Virginia Scrapie Eradication Program: What Sheep and Goat Producers Must Know

If you raise sheep or goats in Virginia, understanding the Scrapie Eradication Program is not optional — it is a legal and commercial necessity. A single compliance gap can result in quarantined animals, restricted market access, and costly regulatory action that disrupts your entire operation.

This guide walks you through every layer of Virginia’s scrapie eradication framework: what the disease is, how state and federal agencies share responsibility, what identification and recordkeeping you must maintain, how movement rules work, what happens when a case is suspected, and how the voluntary Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program can give your flock a competitive edge.

What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Virginia

Scrapie is a nonfebrile, transmissible, insidious, degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system and is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) found in sheep and goats. Because it belongs to the same family of prion diseases as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), it draws serious regulatory attention at both the state and federal level.

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative 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. In the United States, scrapie has primarily been reported in black-face meat breeds and their crosses.

There are two types of scrapie: classical and nonclassical. Nonclassical scrapie is also referred to as atypical, Nor98, or Nor98-like scrapie. Nonclassical scrapie appears to occur sporadically and has occurred in sheep of all the common genotypes and goats. It is either not transmissible or poorly transmissible under natural conditions. Given this, the scrapie eradication program focuses on classical scrapie.

Scrapie is a debilitating disease of sheep and goats which is estimated to have cost U.S. producers $20 to $25 million annually during the maximum incidence of the disease. Infected flocks are less productive, as affected animals usually die during their peak productive years. Regulation exists precisely to prevent that economic and animal-welfare damage from recurring at scale.

Virginia sheep and goat producers should also be aware that Virginia’s agricultural landscape hosts many other regulated and notable animal species. If you are curious about other wildlife and animal regulations in the state, resources covering venomous animals in Virginia and dog leash laws in Virginia provide useful context for responsible animal ownership across the commonwealth.

Virginia’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. The 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.

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). Virginia participates in both components through a cooperative framework with USDA/APHIS.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will execute cooperative agreements and/or memoranda of understanding with the animal health agencies of any state in order to cooperatively administer the Scrapie Eradication Program. Each agreement must specify the roles of the state and federal government for the eradication program and the state Scrapie Flock Certification Program.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), through its Office of Veterinary Services, collaborates with the USDA on the official identification of livestock and poultry involved in regulatory activities. Official identification tags are regulated by state and federal animal health officials to ensure unique and standardized animal identification is available to support animal health programs and rapid response to disease events. Responding rapidly and accurately to disease events helps to minimize impacts to animals and production systems and maintain consumer confidence in Virginia agriculture.

The governing state regulation is 2VAC5-206, Regulation for Scrapie Eradication, adopted by the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The primary advantage to small business sheep and goat owners is that they maintain the ability to sell their animals in interstate commerce and at markets that deal in interstate commerce, which means more competition for the animals and thus higher prices.

Official Animal Identification Requirements in Virginia

Official identification is the backbone of the entire scrapie eradication framework. Without it, your animals cannot legally change ownership, move to market, or cross state lines under normal conditions. Virginia’s identification rules under 2VAC5-206-20 are specific about which animals must be tagged and what forms of ID are accepted.

The following categories of animals require official identification:

• All breeding sheep and goats that are not in slaughter channels, except low-risk commercial goats.
• All sheep over 18 months of age, including wethers, and those in slaughter channels unless moving as a group.
• All exposed and high-risk animals, including all low-risk exposed animals, genetically susceptible exposed animals, genetically less susceptible exposed animals, and genetically resistant exposed sheep.
• All scrapie-positive, suspect, high-risk animals of any age, and any sexually intact exposed animal of more than one year of age, or any sexually intact exposed animal of less than one year of age upon change of ownership (except for exposed animals moving in slaughter channels at less than one year of age).

Accepted forms of official identification include:

• An official ear tag that is approved by the USDA for use in the Scrapie Eradication Program or the Scrapie Flock Certification Program.
• Registered sheep and goats identified with official tattoos that carry registration papers in the name of the current owner are not required to apply tags for exhibition or sale at a registered sheep or goat sale or exhibition, or when transferring registration by private treaty.
• Alternatively, legible official tattoo numbers assigned to the flock in the National Scrapie Database may be used in conjunction with an individual number unique within the flock.

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. APHIS discontinued the availability of no-cost metal tags for producers on August 31, 2019. You can request tags and a flock ID by calling 1-866-USDA-Tag (866-873-2824), or locally through the USDA office in Richmond at 804-343-2560.

A Premises Identification Number (PIN) is required to purchase 840-series (RFID) identification tags. 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 radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags directly from approved tag manufacturers.

Any sheep or goat that loses its identification — that was applied at its flock of origin for exhibition or change of ownership — shall be identified by the person in control or possession of the animal prior to its commingling with any other animals.

Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Virginia

Identification tags alone are not enough. Virginia’s scrapie regulations require producers to maintain accurate records that can be audited by state and federal officials. These records are the paper trail that makes disease tracing possible when a case is confirmed anywhere in the movement chain.

Any sheep or goat that is bartered, leased, traded, loaned, sold, exhibited, or otherwise moved from one management to another shall be deemed to have undergone a change of ownership for the purpose of this regulation. The buyer, seller, and any dealer or market operator shall keep a record of all changes of ownership for a minimum of five years.

The buyer, seller, and any dealer or market operator shall be equally responsible for maintaining the required record, which shall be made available on request by the State Veterinarian or his designee.

For animals sold through Virginia livestock markets, additional recordkeeping obligations apply. The marketing facility must maintain for at least five years and make available to the State Veterinarian a record of the consignor of the goat or sheep, the identification numbers of the goat or sheep consigned, and the buyer of the goat or sheep.

When registered animals change hands at a registered sale, the paperwork requirements are specific. The purchaser at such a sale must carry the registration papers and a completed application for registration in the name of the new owner when leaving the sale.

Any goat or sheep undergoing a change of ownership — including exhibition and/or importation into the state — that does not have official identification shall be quarantined until the requirements of this regulation are met. This means that a missing tag at the point of sale can result in immediate quarantine of the animal.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Virginia

Movement rules differ depending on whether animals are crossing state lines or moving within Virginia, and whether they are going to slaughter, a market, or a new owner. Understanding these distinctions prevents costly compliance failures at the point of sale or transport.

Importing Animals Into Virginia

Except as stated in the regulation, all sheep and goats imported into Virginia must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). No CVI is required for animals going directly to slaughter or to a terminal feedlot.

Within the 30 days prior to its date of entry into Virginia, a goat or sheep must be deemed healthy and free of infectious diseases after examination by an accredited veterinarian, and all required tests must be completed. Proof of examination, test results, and official identification must be submitted with the permit request and on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection in a format approved by the State Veterinarian.

Regarding the origin of imported animals:

• No sheep or goat may be imported into Virginia that does not originate from a consistent state, unless originating from a flock enrolled in the complete monitored or export monitored category of the USDA Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP).
• All sheep or goats imported into the Commonwealth of Virginia must be identified by official USDA tag, legible official registry tattoo if accompanied by a registration certificate, or other approved device that contains a premises identification issued by the state of origin in combination with a unique animal number.
• No sheep or goat that is infected with scrapie, is showing clinical signs of scrapie, or that is a high-risk animal may be moved into Virginia except by permit when authorized by the State Veterinarian for destruction, research, or in the case of high-risk animals, immediate slaughter.
• No goat or sheep infected with scrapie, or the offspring of a goat or sheep infected with scrapie, may enter Virginia.

Intrastate Movement and Change of Ownership

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. In addition, the 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.

It is recommended that all sheep, except wethers, carry an official eartag when sold through Virginia market channels — through a livestock market, to a broker or dealer off the farm, through direct sales off the farm, or other means whereby sheep leave their flock of origin.

For out-of-state animals arriving at Virginia livestock markets, any out-of-state sheep or goats offered for sale in an approved Virginia livestock market that have not previously been identified must be identified with an official USDA tag on arrival.

Additional health testing requirements apply to certain imports. A goat or sheep originating from a region not considered free of tuberculosis for cattle by the USDA shall be subject to a tuberculosis test and found negative within 60 days prior to entry into Virginia unless consigned directly to a slaughter establishment. A goat or sheep six months of age or younger that accompanies its dam that has tested negative for tuberculosis is not subject to this requirement.

Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Virginia

Virginia’s scrapie regulations create a clear chain of responsibility when a case is suspected or confirmed. Knowing your obligations in advance — before an animal shows symptoms — is essential to responding correctly and minimizing disruption to your operation.

Recognizing and Reporting Suspect Animals

A suspect animal is one that displays clinical signs consistent with scrapie. A suspect animal includes a sheep or goat that exhibits clinical signs such as weight loss despite retention of appetite, behavioral abnormalities, pruritus (itching), wool pulling, biting at legs or side, lip smacking, motor abnormalities such as incoordination, high-stepping gait of the forelimbs, bunny-hop movement of the rear legs, or swaying of the back end, increased sensitivity to noise and sudden movement, tremor, star-gazing, head pressing, recumbency, or other signs of neurological disease.

Producers or owners who suspect an animal disease should contact their veterinarian to evaluate the animal or herd. Animal health professionals — including veterinarians, diagnostic laboratories, public health, zoo, or wildlife personnel — 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.

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. 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.

Quarantine Procedures

Upon notification of known cases of scrapie and all suspected cases of scrapie, or that a flock received a high-risk animal, was the flock of birth of a positive animal, or was the flock in which a scrapie-positive female animal resided, the flock shall be quarantined, investigated, all animals in the flock individually identified, and a risk analysis conducted.

All known scrapie-infected and source flocks and high-risk animals shall be quarantined with movements of animals only to slaughter, to feedlots under permit and quarantine for later movement to slaughter, for destruction, or to a USDA-approved research facility.

All flocks under quarantine shall be examined at least yearly, or more frequently as determined by the State Veterinarian, and an inventory of all animals in the flock recorded with all deaths, sales to slaughter as allowed by the State Veterinarian, and destruction accounted for.

Upon confirmation of the existence of scrapie in a flock, a thorough epidemiological report of all source flocks and contacts with other animals shall be documented and a risk analysis conducted. Subsequently, flocks identified as source or infected flocks, and all flocks that received high-risk animals, shall be quarantined, investigated, all animals individually identified, and testing conducted if needed to determine the status of the flock.

Trace information for scrapie-positive and high-risk animals to flocks outside Virginia will be reported to the affected state as well as APHIS.

Release From Quarantine

Infected and source flocks may be released from quarantine after completion of a USDA flock plan or in a USDA-approved pilot project flock plan that includes the owner’s agreement to comply with a five-year postexposure monitoring and management plan. The State Veterinarian may release any suspected case of scrapie from quarantine when other causes of the symptoms are confirmed and scrapie has not been diagnosed.

For sample submission, producers may remove and submit whole heads or report deceased sheep or goats and ask for help with submitting samples. Accredited veterinarians can either remove and submit whole heads or collect and submit specified tissues.

Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Virginia

While the identification and movement requirements described above are mandatory, the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) is a voluntary step that offers significant market and regulatory advantages. Enrollment signals to buyers, markets, and regulators that your flock meets a higher standard of disease management.

The Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) is designed to monitor flocks for scrapie and to certify flocks that have met all requirements of the Export category of the program as scrapie-free. Any sheep or goat owner or manager may apply to participate in the SFCP.

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.

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.

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.

Participation in the SFCP comes with binding commitments. As an enrolled producer, you agree to:

• Report scrapie suspect animals and animals suspected of other neurologic and chronic debilitating illnesses to a State Animal Health Official, Veterinary Services representative, or an accredited veterinarian, and ensure that proper tissue samples are collected and submitted for diagnostic purposes.
• Officially identify all animals in accordance with the SFCP standards for the applicable category, and maintain records in accordance with those standards.
• Ensure that tissues are collected from all mature animals found dead in a timely manner for testing for scrapie.
• Notify the State Scrapie Certification Board and/or the Veterinary Services Area Office within 30 days of any action resulting in a change in status or status date, such as the acquisition of and/or commingling with nonparticipating animals or embryos, animals or embryos with a lower status or status date, or use of sheep or goat milk, colostrum, or products derived therefrom.

Why SFCP Enrollment Matters for Virginia Producers

Enrollment in the SFCP directly affects your ability to import and export animals under favorable conditions. No sheep or goat may be imported into Virginia that does not originate from a consistent state, unless originating from a flock enrolled in the complete monitored or export monitored category of the USDA Scrapie Flock Certification Program. This means that if you want to source animals from a non-consistent state, your flock’s SFCP status becomes a gateway requirement.

SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. These dedicated tags serve as a visible signal to buyers and inspectors that your animals come from a certified operation, which can meaningfully improve your position in premium markets and registered breed sales.

All requirements of the SFCP are outlined in the SFCP program standards, available in electronic form through the USDA APHIS Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program. You can access the SFCP enrollment portal directly through USDA APHIS, and the APHIS scrapie program page provides additional guidance on testing, identification, and program standards.

Virginia’s agricultural community is diverse, and responsible animal stewardship extends across many species. Whether you manage a sheep and goat operation or simply want to understand how wildlife and livestock intersect in the commonwealth, resources like those covering petting zoos in Virginia and types of hawks in Virginia offer a broader picture of the state’s animal life. For producers specifically, staying current with VDACS and USDA APHIS guidance through the VDACS Animal Disease Traceability Program page and the APHIS NVAP scrapie reference guide is the most reliable way to keep your compliance current as program standards evolve.

Compliance with Virginia’s scrapie eradication requirements is not just about avoiding penalties — it is about protecting the long-term viability of your flock, your neighbors’ flocks, and the broader sheep and goat industry across the commonwealth and beyond.