Tough new rules to tackle scrapie could lead to the destruction of entire flocks.

Under a new scheme that came into effect yesterday, all farmers with confirmed cases of scrapie will have to cull the whole flock or blood test the flock to determine its genetic profile.

Announcing the scheme yesterday, Wales Countryside Minister Carwyn Jones said it would enforce an EU regulation requiring member states to take action on sheep flocks and goat herds that report scrapie.

"It is vital to the rural economy that the sheep sector remains competitive, and we can go some way to achieving that competitive edge by doing all we can to eliminate scrapie from our Welsh flocks," said Mr. Jones.

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Source: Western Mail, Steve Dube
November 16, 2004

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