National Scrapie Plan: Questions & Answers
National Scrapie Plan
1. What is the aim of the National Scrapie Plan?
2. In what way does the NSP fit in with Defra's sustainable development strategy?
3. Why is this a GB Plan?
4. Why did SEAC (Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee) recommend a National Scrapie Plan in 1999?
4a. Could resistance to scrapie also confer resistance to BSE in sheep?
4b. What is the latest SEAC advice on the risk of BSE in sheep?
4c. As the risk of BSE in sheep appears to have reduced, how does this effect the NSP?
5. Is the National Scrapie Plan concerned with imports or exports?
Breeding for TSE resistance
6. What is the breeding programme for genetic resistance about?
7. When was the NSP launched?
8. What are the genotypes the NSP breeding programme aims to increase and why?
9. Why has the breeding programme targeted purebred flocks?
10. Can farms with both purebred and commercial crossing flocks join?
11. Which sheep are genotyped under the Ram Genotyping Scheme?
12. How are rams tested under the Ram Genotyping Scheme being identified?
13. What happens if sheep are injured or die during the blood sampling or EID device application process?
14. What restrictions will apply to sheep after they have been genotyped under the Ram Genotyping Scheme?
15. Do farmers in the Ram Genotyping Scheme have to pay to have their rams genotyped?
16. Will farmers eventually have to pay their own way?
17. How do officials keep track of the rams registered and certified under the Ram Genotyping Scheme?
18. Does this mean the introduction of sheep NSP 'passports' and a tracing system?
19. Who administers the NSP and how do I contact them?
20. Do farmers and others affected by the programme have the opportunity to comment on proposed schemes and initiatives?
21. Who carries out the genotyping?
22. How is the success of the NSP being measured?
23. How is the NSP programme managed?
24. How much does the NSP cost to run?
25. Is genotyping required in flocks that report scrapie?
26. Who will be subject to the legislation?
- Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme - Questions and answers.
National Scrapie Plan
1. What is the aim of the National Scrapie Plan?
Scrapie (and BSE) are part of a group of diseases known as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). The aim of the National Scrapie Plan (NSP) is to increase the level of resistance to TSEs in the national sheep flock, to the extent necessary to eventually eradicate all TSEs. As a consequence, the risk to human health arising from the possible presence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in sheep will also be removed, though this is only a theoretical risk at present. The NSP has been developed jointly by the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Departments for Great Britain as part of the Rural Development Plans for England and Wales and the Agriculture Strategy for Scotland.
2. In what way does the NSP fit in with Defra's sustainable development strategy?
In line with the guiding principles of this strategy, the NSP:
- takes a long-term perspective;
- bases its policies on the best scientific advice available;
- uses a precautionary principle to minimise the theoretical risk to human health.
3. Why is this a GB Plan?
Great Britain has traditionally been treated as a single veterinary area. There has been a small number of scrapie cases reported in Northern Ireland since the disease was made notifiable. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland launched a Northern Ireland Scrapie Plan (NISP) in January 2003. The Isle of Man and Channel Islands are also not included in the GB NSP although the Isle of Man operates a scheme that is compatible with the NSP.
4. Why did SEAC (Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee) recommend a National Scrapie Plan in 1999?
In their report 
(340 KB) on sheep and TSEs of 14 April 1999, a SEAC subgroup concluded that there was a possibility that some sheep might have been infected with the BSE agent in the same way as cattle through the consumption of contaminated feed prior to July 1988 when ruminant protein was banned from ruminant feed. Any sheep that may have been fed contaminated feed would by now have died or been slaughtered. Also, both the amounts of feed rations consumed by sheep and the amount of ruminant protein included in them were significantly lower than those for cattle.
There remains however a possibility that BSE in sheep might behave like scrapie and have been sustained in some sheep. The subgroup made 20 recommendations on developing further research and surveillance for TSEs in sheep including the development of a long-term programme for the control and eradication of scrapie. The National Scrapie Plan addresses that recommendation.
4a. Could resistance to scrapie also confer resistance to BSE in sheep?
Research has indicated that the ARR/ARR genotype is the most resistant genotype to both scrapie and BSE. Although there has been a report of experimental BSE occurring in ARR/ARR sheep intracerebrally challenged (BSE injected directly in to the brain), SEAC concluded that, whilst the resistance of ARR/ARR sheep could no longer be considered absolute, it was still the most resistant genotype. SEAC also concluded at the same meeting that the NSP still remained valid.
4b. What is the latest SEAC advice on the risk of BSE in sheep?
Following the latest research and surveillance testing, in December 2006 SEAC stated that ‘the prevalence of BSE in the UK sheep population is most likely to be zero, or very low, if present at all’.
4c. As the risk of BSE in sheep appears to have reduced, how does this effect the NSP?
A review of the Ram Genotyping Scheme (RGS) began in the second half of 2006 to consider the benefits of the scheme and its scientific base. The future of the RGS (and the NSP’s Flock Register and Semen Archive) will be considered in a public consultation on Responsibility and Cost Sharing which was published on 11th December 2007 with a closing date for responses on 15th April 2008.
5. Is the National Scrapie Plan concerned with imports or exports?
No. Requirements for animal health certification for scrapie in respect of intra-Community trade are already specified in Commission Regulation (EC) No.999/2001 . This contains scrapie monitoring requirements for holdings that export breeding sheep to other EC Member States. Amendments to this legislation will allow the most resistant genotype of sheep (ARR/ARR) to be exported to other Member States even from scrapie affected farms.
Breeding for TSE resistance
6. What is the breeding programme for genetic resistance about?
This is about controlling and eradicating TSEs (scrapie and BSE if it were present) from the national flock through selective breeding using rams shown to be genetically resistant to TSEs.
7. When was the NSP launched?
Following a consultation (340 KB) exercise conducted in Autumn 2000 on proposals for a National Scrapie Plan, operational rules and the necessary infrastructure (IT systems, laboratories, field resources etc) were developed. The NSP was launched with the opening of the National Scrapie Plan Administration Centre (NSPAC) on 19th July 2001.
See the Schemes and Initiatives section for information on different NSP services.
8. What are the genotypes the NSP breeding programme aims to increase and why?
The NSP aims to increase the prevalence of the 'ARR' allele (the component of the gene derived from one parent and contributing hereditary information from that parent). This genotype is known to be highly resistant to scrapie and, it is thought, to TSEs in general. NSP Genotypes Table (6 KB) shows the different genotypes and their level of resistance or susceptibility to TSEs. This table is under continuous scientific review. The NSP does not though intend to make the national flock exclusively comprise ARR genotype sheep.
9. Why has the breeding programme targeted purebred flocks?
This selective targeting was based on scientific advice. Using models of the national flock structure, scientists examined the effect of focusing the scheme initially within the purebred sector. This showed that using resistant purebred animals to breed further resistant purebred animals would be a very effective way of targeting the programme in the first instance to achieve the highest levels of disease resistance in the national flock over time.
10. Can farms with both purebred and commercial crossing flocks join?
Yes. There will need to be controls in place on farm to ensure the integrity of the purebred flock i.e. so that non-scheme rams do not breed with scheme animals.
11. Which sheep are genotyped under the Ram Genotyping Scheme?
All adult (stock) rams in the flock plus any male progeny that are to be used for breeding within a flock will be tested. A proportion of ram lambs born that year for sale as breeding rams and/or shearling rams born the previous year that will go for sale as breeding rams will also then be tested.
12. How are rams tested under the Ram Genotyping Scheme being identified?
This is by means of an electronic identification (EID) device in addition to the animal's current identification. The type of EID used is a ruminal bolus, which is a microchip transponder encapsulated in a small ceramic cylinder. Once the sheep has swallowed it, it stays in the rumen of the sheep throughout its life. The transponder is activated by a transceiver (reader) and transmits a unique number, which the reader displays.
13. What happens if sheep are injured or die during the blood sampling or EID device application process?
Reasonable compensation may be paid to the owner if satisfactory impartial evidence from a veterinary practitioner confirms that the loss was a direct result of this procedure.
14. What restrictions will apply to sheep after they have been genotyped under the Ram Genotyping Scheme?
The NSP Genotype Consequences Table (17 KB) shows the restrictions applicable to the 15 different genotypes.
15. Do farmers in the Ram Genotyping Scheme have to pay to have their rams genotyped?
The Government funds the cost of:
- identification and registration of animals to be tested;
- collection of blood samples and despatch to laboratories;
- laboratory testing of blood samples to establish the genotype, certification of sheep with acceptable genotypes. The farmer has to pay for rams with the most scrapie susceptible genotypes to be slaughtered or sterilised.
16. Will farmers eventually have to pay their own way?
It is anticipated that following the consultation on Responsibility and Cost Sharing (see Q4c) the RGS may transfer to industry ownership or it may close.
17. How do officials keep track of the rams registered and certified under the Ram Genotyping Scheme?
Each NSP Certificate is unique to an individual sheep as it contains its unique EID number, barcode and its genotype. The farmer must inform NSPAC of any change of ownership. The current owner must forward part of the NSP Certificate for that specific sheep to NSPAC. The new owner must complete their details and return the remainder of the Certificate to NSPAC who will issue a new Certificate.
18. Does this mean the introduction of sheep NSP 'passports' and a tracing system?
No. Certificates would only be for rams registered under the scheme.
19. Who administers the NSP and how do I contact them?
Information is avaialble from: The National Scrapie Plan Administration Centre in Worcester.
20. Do farmers and others affected by the programme have the opportunity to comment on proposed schemes and initiatives?
Yes. Proposed amendments to the NSP are published for consultation. Staff from NSPAC, Defra, Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government meet regularly with farmers, industry bodies and other stakeholders to discuss progress.
21. Who carries out the genotyping?
Orchid-Cellmark (Abingdon), who were contracted following a competitive procurement exercise.
22. How is the success of the NSP being measured?
A number of criteria are used to assess this, such as the number of farmers that have joined the scheme and in the longer term the increase in the numbers of resistant rams. The Government has commissioned statistical modelling of the data generated by the NSP. The findings from this work will also be discussed with NSP stakeholders.
23. How is the NSP programme managed?
The NSP is subject to Gateway Review. This process is being applied to all new major government projects and provides a mechanism to monitor and review developments to ensure value for money. More information on how these principles are applied to the National Scrapie.
Plan can be found in the NSP Programme Brief (343 KB).
24. How much does the NSP cost to run?
The figures for NSP programme expenditure (that is, not including , staff , IT and capital costs) are set out in the table below:
| Year | 2001-2 | 2002-3 | 2003-4 | 2004-5 | 2005-6 | 2006-7 | 2007-8 |
| £m | 4.49 | 6.55 | 7.70 | 20.63 | 29.64 | 13 | 4 |
25. Is genotyping required in flocks that report scrapie?
From October 2003 the EU requires disease control action on any farm where a new/further case of scrapie is confirmed. In England and Scotland enforcement legislation for the EU Regulation was introduced on 20 July 2004. (Northern Ireland enforcement legislation was in place on 4 October 2004 and Welsh enforcement legislation was in place on 1 November 2004.) Different options for action are available including genotyping and culling of scrapie susceptible animals.
We also developed a voluntary NSP scheme for flocks that had scrapie from July 1998. The Voluntary Scrapie Flocks Scheme (VSFS) on 5 April 2004. This scheme closed to new applicants from 31st March 2005. Applications will no longer be accepted.
26. Who will be subject to the legislation?
Owners of flocks/herd that have a new or further case of scrapie reported and confirmed from the date of the respective domestic legislation. They will be registered automatically by the NSP Administration Centre in the Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme (CSFS).
Please see separate Q and A on the Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme.
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modified:
April 11, 2008