USDA explains how the voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP), Mandatory National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) and voluntary National Animal Identification System (NAIS) potentially interact with each other.

December 2006

· USDA acknowledges that there has been some confusion about the NAIS and how it interacts with existing scrapie eradication programs such as the voluntary scrapie flock certification program (SFCP) and the national scrapie eradication program (NSEP).

· The NAIS is voluntary at the Federal level. USDA firmly believes that it is a producer's choice to participate in any aspect of the program, and that the NAIS works best when livestock owners/producers freely decide to take part.

· For this reason, at the federal level, enrolling in the SCFCP or requesting official tags as part of NSEP does not register your premises in the NAIS. Conversely, choosing to register your premises in the NAIS does not affect your flock identification number or your status in the SFCP. The three programs complement each other, but are distinct.

· The NAIS is voluntary. SFCP is voluntary. Complying with the identification requirements of the national scrapie eradication program is required by a regulation that has been in place since August 2001.

· Producers are not required by USDA to participate in the NAIS in order to either enroll in SFCP or to get the official eartags provided free to producers through the NSEP.

· Some of the NAIS approved eartags have also been approved for scrapie program use. This allows producers to participate in all three programs using the same eartag. As with other NAIS tags, premises registration with NAIS is required to purchase these tags.

· Continued grassroots input is critical to the success of the NAIS. Accordingly, USDA and its State and industry partners have established NAIS working groups to provide recommendations and input as we move forward with the system.

· Each species working group membership consists of representatives from various levels and segments of their industry.

· The sheep working group has recommended that sheep producers who decide to participate in the NAIS be allowed to use the identification devices and the numbering systems currently used for SFCP and NSEP.

· The recommendation does not mean that producers participating in SFCP and NSEP will be registered in NAIS. Only that those who choose to register would have the option to continue to use SFCP and NSEP identification devices.

Back to top

Back to Home Page