Scrapie Eradication Program in Arizona: What Every Sheep and Goat Producer Needs to Know
June 27, 2026
If you raise sheep or goats in Arizona, the Scrapie Eradication Program is not optional — it applies to you. Whether you manage a small hobby flock or a large commercial operation, federal and state regulations require you to officially identify your animals, maintain records, and follow strict movement protocols designed to eliminate a fatal disease that has threatened the U.S. sheep and goat industry for decades.
This guide walks you through every layer of Arizona’s participation in the National Scrapie Eradication Program, from understanding what scrapie actually is to enrolling in the voluntary certification program that can improve your animals’ marketability. Knowing these rules protects your flock, your neighbors’ flocks, and the broader industry.
What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Arizona
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It is caused by a transmissible prion — an abnormal protein that is very stable in the environment. There is no cure, no vaccine, and no reliable blood test to detect it early.
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 such as behavioral changes, tremors, and incoordination that progresses to recumbency and death until they are two years of age or older.
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. Animals sold from infected flocks spread scrapie to other flocks.
The presence of scrapie in the United States also prevents the export of breeding stock, semen, and embryos to many other countries, making eradication a direct economic priority for Arizona producers who sell or breed animals for export markets. There are two types of scrapie: classical and nonclassical. Nonclassical scrapie is also referred to as atypical, Nor98, or Nor98-like scrapie. The scrapie eradication program focuses on classical scrapie.
In the United States, scrapie has primarily been reported in the black-face meat breeds and their crosses. If you raise Suffolk, Hampshire, Shropshire, or crossbred sheep with black-face ancestry, your animals fall into a higher-risk category under program surveillance rules.
Arizona’s Role in the National Scrapie Eradication Program
Surveillance for scrapie in the United States is conducted through the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP), a cooperative State-Federal-industry program. Arizona is a fully participating state in this effort, meaning the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) works alongside USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to enforce identification, movement, and reporting requirements.
The current list of Consistent States includes all 50 states, including Arizona, which means Arizona has an active state scrapie control program that meets APHIS requirements. The State Veterinarian’s Office (SVO) protects the livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries directly, and the public indirectly, through the prevention, early detection, containment, and eradication of economically important livestock, poultry, and fish diseases.
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 an Arizona producer, you are subject to the mandatory ASEP requirements and may choose to enroll in the SFCP for additional benefits.
The United States is nearing the goal line after a 70-year battle against scrapie, a fatal disease that affects the brain of sheep and goats. While the current program has been very successful in drastically reducing the amount of scrapie in the U.S., cases are still being found. Since 2002, the prevalence of scrapie has decreased significantly through existing eradication efforts, largely a result of effective slaughter surveillance. Since slaughter surveillance started in FY 2003, the percent of cull sheep found positive at slaughter — once adjusted for face color — has decreased 99 percent.
You can contact the Arizona Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian’s Office at agriculture.az.gov or by phone at (602) 542-4293 for state-specific guidance. For national program questions, APHIS maintains a dedicated National Scrapie Eradication Program page with the latest rules and resources.
Official Animal Identification Requirements in Arizona
Official identification is the backbone of the entire scrapie eradication effort. Without it, tracing an infected animal back to its flock of origin — and stopping the spread — is impossible. In Arizona, identification requirements apply to all sheep and goat producers, regardless of flock size.
Arizona Flock IDs are also referred to as Scrapie IDs. A flock ID is required for all sheep and goats to comply with state and federal identification requirements. Sheep and goats must be identified with your Arizona Flock ID number, by either a tattoo or a specially-made tamper-proof ear tag applied by you.
Arizona Flock IDs are tied to animals. If you move, your ID moves with you as long as you are located in Arizona. Arizona Flock IDs are for sheep and goats only and are also referred to as Scrapie IDs. This differs from a National Premises ID, which is property-specific and used primarily for cattle, bison, and swine — though it is also used for sheep and goats in Arizona if you are purchasing microchips.
To apply for your Arizona Flock ID, complete the Arizona Flock ID Application (Sheep and Goats) and send it to the State Veterinarian’s Office, Arizona Department of Agriculture, 1802 W Jackson St #72, Phoenix, AZ 85007. There is no charge.
Approved Identification Methods
Producers should consider the different devices available — including metal or plastic tags, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, RFID implants (there are restrictions on the use of implants) — and choose what works best for them.
- Official eartags: Plastic flock ID tags or metal serial tags bearing your Arizona Flock ID number, applied to the animal’s ear
- RFID/Electronic tags: Radio frequency identification tags approved by APHIS; a national premises ID is required to purchase 840 RFID tags
- Registry tattoos: The Code of Federal Regulations part 79.2 and the National Scrapie Eradication Program Standards allow sheep and goats to be officially identified with registry tattoos for movement in interstate commerce with some exceptions.
- Implantable devices: Electronic implants are approved but carry restrictions; refer to the NSEP Program Standards for details
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.
For a full list of approved tag manufacturers, visit the APHIS Scrapie Tag resources page. Official tags may not be sold or given to another person. If you no longer need the tags, they should be destroyed or returned to the APHIS Veterinary Services District Field Office for your state.
Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Arizona
Registering your flock and maintaining accurate records is a legal requirement under the NSEP — not just a best practice. The success of the Scrapie Eradication Program is tied to producers keeping good records of animal sales and purchases. These records allow state and federal officials to trace animals quickly in the event of a disease detection.
Getting Your Flock Registered
Every Arizona sheep and goat producer must have a Flock ID (also called a Scrapie ID) assigned before official tags can be ordered or applied. A flock or premises ID is required to order tags from approved tag manufacturers. You can apply through the AZDA State Veterinarian’s Office using the combined National Premises ID and Arizona Flock ID application form available on the AZDA website.
What Records You Must Keep
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. Specifically, your records should document:
- The official ID number of each animal acquired or sold
- The date of acquisition or sale
- The name and address of the person from whom animals were purchased or to whom they were sold
- The flock or premises of origin for incoming animals
- Any animals that died on the premises, including the date and cause of death when known
APHIS believes the Final Rule will result in a more effective disease eradication program, with a more flexible approach to disease investigations and affected flock management, and more consistent animal identification and recordkeeping requirements between sheep and goats. The 2019 Final Rule, codified under 9 CFR Part 79, governs these requirements at the federal level.
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 whether your current recordkeeping system meets program standards, consult your accredited veterinarian or the AZDA State Veterinarian’s Office.
Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Arizona
Movement rules under the NSEP are among the most frequently misunderstood aspects of the program. Whether you are moving animals across state lines or just selling to a neighbor down the road, 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. For most interstate movements, you will also need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), also called a health certificate, issued by an accredited veterinarian.
An interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) is an official document issued by a Federal, State, Tribal, or accredited veterinarian certifying the inspection of animals in preparation for interstate movement or other uses as described in 9 CFR Part 79.
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.
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. In Arizona, this means that when ownership of a sheep or goat changes hands — even within the state — official ID must be in place before the animal leaves the premises.
Movement Exemptions
Not every movement triggers full identification requirements. The following are federally recognized exemptions, though you should confirm with the AZDA whether Arizona applies additional restrictions:
- 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.
- Animals moving directly to a slaughter establishment with a group ID and owner/hauler statement
Arizona producers who regularly move animals to shows, fairs, or sales should be especially careful. Show officials may also impose identification requirements beyond the federal baseline. Always verify requirements with the event organizer and the AZDA before transporting animals. You can also learn about other Arizona wildlife and animals — including types of snakes in Arizona and rattlesnakes in Arizona — that may be present in grazing areas and pose hazards to livestock.
Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Arizona
Reporting suspected scrapie cases and submitting animals for testing are legal obligations in Arizona, not voluntary actions. Early detection is the only way to prevent a single infected animal from silently spreading the disease through multiple flocks before it is caught.
Who Must Report
The accreditation standards require reporting of live or dead scrapie suspects to State and Federal authorities. This obligation applies to accredited veterinarians, but producers also have a responsibility to report animals showing signs consistent with scrapie — including unexplained weight loss, wool pulling, incoordination, or behavioral changes — to their veterinarian or directly to the AZDA State Veterinarian’s Office.
Testing Procedures
Producers, accredited veterinarians, APHIS representatives, and State animal health employees may collect and submit samples from adult sheep or goats. The most common testing occurs postmortem, using brain tissue (obex), lymph nodes, third-eyelid lymphoid tissue, or rectal lymphoid tissue.
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. This means that submitting samples from animals that die on your farm costs you nothing and directly contributes to Arizona’s surveillance obligations under the NSEP.
Traditional blood tests are not reliable to diagnose scrapie, so a tissue sample is needed to diagnose it. Whole-head submission is the most common and straightforward method for postmortem testing. Producers may remove and submit whole heads or report deceased sheep or goats and ask for help with submitting samples.
Quarantine and Flock Plans
If scrapie is confirmed in your flock, Arizona and federal authorities will work with you to implement a flock plan. Infected sheep are identified through active slaughter surveillance, reporting of suspect animals by producers and accredited veterinarians, testing of mature sheep or goats that die on farm or at other locations, and live-animal testing of higher-risk animals.
APHIS provides the following assistance to owners of exposed and infected flocks or herds that participate in cleanup plans: 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. A flock placed under quarantine is classified as an “infected flock” under 9 CFR Part 79. A flock will be considered an infected flock until it has completed the requirements of a flock plan.
For guidance on submitting samples in Arizona, use the APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge lookup tool on the APHIS scrapie page or contact the AZDA State Veterinarian’s Office at (602) 542-4293. You can also reach APHIS directly at scrapie@usda.gov.
Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Arizona
Beyond the mandatory requirements of the NSEP, Arizona producers have the option to enroll in the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) — a voluntary program that offers meaningful commercial and regulatory benefits for participating flocks.
What the SFCP Is
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 Scrapie Flock Certification Program 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 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.
SFCP 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.
| Category | Status | Primary Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Export | Export Monitored | Entry-level certification; demonstrates active monitoring toward Export Certified status |
| Export | Export Certified | Full certification; qualifies animals for export markets and commands premium pricing |
| Select | Select Monitored | Domestic-focused certification; demonstrates reduced scrapie risk for U.S. buyers |
What Enrollment Requires
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.
In practical terms, enrolling in the SFCP means you commit to:
- Applying official individual ID to all animals in the flock
- Maintaining detailed, up-to-date flock records
- Submitting to annual inspections by a state or federal representative
- Only acquiring breeding females from flocks of equal or higher SFCP status
- Submitting animals for scrapie testing as required by your program status
SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program, so enrollment is a prerequisite for obtaining the distinct SFCP-branded identification tags that signal your flock’s certified status to buyers.
How to Enroll in Arizona
For more information on this voluntary program, including how to enroll, contact scrapie@usda.gov. You can also work through your accredited veterinarian, who can guide you through the enrollment process, conduct required inspections, and submit samples on your behalf. The full program standards are available through the USDA APHIS National Scrapie Eradication Program page.
Arizona’s diverse agricultural landscape means sheep and goat producers often share land with a wide variety of wildlife. Understanding the animals that share your environment — from hawks in Arizona that may prey on young lambs to lizards in Arizona that inhabit the same arid terrain — is part of responsible livestock management in the state.
Staying current with both the mandatory and voluntary components of the Scrapie Eradication Program in Arizona protects your animals, your investment, and your access to markets. Contact the AZDA State Veterinarian’s Office at (602) 542-4293, visit the Arizona Department of Agriculture website to apply for your Flock ID, or call 1-866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824) to get started with official identification today.