Scrapie Eradication Program in Maine: What Sheep and Goat Producers Must Know

If you raise sheep or goats in Maine, scrapie compliance is not optional — it is a legal obligation that affects how you identify, move, sell, and manage your animals. Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that attacks the central nervous system of sheep and goats. The disease has no cure, and its long incubation period makes it especially difficult to detect and control.

Maine producers participate in a nationwide effort that has already made remarkable progress. The National Scrapie Eradication Program, coordinated by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep sampled at slaughter by more than 99%. Even so, the cooperation of sheep and goat producers is still needed to find and eliminate the last few cases in the United States.

This guide walks you through every regulatory layer that applies to Maine flock owners — from animal identification and recordkeeping to movement rules, quarantine procedures, and voluntary certification options.

What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Maine

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats and is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. Maine producers need to understand the disease itself before they can appreciate why the regulatory framework is so detailed.

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. Apparently healthy animals infected with the disease agent can spread it.

The economic stakes are significant for Maine’s agricultural community. The presence of classical scrapie in the U.S. sheep and goat population affects industry economically through production losses, lost exports, and increased production and disposal costs. Public health concerns related to the transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to humans have resulted in efforts to eradicate all TSEs in food-producing animals.

In the United States, scrapie has primarily been reported in the black-face meat breeds and their crosses. However, all sheep and goat producers in Maine — regardless of breed — are subject to identification and reporting requirements. Approximately 30 percent of U.S. sheep are genetically susceptible to scrapie. Some animals have been bred to be genetically resistant to the disease.

Understanding the disease biology helps explain why Maine’s rules emphasize early identification, traceability, and prompt reporting. When a positive animal cannot be traced back to its farm of origin, the entire eradication effort is undermined. APHIS was unable to trace the most recent U.S. scrapie cases to the farms of origin, and it is likely there are still farms with cases of scrapie. One of the most difficult aspects of an eradication program is finding the last few cases of the disease.

Maine’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. Maine participates in this framework as a partner state, meaning state animal health officials work alongside USDA APHIS to enforce identification requirements, conduct surveillance, and manage any positive findings.

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). Maine producers are subject to ASEP requirements by law and may voluntarily enroll in the SFCP for added market benefits.

The Final Rule governing the current program was published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2019. APHIS believes the Final Rule results 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.

Maine’s state classification within the NSEP surveillance framework determines how intensively sampling must be conducted. How states are classified into stages has not changed from the 2019 surveillance plan. States that have had a scrapie case in sheep in the last 7 fiscal years or have not met at least 90 percent of the sampling minimums for 4 out of the last 5 years are considered Stage 1. All other states are in Stage 2 and are considered low risk for scrapie.

For context on sampling targets: Stage 1 state sampling minimums for targeted mature sheep require sampling of 6 out of every 1,000 breeding ewes in the population (0.6 percent), while Stage 2 state sampling minimums require sampling of 4 out of every 1,000 breeding ewes (0.4 percent). Maine producers contribute to meeting these targets whenever they submit samples from animals that die or are euthanized on the farm.

The American Sheep Industry Association has urged Congress to fund the NSEP at adequate levels to sustain progress. For nearly 80 years, the U.S. sheep industry has worked collaboratively with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and state partners through the National Scrapie Eradication Program. Maine’s role in this long-standing partnership is both regulatory and cooperative.

Official Animal Identification Requirements in Maine

Official animal identification is the backbone of scrapie traceability. All sheep and goats must have official ID when moving off their premises of origin. 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.

In Maine, you should contact the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry — specifically the State Veterinarian’s office — to confirm any state-specific requirements that exceed the federal baseline. You can also reach the APHIS routing line at 1-866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824), which will connect you to the correct state or federal office.

Approved Forms of Official Identification

Federal regulations under 9 CFR Part 79 recognize several approved identification methods. Producers should consider the different devices available — including metal or plastic tags, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and RFID implants (there are restrictions on the use of implants) — and choose what works best for them.

• Official eartags — plastic or metal tags bearing the flock ID number and an individual animal number, issued or approved by APHIS or the State
• RFID/electronic tags — scannable tags that support faster traceability; APHIS is working with sheep and goat organizations to encourage the use of electronic identification to improve the nation’s ability to quickly trace exposed and diseased animals in the event of an outbreak
• 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
• Electronic implants — subject to restrictions; refer to the NSEP Program Standards for approved uses

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.

How to Obtain Official Tags in Maine

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. Producers will need to purchase the compatible applicator from the tag manufacturer.

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. A flock or premises ID is required to order tags from these sources. A national premises ID is also required to purchase official 840 RFID tags or implantable devices.

Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Maine

Before you can obtain official identification tags in Maine, your flock must be registered and assigned a flock ID number. A flock identification (ID) number is a nationally unique number assigned by a state, federally recognized Tribal, or federal animal health authority to a group of animals that are managed as a unit on one or more premises and are under the same ownership.

The flock ID number must begin with the state postal abbreviation or APHIS-assigned Tribal code, must have no more than nine alphanumeric characters, and must not contain the characters “I”, “O”, or “Q” other than as part of the state postal abbreviation or another standardized format authorized by the administrator and recorded in the National Scrapie Database.

Once your flock is registered, recordkeeping becomes an ongoing obligation. 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.

What Records Must Be Maintained

Federal regulations under 9 CFR 79.2 set minimum recordkeeping standards. When animals move interstate, buyers, sellers, and transporters must all keep records containing all serial numbers and other approved means of identification appearing on each sheep or goat. Your Maine records should capture the following at minimum:

1. The official ID number of each animal entering or leaving your premises
2. The date of each movement, purchase, or sale
3. The source premises or flock of origin for incoming animals
4. The destination premises for outgoing animals
5. The name and contact information of buyers, sellers, and transporters
6. Any test results, veterinary inspection certificates, or quarantine documents

The 2019 rule established more consistent animal identification and recordkeeping requirements for sheep and goats. Records must be maintained in a manner that allows APHIS or state officials to trace any animal back to its flock of origin quickly and accurately.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Maine

Movement rules for sheep and goats in Maine operate on two levels: federal baseline requirements that apply to all states, and any additional Maine-specific requirements set by the State Veterinarian. Understanding both layers is essential before you move animals.

Interstate Movement

In September 2001, the scrapie regulations were revised to 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. When moving animals out of Maine to another state, you must ensure each animal carries valid official ID before it leaves your premises.

An Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) is required for most non-slaughter movements. The ICVI must be signed by the issuing state, federal, Tribal, or accredited veterinarian, and the signature must be legible on each copy of the ICVI.

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 sales within Maine typically require official ID when ownership changes hands. Some states have ID 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.

Exemptions from Individual ID Requirements

Certain movements are exempt from the individual official ID requirement at the federal level, though Maine may apply stricter rules:

• Sheep or goats moved for grazing or similar management reasons without a change of ownership, when 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.
• Sheep or goats moving within a state that have only resided on premises and in flocks in the same state, where the animals and premises are owned by persons who do not engage in the interstate commerce of sheep or goats, and where the sheep or goats are of a class exempted from official ID by the state while in intrastate commerce.
• Sheep and goats under 18 months of age moving directly to slaughter in approved channels with a group/lot ID and owner/hauler statement

Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Maine

Reporting is one of your most critical obligations as a Maine sheep or goat producer. Early detection of suspect animals is the only way to find the remaining cases of scrapie in the United States — and Maine producers play a direct role in that effort.

When and How to Report

If you have an adult sheep or goat that is exhibiting signs of scrapie such as incoordination, severe continuous rubbing, or other neurologic signs, or an adult animal dies or is euthanized, or is being culled (even if you know the cause of death), contact your local state or USDA APHIS Veterinary Services veterinarian or call 866-536-7593 right away.

Animal health professionals — including veterinarians, diagnostic laboratories, public health, zoo, or wildlife personnel, and others — report diagnosed or suspected cases of nationally listed reportable animal diseases to APHIS Area Veterinarians in Charge and to the state animal health official as applicable under state reporting regulations.

Testing Procedures and Costs

Maine producers benefit from significant federal support for scrapie testing. APHIS will pay for scrapie testing of up to 30 animals per flock per year. There is no charge for the collection or testing of the samples for scrapie.

APHIS provides shipping boxes and pre-printed, postage-paid labels at no cost to producers and accredited veterinarians. Producers, accredited veterinarians, APHIS representatives, and state animal health employees may collect and submit samples from adult sheep or goats.

The official test currently used for scrapie diagnosis in the United States is immunohistochemistry. Histopathology, Western Blot, and ELISA may be used as supplemental tests or when tissues are not suitable for immunohistochemistry. Positive test results will be confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) or an NVSL-approved laboratory.

Quarantine and Flock Management After a Positive Finding

If a positive or suspect animal is found in your Maine flock, APHIS and the state will work with you to develop a management plan. APHIS provides the following assistance to owners of exposed and infected flocks or herds that participate in cleanup plans, including owners of exposed animals that have been sold out of infected and source flocks or herds: 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.

Cleanup strategies are designed to keep your operation viable. Until a more sensitive, cost-effective live-animal test is available, risk 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. If scrapie develops in a flock, the risk of further spread can be minimized through removal of genetically susceptible exposed sheep and exposed goats.

Because scrapie persists in the environment for years, owners of previously infected flocks should restock with rams that are resistant and ewes of resistant or less susceptible genotypes.

Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Maine

Beyond the mandatory requirements of the Accelerated Scrapie Eradication Program, Maine producers can voluntarily enroll in the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) to demonstrate a higher standard of disease management and improve the marketability of their animals.

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.

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.

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.

How to Enroll in Maine

SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. To begin enrollment in Maine, contact the APHIS Veterinary Services office for your state or reach the national routing line at 1-866-USDA-TAG. You can also email APHIS scrapie program staff through the USDA APHIS scrapie contact page.

Enrollment requires your flock to already be registered in the National Scrapie Database with an active flock ID number. Annual inspections, inventory reconciliation, and ongoing official ID requirements apply once you are enrolled. The higher your certification status, the more rigorous the requirements — but also the greater the market advantage for your Maine operation.

For Maine producers who are also interested in other aspects of animal ownership and regulation in the state, resources like dog leash laws in Maine and information on whether it is legal to own a raccoon in Maine offer additional context on how Maine regulates animal ownership across species. Maine also has a rich wildlife community worth knowing, from hawks and owls to snakes and venomous animals that share the landscape with your livestock.

Maintaining Your SFCP Status

Once enrolled, staying in good standing requires consistent compliance. Key ongoing obligations include:

• Annual flock inspections by an accredited veterinarian or APHIS/state representative
• Full reconciliation of your animal inventory at each inspection
• Acquiring replacement does and ewes only from flocks of equal or higher SFCP status
• Maintaining official individual ID on all animals in the flock
• Submitting required samples from animals that die or are euthanized on the farm
• Keeping all records current and available for review

For a country to be considered free of scrapie, international standards require that no sheep or goats test positive for classical scrapie for seven years. Maine SFCP participants contribute directly to building that record — and to the long-term goal of opening global markets for U.S. sheep and goat products.

If you have questions about enrolling in the SFCP, verifying your flock’s current status, or understanding how Maine-specific rules interact with federal requirements, contact the USDA APHIS Scrapie Program directly or reach out to the Maine State Veterinarian’s office. You can also consult the full regulatory text at 9 CFR Part 79 for the complete federal scrapie regulations governing sheep and goats.