Washington State Scrapie Eradication Program: What Sheep and Goat Producers Need to Know

If you raise sheep or goats in Washington State, scrapie regulations directly affect how you identify, move, and manage your animals. Scrapie is a fatal, untreatable disease, and both federal and state rules exist to protect your flock, your neighbors’ flocks, and the broader livestock industry.

This guide walks you through every major component of the Scrapie Eradication Program as it applies to Washington producers — from what the disease is and why it matters, to official identification, flock registration, movement rules, reporting obligations, and voluntary certification options. Understanding these requirements helps you stay compliant, protect your investment, and contribute to the national goal of eliminating scrapie from U.S. herds.

What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Washington

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy) disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. Most scientists believe scrapie is caused by prions — an abnormal form of a normal cell protein. Because there is no cure or treatment, prevention and traceback are the only effective tools available to producers and regulators.

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, and most are infected as young lambs or kids, though adult animals can get it too. This long incubation period makes scrapie especially dangerous — infected animals can appear healthy for years while silently spreading the disease.

Affected animals usually show behavioral changes such as tremors, rubbing and scratching, loss of coordination, stumbling, lip smacking, weakness, weight loss, and eventually death. The disease appears to spread most commonly from an infected ewe to her offspring and other lambs that come into contact with the placenta and placental fluids, and the environment can become contaminated and remain so for years.

Infected flocks typically experience significant production losses, and the U.S. sheep and goat industry continues to experience export losses and increased production and disposal costs because the United States is not yet free of scrapie. Washington producers operating under the National Scrapie Eradication Program help move the country closer to the international disease-freedom standard required for full market access. You can learn more about other regulated animals in Washington by reading about rabbits in Washington State and broader wildlife considerations across the region.

Washington’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. Washington State participates in this program as a partner with USDA APHIS Veterinary Services, with the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) playing an active enforcement and coordination role at the state level.

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). Both components apply to Washington producers, and understanding which one affects your operation is the first step toward compliance.

To date, the program has eliminated scrapie in 99 percent of U.S. sheep and goats. The program is now conducting targeted sampling of subpopulations that have a higher prevalence of scrapie than the general sheep and goat population to find the remaining cases. Washington producers are part of this final push, and your participation — through proper identification, recordkeeping, and reporting — is essential to reaching the finish line.

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. This underscores why consistent compliance at the state level, including in Washington, matters so much for the national program’s timeline.

Washington State’s surveillance obligations are tied to its classification within the NSEP staging system. 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. Producers should contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture Animal Health Program to confirm the state’s current classification and any associated obligations.

Official Animal Identification Requirements in Washington

Official identification is the backbone of scrapie eradication. Without it, traceback of infected or exposed animals is impossible. Washington producers must comply with both federal baseline requirements and any stricter state-level rules that WSDA has adopted.

Animals are required by federal and/or state regulations to be identified as part of the National Scrapie Eradication Program before they enter interstate commerce or if ownership changes. Some states have ID requirements that are stricter than federal requirements, so the standard exceptions do not apply in all states. Always confirm current Washington-specific requirements with the WSDA State Veterinarian’s office.

All sheep and goats must have official ID when moving off their premises of origin, except for sheep or goats moving with a group ID and owner/hauler statement — which includes sexually intact sheep and goats under 18 months of age in slaughter channels, and sheep and goats of any age shipped directly to a slaughter establishment or a federally approved market that has agreed to act as an agent for the owner to apply official ID, when all animals in a section of a truck are from the same flock of origin.

Sheep or goats that never leave their farm of origin do not need to be scrapie identified. However, if there is any chance an animal will be sold, shown, or transported, applying official ID before that event is the safest approach.

Approved Forms of Official Identification

Visual tags (where the official identification must be read) and electronic tags (where the official ID can also be electronically scanned) are available. APHIS is working with sheep and goat organizations to transition toward electronic official identification to improve the nation’s ability to quickly trace exposed and diseased animals in the event of an outbreak.

• Official eartags: Flock ID tag numbers consist of 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.
• RFID and electronic implants: A flock or premises ID is required to order tags from approved sources, and a national premises ID is also required to purchase official 840 RFID tags or implantable devices.
• 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.
• Flock ID tattoos: Legible flock ID tattoos composed of the Flock Identification Number assigned by APHIS and an individual animal number unique within the flock are also accepted.

In Washington, a goat tattoo example would appear as “WAABC 001” or “WA1234 001,” combining the state prefix with the flock ID and individual animal number. 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.

How to Obtain Official Tags

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 radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags directly from approved tag manufacturers. A flock or premises ID is required to order tags from these sources. Call 1-866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824) or the Washington APHIS VS office at 360-864-6320 to get started.

Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Washington

Proper recordkeeping is not optional — it is a legal requirement under the NSEP. Your records are what allow state and federal officials to trace an animal back to its flock of origin quickly if scrapie is detected anywhere in the movement chain.

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 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.

To register your flock and receive a flock ID number in Washington, contact USDA APHIS Veterinary Services at 1-866-USDA-TAG or call the Washington State office directly. Once assigned, your flock ID becomes the permanent foundation for all official identification applied to your animals.

What Records Must You Keep?

Producers are required to follow Federal and State regulations for officially identifying their sheep and goats, and must also keep herd records showing what new animals were added and what animals left the herd or flock. Specifically, your records should capture:

• The official ID number of each animal that leaves or enters your premises
• The date of each movement or change of ownership
• The source or destination of each animal, including the name and address of the buyer or seller
• The flock of origin for any animals you acquire

Scrapie tagging records should be retained for 5 years. This five-year retention requirement applies to all records associated with official identification, including tag application records, purchase and sale records, and any movement documentation. Anyone who applies official identification must maintain records.

APHIS published a final rule in the Federal Register in 2019, updating scrapie program regulations under 9 CFR 79. The rule established a more flexible approach to disease investigations and affected flock management, and more consistent animal identification and recordkeeping requirements for sheep and goats. Washington producers should ensure their recordkeeping practices align with these updated federal standards as well as any additional state requirements from WSDA. For context on other aspects of animal ownership and regulation in Washington, see the guide on legal animal ownership in Washington.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Washington

Whether you are buying, selling, showing, or transporting sheep and goats within Washington or across state lines, specific movement rules apply. Failing to comply can result in animals being turned back at state borders, quarantine actions, or regulatory penalties.

Interstate Movement Requirements

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 moving breeding sheep or goats out of or into Washington, you generally need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) and official individual identification on each animal.

All breeding sheep, all sexually intact sheep imported for exhibition, and all sheep over the age of 18 months must be identified on the CVI with official individual identification. The CVI must be issued by an accredited veterinarian and must include each animal’s official ID number.

The CVI must include a statement by the issuing accredited or State or Federal veterinarian that the animals were not exhibiting clinical signs associated with scrapie at the time of examination. State CVIs that have certification statements indicating that “the animals have no history of clinical signs or exposure to contagious or infectious diseases,” or words to that effect, will suffice in lieu of the specific scrapie statement.

Scrapie-positive, suspect, and high-risk animals, some exposed animals, and animals that originated in an infected or source flock require permits rather than CVIs. Contact the VS District Office for further information on these permits.

Intrastate Movement Requirements

The 2001 regulatory 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 within Washington, official ID is required when ownership changes hands — not just when animals cross state lines.

The majority of sheep and goats that enter into commerce require identification. Commerce includes change of ownership, attending shows and exhibits, going to sales or livestock auctions and markets, or going to slaughter. If you sell an animal at a local auction, show it at a county fair, or transfer it to a neighbor, official ID requirements apply.

Washington is classified as a “Consistent State” under NSEP standards when it maintains an active state scrapie control program meeting federal requirements. 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 as the requirements of § 79.6. Consistent State status benefits Washington producers by enabling more streamlined interstate movement with fewer additional restrictions.

Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Washington

Prompt reporting of suspected scrapie cases is one of your most important obligations as a Washington sheep or goat producer. The sooner a suspect animal is identified and tested, the faster authorities can contain any potential spread.

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.

In Washington specifically, you can report suspected scrapie to the Washington State Veterinarian’s office at (360) 902-1878 or to the USDA Veterinary Services office. To report a sheep or goat with clinical signs of scrapie, contact your local Veterinary Services office or State Veterinarian’s office. APHIS may pay indemnity for adult sheep or goats with neurological or other signs that are determined to be consistent with scrapie, and alternatively, an APHIS veterinarian could provide live animal scrapie testing for these animals.

Testing Procedures and Costs

There is no charge for the collection or testing of the samples for scrapie. APHIS will pay for scrapie testing of up to 30 animals per flock per year. Producers may remove and submit whole heads or report deceased sheep or goats and ask for help with submitting samples.

Veterinarians can diagnose scrapie in live animals by biopsy of lymph tissues from the inside of the third eyelid or rectal mucosa; however, it is most often diagnosed by examining brain tissue under a microscope after death. APHIS provides shipping boxes and pre-printed, postage-paid labels at no cost to producers and accredited veterinarians to facilitate sample submission.

Quarantine and Flock Designations

The 2019 final rule established a more flexible approach to disease investigations and affected flock management. Under this framework, flocks may be designated as infected, source, or exposed depending on the epidemiological findings. Each designation triggers specific management requirements, movement restrictions, and cleanup obligations.

APHIS provides 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. This assistance includes 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.

The 2019 rule 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, and reducing movement restrictions for animals found to be genetically less susceptible or resistant to scrapie. This means that genotyping your sheep can directly affect the movement restrictions that apply to your flock if a case is detected nearby. You can read more about Washington’s diverse animal populations, including hawks in Washington State and venomous animals in Washington State, through the resources at Animal of Things.

Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Washington

While the regulatory components of the NSEP are mandatory, the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) offers Washington producers a voluntary pathway to demonstrate a higher level of scrapie risk management — and to reap significant market and economic benefits as a result.

What Is 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.

The National Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program increases the marketability of sheep and goats from flocks that have demonstrated freedom of scrapie disease by adhering to program requirements over time. For Washington producers who sell breeding stock, export animals, or compete at shows, SFCP participation can be a meaningful competitive advantage.

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.

Producers exporting live sheep or goats or embryos and semen will find participation to be especially useful and possibly required by receiving countries. If you are pursuing international markets for your animals or germplasm, Export Certified status under the SFCP may be a prerequisite rather than just a benefit.

How to Participate in the SFCP

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.

To enroll in the SFCP in Washington, contact the USDA APHIS National Scrapie Eradication Program or the Washington State Veterinarian’s office. You will need an active flock ID, compliant official identification on all animals, and a clean scrapie history. Annual inspections and ongoing recordkeeping are required to maintain your status.

SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. These tags serve as a visible signal to buyers and inspectors that your animals come from a certified, lower-risk operation.

Practical Benefits for Washington Producers

Beyond export access, SFCP participation offers Washington producers several concrete advantages:

• Higher sale prices: Buyers of breeding stock increasingly prefer or require animals from certified flocks, especially for purebred and registered animals.
• Reduced movement restrictions: Animals from SFCP flocks face fewer regulatory hurdles when moving interstate compared to animals from non-certified operations.
• Flock protection: The Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program provides producers with a framework for protecting their animals from scrapie and increasing economic opportunities for sales.
• Genetic management support: Using RR rams passes on genetic resistance to scrapie to lambs. You can also select replacement females from within your own herd or flock, purchase genotyped sheep that are scrapie resistant, or buy from SFCP-certified flocks which have taken extra measures to lower the risk for scrapie infection.

Washington’s sheep and goat producers play an important role in the national push to achieve WOAH scrapie-free status. Whether you are managing a small hobby flock or a large commercial operation, compliance with the Scrapie Eradication Program protects your animals, your livelihood, and the broader agricultural community across the state. For additional resources on Washington’s animal landscape, explore guides on owls in Washington State, eagles in Washington State, and squirrels in eastern Washington at Animal of Things.