The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has adopted compulsory EU-wide controls on scrapie-affected farms. This new measures came into operation on Northern Ireland farms from October 4, 2004.

The EU measures are part of wider controls aimed at eradicating Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathys from national flocks and herds.

They target action on flocks or herds known to be infected with scrapie in order to remove them and to control the spread of scrapie to others. They are only likely to affect a limited number of flocks and herds.

Under the 'Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme', flock owners, with a confirmed case of scrapie, will have their sheep flocks genotyped so that animals that are susceptible to scrapie can be identified and removed.

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Source: Farming Life, Robert Scott
October 6, 2004

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