Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme
Background
The EU introduced compulsory controls in infected flocks and herds in October 2003 (Regulation (EC) No.1915/2003). The CSFS requires disease control action to be taken in flocks or herds that have had a confirmed case of classical or atypical scrapie.
Disease control options in sheep flocks in which classical scrapie is confirmed, include:
- flock genotyping followed by selective killing of sheep with susceptible genotypes or exceptionally;
- whole flock killing.
Please note: For goats the only option is whole herd killing.
In flocks or herds in which atypically scrapie is, confirmed there is an option of monitoring, rather than killing.
Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme (CSFS)
Owners who have a reported and subsequently had confirmed case(s) of classical scrapie may be considered for entering the CSFS.
A veterinary assessment based on epidemiological evidence will determine which holdings and flocks the measures will apply to.
Your local Animal Health Office will register your holding into the scheme. An Animal Health Veterinary Officer will contact you to assess your flock and discuss the the scheme with you.
The scheme imposes either a slaughter of all small ruminants present on the holding, or genotyping of the entire sheep flock. There are derogations for rare breeds to prevent in-breeding.
Where genotyping is carried out, those animals most resistant will be kept as breeding stock. Less resistant animals will be slaughtered for human consumption and those showing the least resistance will be removed from the holding and destroyed as Specified Risk Material (SRM). Compensation will be payable for animals destroyed as SRM.
Once the animals on your holding have reached the required levels of scrapie resistance, restrictions will be enforced on sale, purchase and breeding on the holding for a period of two years.
In all cases, there is a two year period of TSE testing with negative results before a flock or herd is free of movement restrictions.
Atypical Scrapie
Following the introduction of more rigorous surveillance with new, sensitive, diagnostic tests, there have been reports of what appears to be a previously undetected form of scrapie, termed atypical scrapie. There are some clear differences between the newly identified atypical scrapie and the classical strains of scrapie that are well documented in the UK.
It is likely in the future that compulsory measures, which are proportionate to monitor this disease, will be introduced and applied to holdings where atypical scrapie is confirmed.
Further information
If you have any further questions, or you would like more information on the Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme, please contact the National Scrapie Plan team.
