INFORMATION BULLETIN
Date: 30 January 2007
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960
Future of the National Scrapie Plan Ram Genotyping Scheme (RGS)
The GB National Scrapie Plan (NSP) Ram Genotyping Scheme (RGS) has been reviewed during the second half of 2006, following a decision by the EU Council and Parliament to reject proposals for compulsory scrapie resistance testing in pure breed and pedigree flocks.
The review included an examination by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) of the science underpinning the NSP and an assessment of the benefits gained from the RGS over the last five years.
In their report SEAC stated that when the RGS was launched in 2001, they considered it to be an appropriate disease control policy based on the available scientific evidence.
SEAC has now concluded that, with regard to the latest research and surveillance testing, the prevalence of BSE in the UK sheep population is likely to be either zero, or very low, if present at all. SEAC concludes that the current RGS will have little impact on public health protection.
SEAC also state in their report that the RGS strategy of selective breeding for scrapie resistance remains a scientifically valid approach for eradicating classical scrapie. Their comprehensive statement is available on the Internet
Ministers have accepted the review's key recommendation that a fully-funded RGS is no longer appropriate. Instead, departments should consult on options for the future of the RGS - either a cost-shared genotyping scheme, or closure of the scheme.
Ministers have also agreed that the consultation should take place in the summer as part of the wider work on responsibility and cost sharing which is already underway. It will also cover the NSP flock register. Officials will continue informal discussions with sheep industry stakeholders and RGS members.
The RGS will remain open to all members, until the outcome of the consultation, but no ewes will be tested as part of members' testing visits after 1 April 2007.
Further information
Link to SEAC's
report: www.seac.gov.uk/statements/sheepsubgrp-statement131006.pdf 
(on SEAC website)
Link to responsibility and cost section on Defra's website: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/ahws/sharing/index.htm
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Page published: 30 January 2007