The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Scrapie framework consultation

03/11/2003

Proposals have been published for a voluntary UK-wide framework to recognise the Transmissable Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) resistant status of certain flocks.

The framework will help sheep farmers, particularly those reliant on the purchase of breeding stock, make better informed choices by enabling them to purchase sheep from flocks with known greater levels of resistance to TSEs.

The proposals under the National Scrapie Plan will meet a European legislative requirement for a two-tier framework to recognise the resistant status of flocks of sheep to scrapie and other TSEs.

TheUKproposals recognise the significant variations in the levels of resistant genotype frequencies by breed and sector in theUK.

Therefore the Executive's proposing to introduce three additional levels of categories above the EU requirements in order to include hill breeds within the framework.

The proposed framework will be open to any sheep producer so long as all their rams possess a National Scrapie Plan certificate.

Scrapie is a fatal neurological disease of sheep. It has been present in the national flock for over 250 years, but is not considered to be transmissible to humans. There is a theoretical risk that BSE is present in sheep in the UK, masked as scrapie, although it has not been found occurring naturally. The National Scrapie Plan addresses the theoretical possibility of BSE being present in sheep.

The National Scrapie Plan forGreat Britaininvolves a voluntary, long-term programme of breeding for genetic resistance. It encourages participating flock owners to breed from and use scrapie resistant sheep.

European Commission Decision 2003/100/EC requires the establishment of two levels of recognition as a minimum: (i) level I flocks shall be flocks composed entirely of sheep of the ARR/ARR genotype; (ii) level II flocks shall be flocks whose progeny have been sired exclusively by rams of the ARR/ARR genotype. However Member States may decide to grant recognition on further levels to suit national requirements.

Following the outcomes of this consultation, the Executive intends to issue an Expression of Interest early in 2004 with a view to launching the framework by July 2004 to coincide with the tupping season.

The Department for Agriculture and Rural Development inNorthern Irelandare developing a similar framework as part of the Northern Ireland Scrapie Plan.