Primary Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Export | Export Monitored | Demonstrates active monitoring; supports export eligibility |
| Export | Export Certified | Full scrapie-free certification; maximum export market access |
| Select | Select Monitored | Reduced movement restrictions; improved domestic marketability |
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.
What SFCP Enrollment Requires
To enroll and maintain your status in the SFCP, you must meet the following core requirements:
- Official ID for all animals: Every sheep and goat in your flock must carry official identification. SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program.
- Flock inventory reconciliation: Annual inspections by a program representative verify that your animal inventory matches your records.
- Restricted animal acquisition: You may only bring in does and ewes from flocks of the same or higher SFCP status to maintain your certification level.
- Recordkeeping compliance: All identification, movement, and purchase records must be current and available for inspection.
- Animal sampling: Depending on your status level, samples from animals that die or are euthanized on-farm must be submitted for scrapie testing.
All requirements of the SFCP are outlined in the SFCP program standards, available in electronic form at the USDA APHIS Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program page. You can also contact the USDA APHIS Scrapie program page or call 1-866-USDA-Tag (866-873-2824) to request official sheep and goat tags, a flock or premises ID, or both.
Enrolling in the SFCP is one of the most proactive steps you can take as a Pennsylvania producer. It not only protects your flock from the devastating consequences of a scrapie diagnosis but also opens doors to premium markets — both domestic and international — that require documented disease-free status. For producers who want to stay informed about the broader regulatory and animal health environment in Pennsylvania, resources covering the Commonwealth’s hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and other native species offer useful context on the state’s rich agricultural and ecological landscape.
Staying compliant with Pennsylvania’s Scrapie Eradication Program requirements — from proper identification and recordkeeping to movement documentation and voluntary SFCP enrollment — is the most reliable way to protect your animals, your business, and the broader sheep and goat industry in the Commonwealth. When in doubt, contact your accredited veterinarian or the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for guidance specific to your operation.