National Scrapie Plan: Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme (CSFS) - Question & Answer
Why was the CSFS scheme introduced?
It was introduced so that we can apply the EU wide measures set out in EU Regulation 1915/2003. The measures applied EU wide from 1 October 2003. The aim of the Regulation is to eradicate scrapie from scrapie affected flocks by culling animals that have susceptible genotypes and by breeding for resistance using animals with the most resistant genotypes. Further information on genotyping is available from this website.
What is the difference between the Voluntary Scrapie Flocks Scheme and this compulsory scheme?
The compulsory scheme only applies to flocks/holdings that have a suspected and confirmed case of scrapie from the effective date of the national enforcement legislation (20 July 2004 in England and Scotland and 1st November 2004 in Wales). The voluntary scheme was aimed at historically affected flocks. Owners whose flocks have had a confirmed case of scrapie from July 1998 until 19 July 2004 could join the NSP VSFS until the closing date of 31 March 2005. The VSFS is now closed to new members. This enabled owners to use genotype results to cull scrapie susceptible sheep from their flock and use only the more scrapie resistant sheep for breeding. The compulsory scheme uses a similar approach but there are more restrictions and a three year period of TSE testing with negative results before an owner is free of the requirements of the compulsory scheme.
What do I do if I suspect a case of scrapie?
Scrapie is a notifiable disease. If you suspect that one of your sheep or goats is affected by scrapie, you must report this to your local Animal Health Divisional Office. You may also wish to inform your private Veterinary Surgeon. The suspect animal will be subject to examination by a Veterinary Officer(VO) from the State Veterinary Service in the first instance. If the suspicion of scrapie cannot be ruled out, the animal will be taken for compulsory slaughter and laboratory analysis to confirm whether scrapie is present. Movement restrictions will be placed on your holding until the result of the laboratory analysis is known. You will be compensated for the loss of the culled animal regardless of the result.
What happens if it is confirmed?
Your holding will become subject to the EU measures and registered with the National Scrapie Plan Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme (NSP CSFS). An SVS VO will visit your holding to identify all the sheep and goats on the holding and any sheep or goat embryos or ova which you have in store.
I am a member of the Voluntary Scrapie Flocks Scheme. Does this exempt me from the CSFS?
No. Any flock that has a suspected case of scrapie reported from the 20 July 2004 in England and Scotland (1 November 2004 in Wales) and subsequently confirmed will be registered automatically in the CSFS and be subject to its measures and restrictions from the date of confirmation. NSPAC will cancel your VSFS contract from that date and inform you of this in writing.
What happens then?
Once the disease is confirmed by post mortem analysis of the suspect animal/s then registration in the compulsory scheme by the National Scrapie Plan Administration Centre (NSPAC) is automatic. They will be in touch and the local SVS Veterinary Officer (VO) will then visit the affected holding to carry out the legally required veterinary assessment of the holding. The NSPAC Veterinary Adviser and the local SVS VO will assess your case in close consultation with you, and your private Veterinary Surgeon too if you wish it.
What are the options if my flock has scrapie and is registered in the CSFS?
The NSPAC Veterinary Adviser will decide, either to authorise the:
-
culling and destruction of the carcases of all the sheep in the affected flock/s, and you may:
-
leave the holding free from sheep for three years then restart your business without restriction;
or, -
restock immediately with the required resistant breeding sheep and be subject to certain restriction;
-
-
genotyping of all the sheep in the affected flock with only those sheep with the required resistant genotypes being retained for use on the holding. The others will be culled and the carcases destroyed or slaughtered for the food chain, depending on their genotype.
What if I disagree with the decision?
If in your view the Department has acted unlawfully, unreasonably or without due regard to the facts, you have 21 days from the date of the legal notice setting out the course of action to be taken in which to appeal in writing. You must comply fully with the movement restrictions and other restrictions and conditions in that notice throughout the duration of the appeal. This includes maintaining animals in a good state of health. See the Appeals: notes for guidance (NSP 56) for full details of the appeals procedure.What are the restrictions once initial CSFS action is carried out?
There is a three year period when restrictions will apply to your holding once it only contains either most resistant sheep or most resistant breeding rams and breeding ewes with at one ARR allele and no VRQ allele. You will be restricted in what animals you use for breeding, bring on to and send from your holding from the date of entry into the scheme. If all the rams and ewes on the holding are ARR/ARR and remain so during the three year restriction period then there is no requirement to TSE test culled and fallen stock over 18 months old during this period. If your ewes have one ARR allele and no VRQ allele, a sample of your culled and all fallen stock over 18 months will be TSE tested during this three year period.Does the CSFS apply to goats?
Goats do get scrapie although the incidence is much rarer than in sheep.How does CSFS apply to goats?
Subject to a veterinary assessment of the particular case, all the goats may be culled and the carcases destroyed. You can restock following cleaning and disinfecting of all animal housing on the holding. However, any sheep retained or brought on to the holding must be of the required resistant genotype. All your culled and fallen stock over 18 months will be TSE tested for a three year period from the date of restocking.Why are goats not genotyped?
According to the current scientific advice goats are not known to possess specific genes which confer resistance to TSEs. Therefore, a genotyping approach is not possible for them.Are there any exceptions to when measures apply for either sheep or goats?
If your flock is a rare breed or you may have difficulty in finding enough replacement animals to allow you to continue in business, you may be allowed to delay the destruction of susceptible animals for up to five breeding years, or be allowed to bring animals that are not of the specified genotypes on to the holding. Also as a last resort, and only until 1 January 2007, you may be able to bring non-pregnant ewes of unknown genotype on to the affected holding. They will be blood sampled and genotyped. They must be kept separately from any other sheep and goats on the holding until the genotype results are known. Compensation will only be paid for those genotypes that must be killed and destroyed. You will be responsible for selling into the food chain any NSP type 4 ewes.Will I receive compensation?
Compensation will be paid for animals, embryos and ova culled and destroyed. Following a consultation exercise, some of the compensation rates changed from 10 March 2006 in England and Scotland for cases reported from that date. The relevant legislation to allow the changes to apply in Wales has been delayed. The new rates will apply in Wales shortly once the National Assembly for Wales has passed the Legislation.The new compensation rates are: Adult male sheep/goats £90: Adult female sheep/goats £65: Lambs/kids £40 (£25 per lamb for subsequent lamb crop if derogation for rams granted): Cull Ewes (ewes used under derogation then culled) £30: Embryos £150: Ova £5.Also, NSPAC will arrange with you the free collection and disposal of sheep and goats to be culled. You will be given some financial and genotyping help to find resistant sheep to replace susceptible breeding stock that have had to be culled or destroyed.Can I have my animals valued before they are killed?
Compensation for high value pedigree animals will be based on an independent valuation at the owner’s expense. You will need to arrange the valuation by a valuer nominated by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in England (the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland). The valuation is binding on both parties.Does Defra/SEERAD/WAG DEPC also have the right to ask for a valuation?
Yes. Although it would be the exception, the Government may instigate a valuation where it considers the standard rates to be excessive in any given circumstances. The Government would bear the cost of the nomination fee and the valuer’s fee.How will the Regulations be enforced?
Local Authorities are responsible for enforcement of Animal Health and Welfare Regulations. All legal notices in respect of the CSFS control measures are copied to the relevant Local Authority. During the three year restriction period, the SVS will carry out annual audit visits, including genotyping of progeny, to CSFS holdings to monitor compliance with CSFS control measures. Failure to comply with the measures will be an offence under the regulations.Where can I find out more about the National Scrapie Plan Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme?
Further information is available from the Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme booklet (NSP 39). You can also telephone the NSP helpline on 0845 601 4858, local rate charges apply.
Page last
modified:
1 August, 2007