Scrapie Eradication Program in New Hampshire: What Sheep and Goat Owners Need to Know
July 18, 2026
If you raise sheep or goats in New Hampshire, understanding the state’s scrapie eradication requirements is not optional — it is a legal and regulatory responsibility. Scrapie is a fatal, untreatable disease that can quietly devastate a flock, and both state and federal agencies have built a comprehensive framework to find and eliminate it.
Whether you are a first-time small flock owner, a registered breeder, or a commercial producer, this guide walks you through every layer of the Scrapie Eradication Program in New Hampshire — from animal identification and flock registration to movement rules, reporting obligations, and the voluntary Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program.
What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in New Hampshire
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative TSE disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It is a member of a class of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), and its control is complicated because the disease has an extremely long incubation period without clinical signs.
First recognized as a disease of sheep in Great Britain and other countries of Western Europe more than 250 years ago, scrapie has been reported throughout the world. In the United States, scrapie has primarily been reported in the black-face meat breeds and their crosses. There is no cure or vaccine, meaning prevention and traceability are the only effective tools available to producers and regulators alike.
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.
New Hampshire defines scrapie precisely in its administrative rules. Under New Hampshire regulation, “scrapie” means a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of sheep and goats characterized by vacuolar changes in the brain. This definition aligns with federal standards and forms the regulatory foundation for all state-level compliance requirements.
New Hampshire’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. The program’s goals are to eradicate classical scrapie from the United States and to meet World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) criteria for disease freedom.
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. Despite this progress, the cooperation of sheep and goat producers is needed to find and eliminate the last few cases in the United States.
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).
New Hampshire is formally recognized as a Consistent State under the federal framework. A Consistent State is one that the Administrator has determined conducts an active State scrapie control program that meets the requirements of § 79.6, or effectively enforces a State-designed plan that the Administrator determines is at least as effective in controlling scrapie. New Hampshire is among the 50 states evaluated and determined to be Consistent States. This status is significant because it directly affects the interstate movement rules that apply to animals leaving or entering New Hampshire.
The state’s program is administered cooperatively by the USDA APHIS National Scrapie Eradication Program and the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (NHDAMF), Division of Animal Industry.
Official Animal Identification Requirements in New Hampshire
Official identification is the backbone of the entire scrapie eradication effort. Without it, tracing an infected animal back to its flock of origin — or tracing exposed animals forward — becomes impossible.
All sheep and goats must have official ID when moving off their premises of origin. Some states have identification (ID) requirements that are stricter than federal requirements, so exceptions listed under federal rules do not apply in all states. You should always confirm current requirements with the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food at 603-271-2404 before moving animals.
All sheep and goats of any age or sex brought to show or exhibition from either out of state or within state must possess a USDA-approved individual identification tag, tattoo, or electronic implant consistent with the requirements of the Federal Scrapie Eradication Program.
Accepted Forms of Official Identification
Federal regulations under 9 CFR Part 79 specify which identification methods qualify as official. You have several options:
- Official eartags — plastic flock ID tags or metal serial tags approved by APHIS
- Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags — electronic tags that can be scanned to retrieve identification data
- Electronic implants (microchips) — injectable transponders with restrictions on use; refer to the National Scrapie Eradication Program Standards for details
- Registry tattoos — approved for registered animals when accompanied by a copy of the registration certificate listing the current owner
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.
Flock ID tag numbers are the producer’s flock ID assigned by APHIS or the State, followed by an individual animal number. Metal serial tag numbers have the State postal abbreviation — two letters followed by four numbers.
Free Tags for First-Time Participants
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. Producers will need to purchase the compatible applicator from the tag manufacturer.
APHIS discontinued the availability of no-cost metal tags for producers on August 31, 2019. Dealers and markets may continue to receive metal serial tags at no cost until available funds are expended. If you need additional tags or prefer a specific type or color, producers and others who handle sheep or goats in commerce may purchase official plastic, metal, or radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags directly from approved tag manufacturers.
Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in New Hampshire
Before you can obtain official identification tags, you must have a registered flock ID and premises ID on file with APHIS or the state. A flock or premises ID is required to order tags from approved tag manufacturers. A national premises ID is also required to purchase official 840 RFID tags or implantable devices.
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, 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.
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.
The 2019 Final Rule updated recordkeeping standards significantly. APHIS amended the scrapie regulations by changing the risk groups and categories established for individual animals and for flocks, increasing the use of genetic testing as a means of assigning risk levels to animals, reducing movement restrictions for animals found to be genetically less susceptible or resistant to scrapie, and simplifying, reducing, or removing certain recordkeeping requirements.
The changes also make the identification and recordkeeping requirements for goat owners consistent with those for sheep owners. This means that if you raise goats alongside sheep, you now operate under a unified set of rules rather than separate standards for each species.
Tagging Records for Third-Party Taggers
If you apply official identification to sheep or goats that did not originate in a breeding flock owned by you, additional obligations apply. Such persons must maintain appropriate records that permit traceback of animals to their flock of origin, or flock of birth when required, and must either reassign the tags in the National Scrapie Database or, if permitted by the Veterinary Services Field Operations AVIC responsible for the state, provide a written record of the reassignment to the Field Office or the State Office for entry into the National Scrapie Database.
Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in New Hampshire
Movement rules are where the distinction between a Consistent State and an Inconsistent State becomes practically important for you as a producer. Because New Hampshire is a Consistent State, animals moving out of New Hampshire generally face fewer restrictions than those originating from states that do not maintain an active scrapie control program.
Entering New Hampshire from Another State
All cattle, sheep, goats, swine, equine, camelids, poultry, and ratites entering the State of New Hampshire from other states must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) signed by an accredited veterinarian. This CVI shall indicate the health status of the animals involved, including results of any required tests and a statement that the animals are not known to be infected with or exposed to any infectious or contagious disease.
For sheep specifically, the CVI must include a statement that the animals do not originate from a scrapie-infected flock and are not progeny of a sire or dam infected with scrapie. The sheep and/or lambs must not have originated from a scrapie-infected flock and must not be progeny of a sire or dam that was infected with scrapie.
For goats entering New Hampshire from out of state: All goats must originate from non-quarantined herds and be clinically free from infectious and communicable diseases including lymphadenitis, staphylococcal infection, foot rot, contagious ecthyma (sore mouth), scabies, or scrapie; nor shall they be progeny of goats known to be infected with scrapie.
Additionally, no goats known to be infected with scrapie, and no progeny of goats known to be infected with scrapie, shall be transported or moved into New Hampshire.
Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Requirements for Incoming Goats
All goats originating from Tuberculosis accredited-free and Brucellosis classified-free states and Canadian provinces may enter the state of New Hampshire without testing. Goats from states or Canadian provinces not brucellosis class free and tuberculosis accredited free shall have been tested negative for tuberculosis within 60 days of entry, tested negative for brucellosis within 30 days of entry, and be individually identified with permanent official identification.
Animals Moving Out of New Hampshire
To control the spread of scrapie within the United States, APHIS administers regulations at 9 CFR Part 79, which restrict the interstate movement of certain sheep and goats. When you ship animals out of New Hampshire, official identification must be in place before the animals leave your premises. The receiving state may have its own additional requirements, so always verify destination-state rules before transport.
For animals moving to shows and exhibitions within New Hampshire, goat herds enrolled in the scrapie eradication program should be kept separate from non-enrolled goats by a vacant pen, a barn alley, or a solid physical barrier sufficient to prevent any physical contact between enrolled and non-enrolled goats. Similarly, sheep flocks enrolled in the scrapie eradication program should be kept separate from non-enrolled sheep by a vacant pen, a barn alley, or a solid physical barrier sufficient to prevent any physical contact between enrolled and non-enrolled sheep.
Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in New Hampshire
As a Consistent State, New Hampshire is required to maintain active surveillance, investigate suspect cases, and quarantine affected flocks. These obligations flow from both state administrative rules and federal program standards.
When to Report a Suspect Animal
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.
Signs consistent with scrapie include progressive weight loss despite normal appetite, behavioral changes, wool pulling or intense rubbing, and loss of coordination. Because the incubation period can last years, an animal may appear healthy for a long time before symptoms emerge.
Free Scrapie Testing in New Hampshire
There is no charge for the collection or testing of the samples for scrapie. New Hampshire producers have access to a particularly valuable resource: animals that qualify based on age or illness for scrapie testing are eligible for a free necropsy at the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Owners will receive a free gross necropsy, disposal of the carcass, and a necropsy report detailing any findings.
You can also contact the USDA’s NH Veterinary Medical Officer directly for guidance on testing eligibility and submission procedures. For information, contact the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food at 603-271-2404 or the USDA APHIS office at 508-865-1421.
Quarantine and Flock Investigation Procedures
When a scrapie-positive animal is confirmed, a structured response is triggered under both state and federal authority. Consistent States must conduct an epidemiologic investigation of source and infected flocks that includes the designation of high-risk and exposed animals and identifies animals to be traced; conduct tracebacks of scrapie-positive animals and traceouts of high-risk and exposed animals; and report any out-of-State traces to the appropriate State within 45 days of receipt of notification of a scrapie-positive animal.
If an affected, suspect, or scrapie-positive animal dies or is destroyed, tissues must be submitted for diagnostic testing to a laboratory authorized by the Administrator to conduct scrapie tests, and the carcass must be completely destroyed. Quarantines are not lifted automatically — quarantines of these flocks are released only upon completion of a flock plan and agreement by the owner to participate in a post-exposure monitoring and management plan.
Owners whose flocks receive indemnity must also be prepared for ongoing monitoring. The agreement requires flock owners that maintain a flock after receiving indemnity to maintain that flock under a post-exposure management and monitoring plan for 5 years.
You can learn more about related disease risks affecting New Hampshire livestock and wildlife through the state’s broader animal health resources.
Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in New Hampshire
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.
Participation in the SFCP is one of the most effective steps a New Hampshire producer can take to demonstrate the health status of their animals, particularly for breeders who sell registered stock or export animals.
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 | Initial enrollment; working toward Export Certified status |
| Export | Export Certified | Full certification as a scrapie-free establishment; supports international trade |
| Select | Select Monitored | Domestic marketability improvement; lower entry requirements than Export category |
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 (ID) requirements, recordkeeping requirements, and animal sampling requirements.
The Role of Your Accredited Veterinarian
Your accredited veterinarian is a key partner in both the SFCP and the broader eradication program. Accredited veterinarians are the producers’ primary source of education about all aspects of the program, including identification, recordkeeping, and movement requirements. When requested by the producer, accredited veterinarians can apply official eartags, collect and submit samples for official genotype testing, and issue Certificates of Veterinary Inspection for interstate movement.
Genetic testing plays an increasingly important role in SFCP participation. Genetic testing is used to identify genetically resistant or less susceptible sheep for exemption from destruction and as qualifying for interstate movement. Understanding your flock’s genotype can reduce your regulatory burden and improve your animals’ marketability.
How to Enroll in New Hampshire
To enroll your flock or herd in the SFCP, you will need an active flock ID and premises ID registered in the National Scrapie Database. You should then contact your accredited veterinarian to initiate an annual inspection and inventory reconciliation. SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program.
For enrollment assistance and program standards, contact the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services office or reach out to the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food. You can also find detailed program standards in the National Scrapie Eradication Program Standards document published by APHIS.
Staying current with New Hampshire’s animal regulations is an ongoing responsibility. If you keep goats alongside sheep, review the state’s goat ownership laws in New Hampshire for a broader overview of the rules that apply to your operation. You may also find it useful to understand tick season in New Hampshire, since ticks and other parasites can complicate the health management of sheep and goat flocks. For additional context on wildlife and disease interactions in the region, the dangerous animals in New Hampshire resource covers risks that can affect livestock operations.
The Scrapie Eradication Program in New Hampshire is built on a straightforward principle: every animal must be identifiable, every movement must be traceable, and every suspect case must be reported. By keeping your identification current, maintaining accurate flock records, and working with your accredited veterinarian, you contribute directly to the goal of a scrapie-free United States — and protect the long-term health and value of your own flock.